Mandatory Access Control
Mandatory Access Control (MAC) is a security model that enforces access policies based on classifications and clearances, where access decisions are made by a central authority rather than the resource owner. It is commonly used in high-security environments like government and military systems to prevent unauthorized data disclosure or modification. MAC operates by labeling subjects (e.g., users, processes) and objects (e.g., files, devices) with security attributes, such as sensitivity levels, and allowing access only if the subject's attributes dominate the object's attributes.
Developers should learn MAC when building or maintaining systems that require strict, centralized security enforcement, such as in defense, finance, or healthcare applications where data confidentiality and integrity are critical. It is essential for implementing compliance with regulations like HIPAA or FISMA, and for preventing privilege escalation attacks by limiting user discretion over access rights. Use cases include secure operating systems, multi-level security databases, and applications handling classified or sensitive information.