Autorizointia

Autorizointi is a Finnish term that translates to authorization in English. It refers to the process of granting or denying specific permissions to an individual or entity to access resources or perform actions within a system. This is a fundamental concept in information security and access control.

In essence, authorization determines what a user is allowed to do after they have been authenticated. Authentication is the process of verifying a user's identity, such as through a username and password, while authorization dictates the privileges associated with that verified identity. For example, a user might be authenticated as a "read-only" user, meaning they can view data but cannot modify or delete it.

Autorizointi is implemented through various mechanisms, including access control lists (ACLs), role-based access control (RBAC), and attribute-based access control (ABAC). These systems define rules and policies that govern which users or groups have access to which resources and what operations they can perform on those resources.

Common examples of autorizointi in practice include granting a user permission to access specific files on a server, allowing a customer to make a purchase online, or enabling an employee to access sensitive company data. The principle ensures that only authorized individuals can perform specific actions, thereby protecting sensitive information and maintaining system integrity.