accessPolicy

AccessPolicy is a formal rule set that determines how and under what conditions subjects such as users or processes may access objects like data, services, or devices within a system. The policy encodes authorization decisions, typically as permit or deny, and is enforced by an access control mechanism at the point of request. Core to an access policy are the elements of subject, object, and action, often augmented by environmental or contextual constraints such as time, location, or security level.

Several model families are commonly used to structure access policies. Discretionary access control allows owners to grant or revoke access. Mandatory access control uses fixed, system-enforced rules based on clearances. Role-based access control assigns permissions by user roles, simplifying administration in large organizations. Attribute-based access control characterizes access with user, resource, and environmental attributes and evaluates policies at request time for fine-grained control.

Policy enforcement and decision architectures separate decision making from enforcement. A policy decision point evaluates a request against the policy set and returns a decision, which a policy enforcement point enforces by allowing or denying the action. Policy languages and standards such as XACML, ALFA, and JSON-based policy formats provide syntax for expressing rules and combining multiple policies, often with capabilities for auditing and versioning.

AccessPolicy is central to information security, data governance, and compliance. Effective policies are clear, comprehensive, auditable, and aligned with organizational roles, data classifications, and risk tolerance.