permissioning

Permissioning is the process of determining which users or services may access which resources and under what conditions. It encompasses the allocation, modification, revocation, and auditing of permissions to enforce policy-based access control across systems, networks, and applications. In practice, permissioning is a core function of authorization, working together with authentication to verify identity before permissions are granted.

Access control models provide the structure for permissioning. DAC grants permissions based on ownership. MAC enforces system-enforced labels. RBAC assigns permissions through roles. ABAC uses attributes. PBAC uses policies. Organizations may combine models and implement least privilege and separation of duties.

Permissioning is implemented through identity and access management (IAM) systems, directory services, and policy engines. It covers file systems, databases, cloud resources, APIs, and applications. It includes lifecycle processes: provisioning, modification, revocation, and periodic recertification.

Governance requires documented policies, approval workflows, and auditing. Access reviews, logs, and alerts help detect deviations; governance helps meet compliance requirements.

Challenges include scale, dynamic environments, cross-domain access, and drift from approved permissions. Trends include zero trust architecture, continuous authorization, automated policy enforcement, and attribute-based entitlements.