Access Control in Networking

Access control is a data security method that allows organizations to manage who has access to their resources and data. Secure access control uses policies that ensure users are who they claim they are and are provided with the appropriate levels of access control. Along with providing access control features, Network access control (NAC) also covers the security requirements of both wired and wireless devices through threat monitoring, device identification, and policy-based access control for networked devices.

What is Access Control?

Network access control is a method for enhancing the security of a private organizational network by limiting the accessibility of network resources to endpoints devices that comply with the organization’s security policy. For example, a key card might serve as access control and let the holder enter a restricted area. It is not a secure method of managing access control because this credential can be shared or even stolen. Two-factor authentication is also a method of access control that is more secure. The person requesting access must show credentials and a second factor to confirm identity. An access code, PIN, or even a biometric reading may be the second factor.

Need for Access Control

Access control is a system that can help you better understand how your building or site is being used by tracking when people enter and leave specific rooms and areas. It also enhances the overall security of your site. In an emergency, such as a fire, it is important to know who is in your building and when. Additionally, an access control system prevents unauthorized persons from entering your site, which may be particularly important in environments like schools and care facilities. Are hazardous equipment or confidential information on the site? You might not want all of your staff to have access to particular areas. Therefore, access control can help you and your staff’s safety.

Working of Access Control

Access controls identify a person or entity, verify that the individual or application is who or what it claims to be, and permit the access level and set of actions related to the username or IP address. Access controls are provided by directory services and protocols, such as Lightweight Directory Access Protocol and Security Assertion Markup Language, which allow users and entities to connect to computer resources such as distributed applications and web servers by authenticating and authorizing them.

Components of Access Control

Several components are used to manage access control:

• Authentication The initial step in establishing a user’s identity is authentication. When a user gives their credentials to the reader or controller, the system validates the data to see if the credentials are known or recognized.
• Authorization Authorization adds an additional layer of security to the authentication process. The controller/reader must answer a few questions before the user can be authorized.
  1. The door or entry point that the user is asking is it accessible to them?
  2. Does the user have a valid credential, such as a key fob or a mobile app? 
  3. Is the request being made within a specified schedule?
  4. Are any security restrictions in place, like a system lockdown?
• Access The user’s identity will be verified after they have successfully completed the authentication and authorization steps. As a result, they are now allowed to access the resource they are attempting to log in to.
• Manage Access control systems can be managed by organizations by adding and removing users, monitoring activities, and setting schedules or alerts. Managing these systems can become challenging in modern IT environments, which include on-premises systems and cloud services.
• Audit Most access control systems have an audit option that enables administrators to generate reports. These reports can ensure that the system is operating as intended and assist in meeting compliance standards.

Types of Access Control?

There are two types of access control:

• Physical Access Control Physical access control refers to restricting access to a specific physical area within a company or organization. This access control restricts access to rooms, buildings, and physical IT assets. Physical access control also keeps track of who enters and exits restricted areas. As a result, your assets will be more secure and safe.
• Logical Access Control Logical access control includes user authorization and authentication. It limits connections to computer networks, system files, and data. Logical access control differs from physical access control. Keys and badges are used in physical access control. On the other hand, logical access controls make use of advanced biometric security features and password programs.

Access Control Models

Organizations use various access control models depending on their compliance requirements and the security levels of IT. Some access control models are given below.

• Attribute-based Access Control (ABAC) In this access control model, the attributes of users, systems, and environmental conditions are used to evaluate a set of rules, policies, and relationships in order to grant or decline access. Attribute-based Access Control (ABAC) can be used at the firewall, application, server, database, and data layer.
• Discretionary Access Control (DAC) Discretionary access control (DAC) is a type of security access control that permits or restricts access to an object based on an access policy set by the owner group and/or subjects of the object. Due to the subject’s (owner’s) ability to grant other users access to authenticated objects or information, DACs are discretionary. In other words, object access privileges are determined by the owner. A common example of DAC is Unix file mode, which specifies the read, write, and execute privileges for each user, group, and other entities in each of the three bits.
• History-Based Access Control (HBAC) In this access control model, access is granted or declined based on an analysis of the inquiring party’s previous history, such as the time between requests, the content of requests, which doors have been recently opened, etc. For example, depending on the user’s previous actions, such as the request interval exceeding one query per second, access to a certain service or data source may be granted or declined.
• Identity-Based Access Control (IBAC) In this access control model, access is granted or declined based on their individual visual or biometric identity. As a result, a user’s access to an electronic resource will either be granted or denied depending on whether their identity can be matched with a name that appears on the access control list. With the help of this model, network administrators can better manage activity and access based on individual requirements.
• Mandatory Access Control (MAC) In this access control model, access rights cannot be changed by end users and are defined by the system administrator and strictly enforced by the operating system or security kernel. Government entities and the military frequently use it because of the emphasis on consistent classification and data confidentiality. The MAC imposes access restrictions on resources based on the sensitivity of the resource’s information and the user’s authorization to access information with that level of sensitivity.
• Organization-Based Access control (OrBAC) This access control model is useful when evaluating the security guidelines and permissions of larger, multi-user entities like third-party companies. This model provides a high level of expressivity and scalability. This model allows the policy designer to define a security policy independently of the implementation. As we already know, it is an Organization-Based Access Control (OrBAC) Model, and as such, it is mostly used in organizations to assess the security policies and permissions of larger, multi-user entities.
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) It is a frequently used access control model that limits network access based on the roles of individuals or groups inside an organization. Roles in Role-based access control (RBAC) are based on various factors, including job specialization, responsibility, and authorization. Roles, such as end-user, administrator, or specialist user, are usually assigned by organizations to different individuals. The role-Based Access Control (RBAC) model is mostly used in organizations to grant or decline access to individuals or groups.
• Rule-Based Access Control (RAC) In this access control model, the system administrator defines a set of rules that determine whether or not access is permitted to resource objects. These set of rules are frequently based on circumstances, such as the time of the day or the place. An example of this model would be only allowing students to use the labs during a certain time of day.

Use Cases for Network Access Control

To ensure enterprise security, a company should carefully consider network access control if its security policy allows any of the following circumstances:

• BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Employees are now free to work remotely from their mobile and laptop devices due to the exponential expansion of mobile and laptop devices, which has allowed the workforce to be liberated from desk jobs. Before a device can access the network, NAC (Network Access Control) for BYOD assures compliance for all employee-owned devices.
• Network access for non-employees: Some organizations need to allow access to individuals or devices that are external to the organization and not subjected to its security controls. Contractors, visitors, and vendors may sometimes need access to the corporate network, but not always or to all parts of the network.
• Use of IoT devices: IoT devices are growing exponentially across a broad range of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, and other sectors, and they act as additional points of entry for hackers into the network. By applying defined profiling and access policies for various device categories, NAC (Network Access Control) can reduce these risks in IoT devices.

Importance of Access Control in Regulatory Compliance

Access control is essential for helping organizations in complying with various privacy regulations. These include:

PCI DSS

PCI DSS (The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a security standard that protects the payment card ecosystem. An access control system is essential to permitting or denying transactions and ensuring the identity of users.

HIPAA

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) was created to prevent the disclosure of patient health data without their consent. Access control is critical to keeping data secure, ensuring that only authorized individuals have access to it, and preventing data breaches.

SOC 2

An auditing procedure known as Service Organization Control 2 (SOC 2) was designed for service providers who store client data in the cloud. It guarantees that service providers protect the privacy of their clients and imposes strict policies and procedures on enterprises for handling client data. To enforce these strict data security procedures, access control processes are crucial.

ISO 27001

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) establishes security standards that organizations in all sectors must comply with to show their clients that they take security seriously. According to the ISO, the gold standard for information security and compliance certification is ISO 27001. Implementing access controls is crucial to fulfilling this security standard.

Implementation of Access Control

Using VPNs is one of the most popular ways to implement access controls. This makes it possible for users to securely access resources remotely, which is essential when employees work away from the office. Companies can use VPNs to offer safe access to their networks when employees are based in different places worldwide. Although this is the best option for security, it may cause latency and other performance issues. Identity repositories, monitoring and reporting tools, password management tools, provisioning tools, and security policy enforcement services are some additional methods for access control.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Network Access Control

Advantages of Network Access Control

• One advantage of network access controls is implementing multi-factor authentication requirements, which are far more secure than identifying people by IP addresses or username/password combinations.
• After a user has gained access, secure network access control provides an additional level of protection around specific network parts to ensure application security. Some network access control solutions may include complementary security controls such as encryption and improved network visibility.
• The network access control software, in comparison to desktop security software, is controlled by a centralized user called the network administrator. Compared to the latter, which is resistant to virus and worm attacks, the former can prevent hackers before they cause any harm. This is because the software is set up on a computer without an internet connection.

Disadvantages of Network Access Control

• In some access control systems, such as two-factor authentication, the user must confirm their identity twice as compared to just once as in all other systems. This system takes much more time than any other system to grant or deny access to locations or data.
• It is possible to hack access control systems. Depending on where the information is stored, when a system is hacked, a person has access to the information of multiple people.
• Large-scale network management is a difficult task. It demands highly skilled technicians that can manage any arising security issue. A network administrator must be employed to ensure the network runs well. To meet the requirement, he needs to have the necessary training.

Access Control Software

There are numerous kinds of access control software and technologies, and as part of a larger identity and access management (IAM) strategy, various components are usually used in tandem. Software tools can be deployed on-site, on the cloud, or in both places. They might concentrate mostly on the external access management of customers or the internal access management of the company. The following list includes some sorts of access management software tools:

• Password management tools
• Reporting and monitoring applications
• Identity repositories
• Provisioning tools
• Security policy enforcement tools

Microsoft’s Active Directory (AD) is one example of software combining many of the tools mentioned above in a single offering. Other IAM vendors with popular products include IBM, Idaptive, and Okta.

Conclusion

• Access control is a data security method that allows organizations to manage who has access to their resources and data.
• The access control system can help you better understand how your building or site is being used by tracking when people enter and leave specific rooms and areas.
• There are various components of Access Control, such as Authentication, Authorization, Access, Manage, and Audit.
• Physical access control refers to restricting access to a specific physical area within a company or organization.
• Logical access control includes user authorization and authentication. It limits connections to computer networks, system files, and data.
• VPNs are one of the most popular ways to implement access controls. This makes it possible for users to securely access resources remotely, which is essential when employees work away from the office.
• According to the ISO, the gold standard for information security and compliance certification is ISO 27001.