Data protection is fundamental in today’s digital world to safeguard critical and sensitive information. For companies and organizations, data protection and security strategies have become imperative to protect trade secrets, customer information, and transactions. There can be extremely harmful consequences for a business, especially financially if data has fallen into the wrong hands. As such, many businesses choose to implement and maintain access control, such as Mandatory Access Control.
Mandatory Access Control (MAC) Definition
Mandatory Access Control, or MAC for short, refers to a cybersecurity system that looks to allow or deny access to private and protected information in an organization. This allocation of access privileges depends on the hierarchy of employees and personnel in said organization. When a user tries to access a resource, the system automatically checks whether or not they are allowed access and their assigned category. Users must fulfil both security and category in order to access data.
For example, certain employees require certain access to information and privileges from an organization to carry out their jobs. In order to effectively track and delegate how this data is being utilized, Mandatory Access Control systems were created to allow various different users access to the resources they need, and nothing more.
To carry out MAC, an organization must first put in time and effort to understand the information flow properly and map it out. This includes looking at the users and processes, the resources that are being accessed, and the rules and properties (labels, categories). The system is relatively easy to implement as it generally requires a one-time effort to do, after that, it would only require updates as job roles or organization structures change.
Types of Mandatory Access Control
There are primarily two types of Mandatory Access Control:
- Multilevel security systems: This system consists of a vertical structure of security levels, making it a simple form. Users can only access the information up to their security level clearance, so in the same or lower levels of the vertical structure.
- Multilateral security systems: As in the name, multilateral means not only vertical but also horizontal security systems. This is more complex as the assignment of security clearance is based on segments.
Why use Mandatory Access Control? The Advantages
There are several reasons why a business might implement a Mandatory Access Control system. You can find the detailed information in this product brochure. Here are just a few highlights below.
- High-level data protection: As a mandatory system, businesses can rest assured that confidential and sensitive data is well protected with little room for any leaks. MAC is one of the most secure access systems as it’s carefully planned, checked, and reinforced. Businesses have the peace of mind that only certain, authorized personnel have access to the information needed and no more. Therefore, data cannot be modified without proper authorization.
- Information is centralized: When creating the Mandatory Access Control system, categories and systems are set and cemented. Users are also allocated their access level from this. This makes the whole system centralized and under the control of one authority. Any changes will have to go through this singular authority, protecting the data from being tampered with.
- Privacy: Again, as this system is centralized, no other person can make changes to the categories or access levels easily. It can only be updated by the highest level of authorities. Thus, ensuring a certain level of privacy for organizations to keep their data secure.
These are some of the key advantages. However, it’s important to note that in order for your Mandatory Access Control system to stay successful and protect your organization’s data, it must be set up with care and regularly updated. This ensures that the right individuals have access to the right information at all times.
Examples of Mandatory Access Control
The high, centralized level of control that comes with Mandatory Access Control means that it is used often to deal with sensitive data that require a high level of security. For example, this includes organizations such as the military, government, politics, foreign trade, healthcare, and intelligence. However, they can also be used for regular companies who need this type of system to keep their sensitive data controlled, and protected. The military is a great example to visualize how MAC occurs, where an individual data owner does not decide who has clearance, nor can they change the classification of an object.
Another important note is that due to a MAC system's regular updates and careful setup, it is standard practice and advised to integrate MAC with several other methods of access control to stay best protected.
How do you implement Mandatory Access Control?
There are tools available to implement organizational level access control mechanism such as Secure Access Secure by Sangfor. The network administrators can easily configure and implement rules and privileges for each type of user for enterprise-grade security.
A Mandatory Access Control is one of the most secure mechanisms to keep data protected while still staying useful to those who need it. It is one of the best systems to implement for a modern organization today. To learn more about how you can implement a MAC system in your organization, or strengthen your cybersecurity strategy further with other access control methods, contact our team and we will get in touch shortly.
