Authorization in cybersecurity is the process of granting or denying access to resources or actions within a system or network based on the authenticated identity of a user or system. While authentication verifies who the user is, authorization determines what the authenticated user is allowed to do. It specifies which resources, actions, or permissions a user has once they have been identified and authenticated.

Key Aspects of Authorization:

1. Access Control: Authorization is often implemented through access control mechanisms, which define what resources or services a user can access. This could include access to files, databases, applications, network services, etc.
2. Permissions: Authorization involves assigning permissions or rights that specify what actions a user or system can perform on specific resources. These can include:
   • Read: The ability to view the contents of a resource.
   • Write: The ability to modify or add to a resource.
   • Execute: The ability to run a program or process.
   • Delete: The ability to remove a resource.
3. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): One of the most common models of authorization, RBAC assigns users to roles, and each role has specific permissions attached to it. For example:
   • Admin: Full access to all resources.
   • User: Limited access to specific resources.
   • Guest: Very restricted access, typically read-only.
4. Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC): In ABAC, access decisions are based on attributes or properties of the user, resource, or environment, rather than pre-defined roles. For example, access might depend on factors like the user's department, the resource's classification level, or the time of day.
5. Discretionary Access Control (DAC): In DAC, the owner of the resource controls access permissions. The owner decides who can access the resource and what actions they can perform.
6. Mandatory Access Control (MAC): MAC enforces strict rules on access based on security labels (like classification levels such as “Confidential” or “Top Secret”). It is commonly used in military or government environments, where access is highly regulated.

Authorization Flow:

1. Authentication: The user or system is first authenticated to verify their identity, usually by using something they know (password), have (smartcard or token), or are (biometric data).
2. Access Control Check: Once the identity is confirmed, the system checks whether the authenticated user is authorized to perform the requested action or access the specific resource. This is determined by comparing the user's permissions (or roles) against the required access for the requested resource.
3. Grant or Deny Access: Based on the access control check, access is either granted or denied. If granted, the user can interact with the resource according to their permissions. If denied, the system may display an error message or log the failed attempt.

Common Authorization Models:

1. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC):
   • Roles: Users are assigned specific roles (e.g., Admin, Manager, User), and each role has associated permissions.
   • Example: A manager may have permission to modify employee records, while a regular user only has permission to view them.
2. Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC):
   • Attributes: Access decisions are made based on a combination of attributes (e.g., user’s department, resource sensitivity, or environmental factors like time of access).
   • Example: A finance employee may be allowed to access financial records during business hours, but not after hours.
3. Access Control Lists (ACLs):
   • ACLs define which users or system processes are granted access to specific resources and what operations they can perform.
   • Example: An ACL may specify that only certain users can read a file, while others may have permissions to modify it.
4. Mandatory Access Control (MAC):
   • In MAC, access control is determined by the system, not the user. It typically involves labels or classifications for resources (e.g., "Confidential," "Top Secret") and policies to enforce who can access them.
   • Example: A user with a "Confidential" clearance level may not be able to access "Top Secret" files.