What is the primary purpose of access control?

The primary purpose of access control is to regulate who can view or use resources. This involves implementing policies and mechanisms that determine the level of accessibility individuals or systems have to information and resources within an organization. By controlling access, organizations can protect sensitive data, ensure that only authorized users can perform specific actions, and minimize the risk of data breaches or misuse.

Access control mechanisms can include authentication processes like passwords or biometrics, as well as authorization measures that specify user permissions. This regulatory aspect is fundamental to information security, as it helps to maintain the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of data by preventing unauthorized access.

While data integrity, network speed, and routine security audits are important aspects of information security, they do not embody the primary goal of access control itself, which distinctly focuses on defining and managing user permissions and access to resources.