Glossary definition: Mandatory Access Control (MAC)

MAC: Access Control for Secure Data

Mandatory Access Control (MAC) is an access control system that requires users to be explicitly identified and authorized before they can access any resources or information. It is a type of access control system that is enforced by a centralized authority, such as a system administrator, and is based on the classification and labeling of resources. MAC is a type of access control system that is based on a set of predetermined rules, rather than user-defined rules, and is typically used in highly secure environments, such as government or military networks. MAC prevents users from accessing resources or information that they are not authorized to access, and is often used in conjunction with other access control systems, such as Discretionary Access Control (DAC) or Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).