What Are the Three Main Types of Access Control Systems?
With penalties up to $100,000 per day, AODA compliance is not optional. Here's what every Ontario organization needs to know about accessible access control.
ACCESS CONTROL GUIDE
What Are the Three Main Types of Access Control Systems?
A practical guide to discretionary, mandatory, and role-based access control for securing buildings and digital information.
- 9 min read
- By Turnstile Security Systems
22%
Of breaches studied involved compromised credentials as an initial access vector
The three main types of access control systems are Discretionary Access Control (DAC), Mandatory Access Control (MAC), and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC). Each one decides who can enter a place or open a file in a different way. At Turnstile Security, we help building owners pick the right setup every day. This guide explains all three in plain words so you can choose with confidence.
What Is Access Control?
Access control is a way to decide who can go where in a building or use which data in a system. Think of it like a school. Students can enter classrooms, but only teachers can enter the staff room. Access control puts the same idea into a lock, a card reader, or a computer program.
How Does Access Control Check a Person?
It checks a person in three steps: identification, authentication, and authorization. First, the person says who they are, maybe with a card or a name. Next, the system proves it is really them, maybe with a PIN or a fingerprint. Last, the system looks at the rules and decides what that person is allowed to open.
Is Access Control Only for Doors?
No, access control works for both physical places and digital data. Physical access control protects doors, gates, and rooms. Logical access control protects files, apps, and networks. Many businesses need both, and the three types in this blog work for each side.
The Three Main Types of Access Control Systems
The three main types are DAC, MAC, and RBAC, and the biggest difference is who makes the rules. In some systems the owner decides. In others, a central boss decides, or the job title decides. In 1992, researchers David Ferraiolo and Richard Kuhn compared all three in their paper “Role-Based Access Controls.” They argued that many businesses and government offices need something better than DAC, and they described RBAC as a fit for everyday work places that are not military.
What Is Discretionary Access Control (DAC)?
DAC is a system where the owner of a door, room, or file decides who gets in. If you own a small shop, you can hand a key card to your cousin and take it back whenever you like. It is simple and quick to set up. The downside is that it depends on one person making good choices every time. If the owner is careless, a wrong person can get in. This is why DAC works best for small places with only a few people.
What Is Mandatory Access Control (MAC)?
MAC is a system where one central authority sets strict rules, and nobody else can change them. The owner of a room cannot just give out a key. Every person gets a clearance level, and every area gets a security level. You can only enter if your level is high enough. MAC assigns security clearance levels to users and classification levels to resources. Access is granted only when the system’s security rules allow it. It is very safe, but it is also slow and hard to manage, so most normal businesses do not need it.
What Is Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)?
RBAC is a system where access depends on a person’s job role rather than their individual identity. For example, nurses can access patient care areas, cleaners can enter designated cleaning areas, and managers can access administrative offices. Each role has specific permissions assigned by an administrator. When an employee changes jobs or leaves the company, the administrator can update or remove their permissions.
What Other Types of Access Control Are There?
There are more models beyond the main three, and you may hear people say there are four or five types. The extra ones are mostly newer or more specialized versions of the same ideas.
What Is Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)?
ABAC is a system that allows access based on details about the person, the place, and the situation. For example, it might let a worker into the lab only on weekdays, only from the office network, and only if they finished safety training. It is flexible and strong. It also takes more planning, so it suits larger companies with tricky rules.
What Are Rule-Based and Time-Based Access Control?
These are systems that follow set rules, like a schedule. A rule might say the front door unlocks at 8 a.m. and locks at 6 p.m. Time-based control is handy for cleaners, delivery drivers, and part-time staff who only need entry during certain hours.
How Does Access Control Work in a Real Building?
In a real building, access control works through three parts: a reader at the door, a credential in your hand, and software that makes the decision. When you tap a card, the reader sends the data to the software. The software checks the rules and tells the lock to open or stay shut. It happens in less than a second.
Which Door Readers Are Used?
The common door readers are keypads, swipe card readers, RFID readers, biometric readers, and smart lock readers. Keypads use a PIN. Swipe readers need a card pulled through a slot. RFID readers only need a quick tap or wave. Biometric readers check a fingerprint, face, or eye. Smart locks connect to a phone. Pairing the right reader with strong door hardware keeps the whole entry point safe.
Which Credentials Can People Use?
People can use physical keys, PIN codes, key cards, key fobs, mobile phones, or their own body through biometrics. Keys are the oldest and easiest to lose. Cards and fobs are easy to cancel if lost. Phones are handy because people already carry them. Biometrics are the hardest to share or steal.
What Is the Difference Between Server-Based and Cloud-Based Software?
Server-based software runs on a computer inside your building, while cloud-based software runs online and you open it with a web browser. Server-based setups give you full control but need someone to maintain them. Cloud-based setups update on their own and let you manage many buildings from one screen. Many of our clients choose cloud systems for this reason.
What Are the Benefits of Access Control?
Access control helps businesses manage who can enter their buildings and which areas they can use. It improves security, tracks employee entry, protects private spaces, and makes it easier to manage access across multiple locations. Businesses can also remove access quickly when an employee leaves or loses a credential.
Do You Know Who Comes and Goes?
Yes, every card tap or PIN entry is saved with a name and a time. If something goes missing, you can look at the record and see who was there. This also helps you spot odd patterns, like someone entering at midnight.
Does It Reduce Theft and Accidents?
Yes, access control can reduce theft and accidents by keeping unauthorized people away from valuable equipment, inventory, and hazardous areas. For example, a business can limit warehouse access to trained employees and prevent visitors from entering areas with heavy machinery. This helps protect property and reduces the risk of workplace injuries.
Can It Protect Private Data and Rooms?
Yes, access control protects confidential information by limiting entry to rooms where sensitive records and equipment are stored. For example, businesses can restrict server rooms, document storage areas, and private offices to authorized employees. This helps prevent unauthorized people from viewing, accessing, or handling confidential information.
Does It End the Lost Key Problem?
Yes, since a lost card can be turned off in seconds. You do not need to change every lock in the building. This saves you money and stops one lost card from becoming a bigger problem.
Can You Manage More Than One Building?
Yes, cloud tools let you add or remove people at every location from one place. This saves time and keeps the rules the same across all your buildings. It also means a new manager can start work on day one without waiting for keys.
Which Type of Access Control Is Right for Your Building?
The right type depends on your size, your risk, and the number of people who use the building. A small shop and a large hospital have very different needs, so the best choice is not the same for everyone.
What Works for a Small Office or Store?
DAC or a simple form of RBAC works well for small places. With only a few workers, the owner can manage access easily. A card reader on the main door and one on the back room is often enough.
What Works for Healthcare Buildings?
RBAC works best for healthcare. Doctors, nurses, cleaners, and visitors all need different access. Roles let the hospital change who can enter medicine rooms and patient areas without long paperwork.
What Works for Big or Multi-Tenant Buildings?
RBAC with cloud software is the smart pick for big buildings. Each tenant can have their own groups, and the building manager can see the whole picture. Adding intercoms at the front helps guests get in safely.
What Works for High-Security Areas?
MAC is suitable for environments where access permissions must follow strict, centrally managed security policies. The strict rules make sure nobody can bend the system, even by accident.
What Should You Ask Before You Choose?
Ask how many people need access, how fast your team is growing, what your budget is, and whether any law or rule applies to your business. Also think about how easy the system will be for your staff to use every day. A system that is too hard to use often gets ignored.
Conclusion
DAC gives owners control, MAC locks everything down with strict rules, and RBAC links access to job roles. Each one has a clear place, so none of them is good or bad on its own. For most businesses, RBAC offers the best balance of safety and ease because it grows as your team grows. Pick the model that fits your people, your building, and your budget, and review it as you grow. A quick check once a year keeps old cards and old roles from becoming a risk.
Ready to Secure Your Building? Talk to a Turnstile Security Expert
Not sure which system fits your building? The team at Turnstile Security can look at your space, explain your options, and design and install the right setup for you. We keep the process simple, so you always know what you are getting and why. Contact us today to ask your questions or request a free quote. We are happy to help whether you have one door or many.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between DAC and MAC?
In DAC the owner gives permission, but in MAC only a central authority can. DAC is more flexible, and MAC is more secure. The right choice depends on how much risk you can accept.
Which type is the most secure?
MAC is the most secure because nobody can change the rules on their own. It is also the hardest to manage. That is why it is mostly used by governments and the military.
Is RBAC better than ABAC?
Neither is better in every case. RBAC is easier and faster to set up, while ABAC gives finer control for complex needs. Many companies start with RBAC and add ABAC rules later.
What are the 4 or 5 types of access control?
ABAC and rule-based access control are two additional models. Some classifications also include time-based or risk-based approaches. These models build on the main three and help with special needs.
What is the best access control system for a building?
There is no single best system, because every building has different needs. For most offices, schools, and clinics, an RBAC system with cloud software is a safe and simple choice. A short talk with a security expert can help you pick the right readers, credentials, and rules.
SECURE YOUR BUILDING
Need help choosing access control for your facility? Talk to our team about your entry points and security needs.
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