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Implement Mandatory Access Control To Secure Applications, Users, and Information

Ian Powell

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Published in SELinux System Administration: Implement Mandatory Access Control To Secure Applications Users And Information Flows On Linux 3rd Edition

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Mandatory Access Control (MAC) is a security measure that enforces access controls on a system. This means that users are only allowed to access the resources that they are authorized to access, regardless of their privileges. MAC is often used in conjunction with other security measures, such as role-based access control (RBAC) and discretionary access control (DAC).

MAC works by assigning labels to both subjects (users) and objects (resources). These labels are used to determine whether or not a subject is allowed to access an object. The labels are typically based on a hierarchy, with higher-level labels having more access than lower-level labels.

For example, a user with a "secret" label might be allowed to access files with a "secret" or "unclassified" label, but not files with a "top secret" label.

SELinux System Administration: Implement mandatory access control to secure applications, users, and information flows on Linux, 3rd Edition

by Sven Vermeulen

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	458 pages

There are many benefits to implementing MAC, including:

Improved security: MAC can help to improve the security of your system by preventing unauthorized users from accessing sensitive information.
Reduced risk of data breaches: MAC can help to reduce the risk of data breaches by making it more difficult for attackers to access sensitive information.
Enhanced compliance: MAC can help you to comply with regulations that require you to protect sensitive information.

There are a few different ways to implement MAC. The most common method is to use a MAC policy server. A MAC policy server is a software program that stores and manages the MAC policies for your system.

Once you have installed a MAC policy server, you can create MAC policies to control access to your resources. These policies can be based on a variety of factors, such as the user's role, the sensitivity of the resource, and the time of day.

MAC is an important security measure that can help to protect your applications, users, and information from unauthorized access. By implementing MAC, you can improve the security of your system, reduce the risk of data breaches, and enhance your compliance with regulations.

If you are interested in implementing MAC in your own organization, I recommend that you start by learning more about the different MAC policy servers that are available. Once you have chosen a MAC policy server, you can begin creating MAC policies to control access to your resources.

SELinux System Administration: Implement mandatory access control to secure applications, users, and information flows on Linux, 3rd Edition

by Sven Vermeulen

4.3 out of 5