How do role-based access control (RBAC) systems operate?

Role-based access control (RBAC) systems operate by mapping user permissions to roles, rather than assigning permissions to each individual user. In this model, users are assigned to specific roles that represent their job functions or responsibilities within an organization. Each role has defined permissions, which determine what resources and actions users in that role can access or perform.

This approach streamlines the management of user permissions, as it allows organizations to efficiently manage access rights through roles instead of managing permissions on a user-by-user basis. When a user is assigned to a role, they automatically inherit all the permissions associated with that role, reducing administrative overhead and potential errors in permission assignments. RBAC is particularly beneficial in larger organizations where the number of users is significant, making individual permission management impractical.