ABAC: Attribute-Based Access Control in Cybersecurity

Identity & Access
ByDecipherU Editorial
How is it pronounced?
AY-back/ˈeɪ.bæk/

ABAC stands for Attribute-Based Access Control. Attribute-based access control makes authorization decisions by evaluating attributes of the user, resource, action, and environment. Policies can reference department, clearance level, device posture, time of day, and location.

How ABAC Is Used in Cybersecurity

Security architects choose ABAC when static roles are too coarse for fine-grained access decisions. Cloud engineers write ABAC policies in AWS IAM or Azure ABAC to control resource access dynamically. This model supports zero trust by evaluating context on every request.

Cybersecurity Roles That Work with ABAC

Related Cybersecurity Acronyms

Frequently asked questions

What does ABAC stand for?

ABAC stands for Attribute-Based Access Control. Attribute-based access control makes authorization decisions by evaluating attributes of the user, resource, action, and environment. Policies can reference department, clearance level, device posture, time of day, and location.

What is ABAC used for in cybersecurity?

Security architects choose ABAC when static roles are too coarse for fine-grained access decisions. Cloud engineers write ABAC policies in AWS IAM or Azure ABAC to control resource access dynamically. This model supports zero trust by evaluating context on every request.

Last verified: April 2026?Report an inaccuracy