Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is a security framework that grants access to computing resources based on a user's job function rather than their individual identity. Administrators assign specific permissions—such as read, write, or execute—to defined roles (e.g., "Data Scientist," "Auditor," or "Admin") and then assign users to those roles. This approach simplifies administration, enforces the principle of least privilege, and ensures employees only interact with the data and tools strictly necessary for their responsibilities, significantly reducing internal security risks and compliance overhead.

What are the three primary rules of RBAC?

To function correctly, an RBAC system generally adheres to these three principles:

1. Role Assignment: A subject can only exercise a permission if the subject has been assigned a role.
2. Role Authorization: A subject's active role must be authorized for that user.
3. Permission Authorization: A subject can only exercise a permission if that permission is authorized for the subject’s active role.

How is RBAC different from ABAC?

RBAC grants access based on static job roles (who you are in the org chart), whereas Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) uses dynamic attributes—such as time of day, user location, or specific file tags—to determine access permissions in real-time.

What is the principle of least privilege?

It is the security concept ensuring users act with the minimum levels of access necessary to complete their specific job functions.

Why is RBAC important for regulatory compliance?

RBAC is essential for meeting standards like HIPAA, GDPR, and SOC 2. By creating a structured hierarchy of access, organizations can easily prove to auditors that sensitive data is restricted only to authorized personnel, maintaining a clear audit trail of who can access what.

How does Shakudo implement RBAC for AI and data teams?

Shakudo unifies Identity and Access Control across the entire open and closed-source ecosystem. Instead of managing logins for every individual tool, Shakudo centralizes RBAC to manage permissions for storage, compute, and services simultaneously. This allows teams to share data and access rights instantly while maintaining a virtual air-gap and absolute governance within your infrastructure.