What is role-based access control (RBAC)?

Role-based access control (RBAC) is fundamentally a security mechanism that defines access permissions based on the roles that individual users have within an organization. This means that rather than granting permissions to individual users, access is granted to roles, which are then assigned to users. By doing so, organizations can manage permissions more effectively and ensure that users only have access to information and systems necessary for their specific job functions.

This approach enhances security by implementing the principle of least privilege, where users are given the minimum level of access needed to perform their tasks. For example, a finance role might have access to financial records, while a marketing role would not, thereby reducing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately capture the essence of role-based access control. While tracking user activity, data retention strategies, and sharing access across multiple users may be important aspects of IT management or security, they do not directly relate to the concept of RBAC and how it organizes and enforces user permissions based on defined roles within a system.