What Is the Difference Between RBAC and EBAC

Over the past several years, we’ve seen explosive growth in the software-as-a-service (SaaS) market, with new solutions consistently being developed and introduced to the world. On its face, this seems like an incredible positive—now, companies can find SaaS solutions for virtually any purpose or use case. 

While some of these software solutions boast comprehensive feature sets and functionality, others cater to much more specific, niche uses. They all have one thing in common, though: the need for an effective access control model, to ensure that users can access the resources they need, while preventing unauthorized access. 

Role-based access control (RBAC), represents one of the most common approaches. It’s not the only framework worth considering, however. For example, entity-based access control (EBAC) is another popular option that provides a simplified approach to access control.

Keep reading for an overview of RBAC vs. ABAC, SBAC, and EBAC—including how each contributes to enhanced security, increased efficiency, and reduced costs.

What Are the 4 Main Types of Access Control?

Four of the most commonly-used access control types are role-based, attribute-based, scope-based, and entity-based access control—RBAC, ABAC, SBAC, and EBAC, respectively.

• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) grants or denies access based on an individual user’s role within the organization; everyone with a shared role gets the same permissions.

• What Is the Difference Between Rule-Based and Role-Based Access? Basically, the answer is in the names. RBAC primarily bases access on users’ defined roles, while rule-based access control (RuBAC) manages access based on existing rules and permissions.

• Rather than basing user permissions on user roles, Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) bases access on specific characteristics (or attributes) of individuals, objects, or actions.

• What Is the Difference Between RBAC and ABAC? Because ABAC accounts for more factors than RBAC, it provides administrators with more dynamic, granular control over user access and permissions.

• Scope-Based Access Control (SBAC), enables administrators to limit—or expand—individual users’ access rights for one or more resources based on their responsibilities. For example, some users might require edit access for a database, while others’ roles simply require access to view the data.

• What is the Difference Between SBAC and RBAC? While RBAC is primarily based on static roles, SBAC enables a more dynamic approach based not just on user roles, but individual user and resource attributes, as well.

• Entity-Based Access Control (EBAC) makes it possible for administrators to group resources together and create specific controls that limit outside access.

• What Is the Difference Between RBAC and EBAC? EBAC is generally understood to be a “simplified” version of role-based access control.

Now that we’ve discussed four of the most common access control models, there are two important items to note:

1. RBAC, ABAC, SBAC, and EBAC are not mutually-exclusive options. Instead, organizations typically leverage multiple types of access control to create a comprehensive authorization framework for their unique needs.

2. These are not the only access control models worth considering—others include mandatory access control (MAC), discretionary access control (DAC), relationship-based access control (ReBAC).

Next, let’s address the all-important question of which model is best for your organization.

RBAC, ABAC, SBAC, or EBAC: Which Should You Use?

It really depends on the specific needs of the organization, including how roles are defined, users and resources are grouped, and the extent to which administrators need to be able to fine-tune access (based on roles and/or attributes, for example). It’s most common for organizations to implement authorization frameworks that leverage multiple types of access control. 

• Generally speaking, RBAC works very well for small to mid-sized organizations, especially ones in which both roles and responsibilities are well-defined.

• ABAC is often more appropriate for large, enterprise-level organizations with a large number of users and resources to manage and a need for a dynamic access control method.

• SBAC extends basic RBAC functionality with a more scalable framework that enables administrators to define the scope of users’ needs and implement appropriate permissions. 

• Finally, administrators can use EBAC to handle the needs of large, complex organizations by grouping resources and creating guardrails, ensuring that users who need access are granted authorization, while preventing unauthorized access.

What Is the Best RBAC Solution?

The biggest key to a successful role-based access control implementation is choosing the solution that best aligns with your organization’s objectives. Here are a few tips to consider:

1. First, take an inventory of the apps, systems, and resources used throughout the organization. As you do this, make a list of assets that are either underutilized or unused—“retiring” these assets can help reduce costs and reduce security risks.

2. Next, consider different users’ roles and responsibilities, to create effective user groups for RBAC implementation.

3. Then, define specific permissions based on user roles and the entities they require access to.

4. Finally, as you begin evaluating different solutions, keep your defined roles, user groups, and permissions front-of-mind. This will help ensure that you find the best solution for your needs, instead of trying to compare solutions based on how they’re marketed or their lists of features and benefits.

How Do Self-Service and Automation Enhance RBAC?

Modern RBAC solutions like Lumos offer functionality that far exceeds the minimum requirements of RBAC. For example, Lumos empowers administrators with tools that enable automation and self-service—meaning the IT team no longer has to be bogged down by what can feel like an endless stream of access requests and similar tickets.

• Download our RBAC guide to learn more about how Lumos’s self-service and automation capabilities can help streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve overall security.

See What Lumos Can Do for Your Organization

One of the best ways to understand the impact of a platform like Lumos is by reading customer stories, which you can find on our website. Or, you can book a demo with our team to discuss your needs and see how our platform can help your business.