Definition
Authorization is the process of granting or denying specific permissions to users or systems to access resources or perform actions. It determines what authenticated individuals or entities are allowed to do within a system or environment. This control is fundamental to maintaining security, ensuring data integrity, and enforcing operational policies. In practice, authorization often involves checking user roles, group memberships, or specific access control lists before permitting an action. It matters on the job because it prevents unauthorized access and misuse of sensitive information or critical systems. For example, an employee might be authorized to view customer data but not to modify or delete it. Authorization is distinct from authentication, which merely verifies a user's identity. This concept is crucial for many IT certifications, including CompTIA Security+, CySA+, and AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate.