Why Policy-Based Access Control (PBAC) has taken over from Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) as the Future of Identity Governance
As enterprises adapt to an increasingly complex IT landscape, the limitations of traditional Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) have become more apparent. Enter Policy-Based Access Control (PBAC), a dynamic, context-aware approach to authorisation which enables precise, scalable, and secure access decisions in real-time.
PBAC is not just an evolution of RBAC and ABAC, it’s the future of Identity Governance and Access Management (IGA).
What is Policy-Based Access Control (PBAC)?
PBAC is an advanced access control model evaluating contextual signals, risk levels, and compliance requirements in real-time to make access decisions. Unlike static models like RBAC (which rely solely on predefined user roles) or basic ABAC (which adds user and resource attributes), PBAC brings dynamic decision-making into access control.
PBAC Considers:
- User context: Location, time of day, device posture
- Risk signals: Behavioural analytics, threat intelligence, login anomalies
- Environmental attributes: Geopolitical location, regulatory zone, or network state
- Policy logic: Enterprise-specific rules that adapt to real-time events
The Evolution From RBAC and ABAC to PBAC
RBAC and ABAC have served enterprises well but in today’s perimeterless, cloud-first environment but their rigidity can become a liability.
| Access Model | Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| RBAC | Simple, Widely Adopted | Not scalable in complex orgs; static |
| ABAC | Adds in flexibility via attributes | Hard to manage at scale; lacks context awareness |
| PBAC | Dynamic, risk- and context -aware | Requires advanced governance and automation |
PBAC is the logical next step in this evolution, incorporating the strengths of both RBAC and ABAC while addressing their shortcomings.
Why Identity Governance Matters More Than Ever
As PBAC introduces fine-grained, just-in-time access controls, identity governance automation becomes critical. Enterprises need to ensure that policies:
- Align with compliance mandates (HIPAA, GDPR, SOC 2, etc.)
- Are auditable and enforceable
- Respond in real time to risk and compliance posture changes
By integrating automated identity governance, organisations can ensure that access decisions are not only contextual but also governed, documented, and defensible.
Let's take a look at an example...
Financial Services: Real-Time Policy Enforcement for Fraud Prevention
Banking institution uses PBAC to allow financial advisors access to client accounts only during business hours, from authorised devices, and within approved geographies. If any of these conditions change, access is revoked or modified in real time.
Do you work in Finance?
Click here to watch our webinar on Modern Threats in Financial Services and How to Guard Against Them.
The Compliance Impact of PBAC
Policy-Based Access Control doesn’t just improve security; it also strengthens compliance posture. Organisations can:
- Prove access decisions were made according to policy
- Adapt access instantly when regulations change
- Reduce audit burden through automation and documentation
Auditors are increasingly expecting dynamic, policy-driven access governance, and PBAC delivers on all of them.
The Future: Policy-Driven Identity Governance
As the modern enterprise becomes more complex with multi-cloud infrastructure, hybrid working environments, and constantly evolving threats, static access models simply won’t scale. PBAC provides the foundation for a zero-trust, risk-aware access strategy.
But to implement PBAC effectively, organisations need more than just technology, they need intelligent identity governance, integrated risk signals, and automated enforcement mechanisms.
Ready to modernise your access strategy?
Let’s talk about how PBAC and intelligent identity governance can help you secure your enterprise without slowing it down. Our highly trained experts are ready to serve you.
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