What is Authorization?
Authorization is the process of determining what an authenticated user, system, or device is permitted to do once access has been granted. It defines the scope of access rights, such as reading, writing, modifying, or executing, based on assigned policies, roles, or attributes. Unlike authentication, which verifies identity, authorization verifies permissions. This decision-making process typically occurs after authentication and is enforced through access control models like Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC), or Time-Based Access Control (TBAC). Authorization ensures that only properly permitted users can interact with specific systems, functions, or data.
Why is Authorization Important?
Authorization is a core principle of secure system design and essential for enforcing least privilege, ensuring users and devices have only the minimum access necessary to perform their tasks. Without effective authorization, authenticated users could access resources beyond their intended scope, increasing the risk of insider threats, data leaks, or system misconfiguration.
In critical infrastructure environments such as energy, manufacturing, and transportation, authorization policies help prevent operational disruption, enforce separation of duties, and ensure compliance with cybersecurity standards like IEC 62443, NERC CIP, NIS2, and TSA SD02E. These standards require precise control over who can access which systems and functions, under what conditions, and for how long.
Authorization is also a foundational element of zero trust architecture, where all access is continuously evaluated, not just at the point of login. Properly applied, authorization reduces attack surfaces, blocks lateral movement, and supports operational integrity.
How Does Xona Help with Authorization?
Xona provides fine-grained authorization controls purpose-built for Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Control System (ICS) environments. Its platform uses a combination of Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Time-Based Access Control (TBAC), and identity-based segmentation to determine and enforce what users can access and when.
Administrators can create detailed authorization policies that restrict access to specific systems, sessions, or actions based on user roles, schedules, or operational context. Xona’s platform integrates with identity providers like Active Directory, SAML, and LDAP, enabling centralized policy enforcement across both IT and OT domains.
Through its credential injection, session moderation, and real-time access control, Xona ensures users are authorized only for their approved tasks, without exposing credentials or increasing cyber risk. Every access event is logged and recorded, supporting auditability and compliance. This enables organizations to maintain a consistent and provable authorization framework across distributed, high-risk environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is authorization different from authentication?
Authentication verifies who a user or system is, while authorization determines what actions they are allowed to perform or what resources they can access after successful authentication.
What are the most common models used to enforce authorization?
Common models include Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC), and Time-Based Access Control (TBAC), each applying different criteria to define and enforce permissions.
