Author: Emre Baran

Robust and agile security frameworks are crucial for any organization. With the shift towards a microservices architecture, a more refined, granular level of access control becomes imperative due to the increased complexity, distribution, and autonomy associated with individual service operations. The traditional monolithic models are often ill-suited to address the shared authorization needs in such an environment. This is where the synergy of Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) and decoupled authorization steps in, serving as a bridge between rigid traditional access control models and the nuanced, complex authorization needs of contemporary enterprises.

The Transition To Granular Authorization

The journey from conventional Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) or rudimentary access models to a more nuanced ABAC framework is often perceived as a challenging endeavor. However, it's a transition that holds the promise of not only enhancing security postures but also aligning with compliance mandates such as SOC2, ISO27001, GDPR, and CCPA.

As the founder of Cerbos, I have first-hand experience with the challenges that CTOs face when building software solutions that meet immediate requirements while also future-proofing their infrastructure. This balancing act becomes particularly challenging when addressing complex authorization requirements in enterprise settings, which is why there are significant benefits to building the correct solution early on.

Large organizations require sophisticated and flexible authorization systems to accommodate diverse roles and access levels. As these companies grow, their authorization needs evolve, making it difficult to anticipate future requirements. Additionally, enterprises face the challenge of managing multiple departments, geographies, and seniority levels, which further complicates the authorization landscape. As organizations scale, the stakes for security, compliance, and performance increase, creating more pressure on CTOs to balance current needs with preparing for future growth.