What are access controls used for?

Access controls are mechanisms put in place to ensure that only authorized individuals can gain access to certain resources, such as data, applications, or physical locations. They serve as a critical component of an organization's security strategy, helping to safeguard sensitive information from unauthorized access, whether it be by insiders or external attacks.

Access controls can take various forms, including user authentication methods (like passwords, biometric scans, or security tokens) and permission settings that define what actions users can perform once granted access. By regulating who has access and what they can do, access controls help protect the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of information systems.

Although resetting user passwords, improving system performance, and monitoring online activity can be important aspects of an IT environment, they do not fundamentally define the function of access controls. Instead, those other choices represent actions or objectives that may support overall cybersecurity strategies but are not the primary purpose of access controls.