ABAC plays a crucial role in ensuring compliant release of Export-controlled information

Matt Henson   ·   Tuesday, October 31st, 2023

In an increasingly interconnected world, the flow of information between and across countries is a routine aspect of business operations.

However, not all information is meant to be shared equally.

Too often the exchange of information involves sensitive data which can be subject to export control regulations.

To navigate the complex landscape of export compliance and protect critical assets, organizations must implement robust access control measures. Among these, attribute-based access control (ABAC) emerges as a pivotal solution.

Let’s explore the significance of ABAC in ensuring the compliant release of export-controlled information.

The Export Control challenge

Export control regulations, such as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Controlled Information (ECI), aim to safeguard national security by regulating the export of sensitive technology, software, and information.

Violating these regulations can result in severe penalties, which makes it necessary for organizations to not only be aware of these regulations, but also to actively enforce them.

ABAC and Export Control

ABAC considers a multitude of attributes to determine access rights.

These attributes can encompass a wide range of details including user (e.g., clearance level, job title) resource (e.g., data sensitivity, location) and environment (e.g., time of day, device being used).

The advantage of ABAC lies in its flexibility and granularity as it enables organizations to define fine-grained access policies that consider multiple attributes at the same time.

This means an individual may have varying levels of access to data or resources based on their specific attributes and the context in which they are accessing the information.

ABAC and regulatory compliance

ABAC plays a crucial role in addressing key aspects of export control:

Risk Mitigation

Assess risk more accurately by considering not just the individual’s role but also attributes like citizenship, location, the nature of the information, and more.

With this level of information, organizations can make informed decisions about whether access should be granted.

Adaptability

When regulatory updates occur, access policies can be simply and efficiently updated to ensure continuous compliance even as regulations and the organizational structure evolves.

Auditing

Compliance is not just about enforcing controls, it’s also about proving you are compliant. ABAC maintains an access decision log which provides a detailed record for compliance and audit reporting.

In a business world where data knows no borders, the need for robust access control measures have never been greater.

Export control compliance is a critical concern for organizations dealing with sensitive information. ABAC is a crucial solution in achieving compliance, navigating the complexity of export control and responsible exchange of information across global boundaries.