Definition
An access matrix represents the set of authorizations defined at a given time in the system.
Background
The access matrix model provides a framework for describing discretionary access control policies. First proposed by Lampson [3] for the protection of resources within the context of operating systems, and later refined by Graham and Denning [1], the model was subsequently formalized by Harrison, Ruzzo, and Ullmann (HRU model) [2], who developed the access control model proposed by Lampson to the goal of analyzing the complexity of determining an access control policy. The original model is called access matrix since the authorization state, meaning the authorizations holding at a given time in the system, is represented as a matrix. The matrix therefore gives an abstract representation of protection systems.
Theory and Application
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Recommended Reading
Graham GS, Denning PJ (1972) Protection – principles and practice. In: AFIPS spring joint computer conference, Atlantic City, vol 40, pp 417–429
Harrison MH, Ruzzo WL, Ullman JD (1976) Protection in operating systems. Commun ACM 19(8):461–471
Lampson BW (1971) Protection. In: Proceedings of the 5th Princeton Symposium on Information Science and Systems, Princeton university, p 437
Samarati P, De Capitani di Vimercati S (2001) Access control: policies, models, and mechanisms. In: Focardi R, Gorrieri R (eds) Foundations of Security Analysis and Design. Lecture notes in computer science, vol 2171. Springer, Berlin
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De Capitani di Vimercati, S. (2011). Access Matrix. In: van Tilborg, H.C.A., Jajodia, S. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cryptography and Security. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5906-5_807
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5906-5_807
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