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RBAC vs. ABAC: What’s the Difference?

Identity Foundations
5 min

Speaker: Paul Querna CTO, Co-founder ConductorOne

Learn the differences between role-based access control (RBAC) and attribute-based access control (ABAC), and how ABAC enables more precise, dynamic access decisions that help reduce overprivilege.

Main Takeaways

  • RBAC grants access based on roles or job titles, but is often too broad and static.

  • ABAC uses attributes like project, location, or manager to define access, allowing for more targeted control.

  • ABAC rules can combine multiple attributes to enforce complex, real-world access logic.

  • While RBAC is simpler to manage, it often leads to overprivilege when roles aren’t kept in check.

  • ABAC supports more dynamic, granular access decisions that evolve with the employee’s role and context.

  • Implementing ABAC helps businesses reduce risk by ensuring only the right people have the right access at the right time.

Learn More


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