What is Authorization?
Authorization is the process of determining or granting what actions a user, device, or system is allowed to perform after their identity has been verified through authentication. It answers the question:
“What can you do?”
Authorization ensures that users have the appropriate permissions to access specific data, applications, or resources – and that they’re restricted from accessing anything beyond their approved level.
Why Authorization Matters
Authorization is critical for:
- Data security – Prevents users from accessing or modifying sensitive information they’re not cleared for
- Regulatory compliance – Enforces least-privilege access to meet data protection laws like GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, and more
- Operational control – Ensures internal users, contractors, or external collaborators only access what’s relevant to their role
- Insider threat prevention – Limits lateral movement within systems and reduces the impact of compromised accounts
Without proper authorization, even authenticated users can become security risks.
Authorization vs. Authentication
Authentication | Authorization | |
|---|---|---|
What It Does | Verifies identity (Who are you?) | Grants access based on permissions (What can you do?) |
How It Works | Typically involves credentials (e.g., passwords, MFA) | Enforces access rules (e.g., view-only, edit, no access) |
Order | Must happen first | Happens after authentication is successful |
Real-World Examples of Authorization
- A manager can view and approve employee timesheets, but a regular employee can only submit their own.
- An external vendor has view-only access to shared documents, but cannot download or print them.
- A database admin has full access to records, while analysts only see anonymized data.
How Fasoo Strengthens Authorization
Most authorization systems control access at the application or network level. But what happens when data leaves those systems?
Fasoo brings authorization down to the file level, enforcing security policies that travel with the document itself. Fasoo Enterprise DRM (FED) applies persistent, granular permissions such as view-only, edit, print, screen capture, or share. The solution enforces role-based or attribute-based access control for documents inside and outside the organization. FED allows real-time updates to file permissions based on changing user role, projects, or risk level.
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