What is a significant characteristic of Role Based Access Control (RBAC)?

A significant characteristic of Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is that access is determined by group membership. In RBAC systems, users are assigned to roles based on their job functions or responsibilities within an organization, and access rights are granted to these roles rather than to individuals. This means that users inherit permissions through their roles, which simplifies management and ensures that users receive only the access needed to perform their duties.

For instance, if a role is defined for database administrators, all users assigned to that role will automatically have the permissions needed to manage and operate on databases, regardless of how many users are in that role. This model enhances security by maintaining a clear structure of access controls that align with organizational roles, reduces the potential for individual error in assigning permissions, and allows for easier auditing and compliance tracking.

The other options present different access control models or characteristics that do not accurately describe RBAC. Centralized administrative control pertains more to systems that manage policies in a single location, individual user rights highlight an approach where permissions are granted directly to users, and permissions set at the object level suggest a more granular approach typical of Discretionary Access Control (DAC) systems.