Enterprise Access Control (EAC) is the centralized management of permissions and security policies across an entire organization’s digital and physical infrastructure. Unlike standard access control, which is often managed within individual applications or "silos," EAC provides a unified framework to ensure that every user—human or non-human—has the correct level of access to every resource, regardless of where that resource lives.

The Core Pillars of EAC

  • Centralized Identity: Leveraging a single source of truth (like Okta or Microsoft Entra ID) to manage users across the whole enterprise.
  • Automated Lifecycle Management: Automatically granting access when an employee is hired and instantly revoking it (deprovisioning) when they leave.
  • Granular Visibility: Providing a single pane of glass to see who has access to what, which is essential for audit logs.
  • Scalability: The ability to manage thousands of users and millions of files without manual intervention.

Why EAC is Vital for Regulated Industries

For companies in Defense, Finance, and Healthcare, standard access control isn't enough to pass an audit.

  • Defense (CMMC 2.0): Requires proof that CUI is only accessible to authorized personnel. EAC provides the automated enforcement and reporting needed to satisfy CMMC auditors.
  • Finance (GLBA): EAC ensures that access to financial records is restricted based on job function, preventing insider threats and ensuring compliance with the Safeguards Rule.
  • Healthcare (HIPAA): Centralized control allows hospitals to enforce the "Minimum Necessary" rule, ensuring that a staff member’s access to PHI is automatically revoked if they change departments.

FAQs: Enterprise Access Control (EAC)

How does EAC differ from IAM (Identity and Access Management)?

IAM is the broad category of technology and processes used to manage identities. EAC is the specific execution of access policies across the enterprise. You use an IAM tool to achieve Enterprise Access Control.

Can EAC manage physical security too?

Yes. Modern EAC systems often integrate with physical badge readers and biometric scanners, so an employee’s digital access and building access are managed from the same central console.

What is the "Blast Radius" in EAC?

The "Blast Radius" refers to how much damage a compromised account can do. A key goal of EAC is to use the Principle of Least Privilege to shrink this radius as much as possible.

How does Theodosiana bridge the gap in EAC?

Traditional EAC systems protect the "gate" to an application, but they lose control once a file is downloaded. Theodosiana extends EAC to the data itself. By embedding access rules directly into the file, Theodosiana ensures that your enterprise policies are enforced even when data moves outside your managed network.