Authorization is the process of giving someone permission to do or have something. In multi-user
computer systems, a system administrator defines for the system which users are allowed access to the system
and what privileges of use (such as access to which file directories, hours of access, amount of
allocated storage space, and so forth). Assuming that someone has logged in to a computer operating
system or application,
the system or application may want to identify what resources the user can be given during this
session. Thus, authorization is sometimes seen as both the preliminary setting up of permissions by
a system administrator and the actual checking of the permission values that have been set up when
a user is getting access.
Logically, authorization is preceded by authentication.
This was last updated in January 1999
Dig Deeper
-
Software consultant Nari Kannan describes how agile practices and work can be scaled appropriately for success in large organizations. Using lean thinking, reduction of waste, and appropriately organizing work and people, agile can be successfully adapted, regardless of the size of the organization.
-
Undiscovered software glitches in complex systems are common, and one of the primary drivers is the loss of mainframe knowledge of a retiring workforce. Software glitches are lurking in many large systems, particularly mainframe systems, and the COBOL programmers that understand the code best are retiring, according to Jeff Papows, author of the new book, "Glitch - The hidden impact of faulty software." Papows describes how faulty software caused a huge charge to debit card holder's account and why such mistakes are on the rise in this interview. Papows notes the three most pressing drivers for software glitches: loss of intellectual knowledge, market consolidation and the ubiquity of technology
-
Karen Johnson explains the situations in which SQL skills are important for a software tester as well as times when the expertise is not required.
-
People who read this also read...