An authorization policy is a structured set of security rules that defines what actions authenticated users, systems, or service accounts are permitted to perform on specific resources within an IT environment. Unlike authentication, which verifies identity, authorization policies determine the scope of access and permissible operations—such as viewing, modifying, deleting, or executing data and functionalities—based on predefined criteria including user roles, group memberships, device posture, and resource sensitivity.

These policies are fundamental to enforcing the principle of least privilege, significantly reducing attack surfaces and preventing unauthorized access. By systematically evaluating access requests against established conditions, authorization policies provide granular control over organizational assets, protect data confidentiality and integrity, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. This dynamic framework is essential for maintaining robust Identity & Access Management (IAM) and a secure operational posture.