| Security attributes are abstractions representing the basic properties or characteristics of an entity (e.g., subjects and objects) with respect to safeguarding information. These attributes are typically associated with internal data structures (e.g., records, buffers, files) within the network element and are used to enable the implementation of access control and flow control policies, reflect special dissemination, handling or distribution instructions, or support other aspects of the information security policy. Network elements that maintain the binding of organization defined security attributes to data must ensure that the information-attribute associations can be used as a basis for automated policy actions.
Examples of automated policy actions include automated access control decisions (e.g., Mandatory Access Control decisions), or decisions to release (or not release) information (e.g., information flows via cross domain systems).
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