| 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.
The term security label is often used to associate a set of security attributes with a specific information object as part of the data structure for that object (e.g., user access privileges, nationality, affiliation as contractor).
Throughout the course of normal usage, authorized users of operating systems that handle sensitive data will have the need to associate security attributes with information. Operating systems that maintain the binding of organization defined security attributes to data must ensure that authorized users can associate security attributes with information. This requirement is applicable to network device management and is not applicable to the routing function. |
