What does an Access Control List (ACL) consist of?

An Access Control List (ACL) is a fundamental component in the context of computer security and resource management. It specifically comprises a list of permissions associated with objects within a system. The purpose of an ACL is to define which users or system processes have access to certain resources, and what operations they are permitted to perform on those resources.

In this context, user matrices and capability tables are essential elements that relate to ACLs. User matrices help to illustrate the relationships between users and their permissions regarding various resources, while capability tables provide a means to specify which users can perform certain actions on those resources. Together, these elements contribute to the effectiveness of an ACL by clearly delineating access rights and ensuring that only authorized entities can interact with designated resources.

On the other hand, network configuration settings, encryption keys, and firewall rules do not directly pertain to the composition of an ACL. Network configuration settings typically relate to the arrangement and operation of network resources rather than access permissions. Encryption keys are related to securing data rather than governing access controls, and firewall rules are rather specific to network security measures and may serve as an additional layer of protection but do not form part of the ACL itself.