In a Discretionary Access Control (DAC) model, who has control over objects?

In a Discretionary Access Control (DAC) model, the subject who owns the object has control over that object's access permissions. This means that the owner can decide who can access, modify, or delete the object based on their discretion. This model emphasizes individual control, allowing users to grant or restrict access to their own files or resources, thereby giving them significant power over their data.

This concept contrasts with other models, such as Mandatory Access Control (MAC), where access is managed centrally and cannot be altered by individual users. The flexibility of DAC is useful in environments where users need to collaborate, but it can also lead to potential security risks if users do not manage permissions properly. In DAC, the security decisions are made at the discretion of the data owners, which is a fundamental characteristic of this model.