What is the purpose of access control in a computer system?

Access control in a computer system serves the crucial function of regulating user permissions and actions. It establishes who can access certain resources, such as files, applications, and system features, and what actions they can perform—whether that’s reading, writing, executing, or modifying data. This is vital for maintaining security and integrity within the system, as it ensures that sensitive information is only accessible to authorized users and that users do not perform actions beyond their permissions.

By controlling access, organizations can protect themselves against unauthorized access and potential data breaches, as only individuals with the necessary privileges can perform critical operations. This practice also helps in adhering to compliance and regulatory requirements that mandate specific controls around sensitive data.

The other options revolve around different system functions that do not directly pertain to access control. Performance metrics relate to assessing how well a system operates, network connections involve establishing links between devices or networks, and enhancing system speed pertains to performance optimization rather than the confines of user permissions and security.