authorization

Definition 1

General: Process used in verifying that the individual or organization who has requested or initiated an action has the right to do so.

Definition 2

Computer access: Process of granting or denying a user the access to a secure system. Most computer security systems are based on a two step process: (1) Authentication to ensure that the entity requesting access to the system is what or who it claims to be, and (2) Authorization to allow access only to those resources which are appropriate to that entity's identity.