Context-Based Access Control (CBAC) For AI
Intelligent Access Control for AI
Role-based access control (RBAC) was built for structured systems - folders, tables, and databases. AI pipelines are different: data is unstructured, free-flowing, and context-driven. Protecto’s CBAC secures AI by meaning, context, and intent.
Why traditional access controls break in AI ?
- Not Built for Free-Flowing Data – RBAC works effectively in structured databases and file systems, but struggles when AI combines chats, PDFs, logs, and transcripts into a single context window.
- Misses Complex Sensitive Data – Sensitive data isn’t just PII/PHI. Salaries, contracts, IP, and product roadmaps slip through because legacy tools only recognize basic identifiers.
- Blind to Context – Traditional access control doesn’t understand user intent or data context – rules stay rigid.
- Breaks AI Accuracy – Blunt blocking files or redaction removes too much, stripping context and breaking AI reasoning.
- Most AI data leaks happen inside the context window — where RBAC has no control.
What CBAC Delivers ?
With CBAC, you define roles in your IAM system (Active Directory, Okta, etc.) and Protecto automatically enforces permission rules across AI workflows - controlling who can access what inside LLM workflows.
- Context-Aware Access: Control access to data based on the user, agent, or tool requesting data
- Fine-Grained Protection: Protect PII/PHI, and meet compliance rules (HIPAA, GDPR, DPDP)
- Adaptive Rules: Control confidential business data like salaries, intellectual property, or contract values
- Complete Protection: Policies apply in real time across prompts, documents, agent outputs, and API calls.
Why AI needs CBAC ?
Context-Based Access Control: Security Designed for AI
Works in Unstructured Contexts
AI pipelines combine unstructured, dynamic data. CBAC adapts to this complexity by enforcing rules based on meaning, not structure.
Applies Across Multi-Agent Workflows
Secures agent-to-agent and tool-to-agent communications where sensitive data is exchanged in real time.
No Fixed Perimeter
In AI, data flows everywhere. CBAC intelligently interprets who is asking, what the prompt is, and the context to apply the right policies instantly.
Example Policies:
- “Allow support teams to view customer complaints, but mask roadmap mentions unless approved.”
- “Hide driver names from vendors in call transcripts.”
How We Compare
See why leading enterprises choose Protecto
| Features | CBAC (Context-Based Access Control) | RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) |
| Access Control | ✓ Access based on roles and what the data means | ! Access based on roles and where data sits |
| Granularity | ✓ Fine-grained Protects specific values, phrases, chunks, doc | ! Coarse Access to entire tables or files |
| Understands data | ✓ YES | ✕ Relies on column names or file locations. Fails if data is mislabeled or is the wrong place |
| Context-aware Policy | ✓ Adaptive Can handle complex, context-aware policies | ! Rigid |
| Enforcement Actions | ✓ Block, mask, or transform – while preserving meaning for AI | ! Block or Allow |
| Designed for | ✓ AI-first environments LLMs, agents, unstructured data | ! Legacy Apps Structured data, internal systems |
Real-World Use Cases
Customer Success
Mask PII in tickets and chats, but still let AI resolve cases quickly.
Healthcare
Protect PHI in clinical transcripts while ensuring HIPAA compliance and diagnostic accuracy.
Financial Services
Block account details, salaries, or contracts while enabling AI-driven analytics.
Enterprise Multi-Agent Systems
Apply tenant- or team-specific rules across agent-to-agent and MCP-driven workflows.
AI needs more than RBAC, it needs CBAC
Protecto’s CBAC delivers intelligent, context-aware access control for AI-native workflows - securing sensitive data without breaking accuracy.
- SOC2 Certified
- HIPAA Compliant
- GDPR Ready
- ISO 27001