Role-based Access Control (RBAC) is another method of controlling user access to file system objects. In Role-based Access Control (RBAC), the system administrator establishes Roles based on functional requirements or similar criteria. These Roles have different types and levels of access to objects. The easy way to describe Role-based Access Control (RBAC) is user group concept in Windows and GNU/Linux Operating Systems. A role definition should be defined and created for each job in an organization, and access controls are based on that role.

In contrast to DAC or MAC systems, where users have access to objects based on their own and the object's permissions, users in an Role-based Access Control (RBAC) system must be members of the appropriate group, or Role, before they can interact with files, directories, devices, etc.