What major issue often results from decentralized access control?

Decentralized access control often leads to the challenge of inconsistent application of access policies across different systems and departments. When access control is managed in a decentralized manner, each department or unit may implement its own rules and criteria for granting access. This can result in variations in how policies are defined and enforced, leading to discrepancies that can create security vulnerabilities.

For example, one department might grant broader access to certain users while another enforces stricter controls based on a different set of criteria. This inconsistency can make it difficult to ensure that users have the correct access rights, leading to situations where sensitive data is either inadequately protected or unnecessarily restricted. A uniform approach, such as centralized access control, helps maintain consistency across the organization, ensuring that everyone adheres to the same policies which ultimately strengthens the overall security posture.

In contrast, increased security, improved user experience, and centralized policy interpretation are often associated with centralized access control rather than its decentralized counterpart. This reinforces the notion that decentralized access control tends to hinder the ability to maintain a consistent and effective security strategy.