What is the purpose of access control lists (ACLs)?

Access control lists (ACLs) are a critical component of network security and resource management. Their primary purpose is to specify which users or systems have access to particular resources within a network. This capability allows organizations to enforce policies that dictate who can view, use, or alter data and applications. By defining granular permissions, ACLs help protect sensitive information from unauthorized access, thereby maintaining confidentiality, integrity, and availability of resources.

In a practical context, ACLs can be applied to various resources, such as files, folders, and network devices, to ensure that only authenticated users with the required permissions can access them. This mechanism is fundamental in preventing unauthorized access and ensuring compliance with internal security policies and external regulations.

The other options do not accurately reflect the primary function of ACLs. While increasing network speed and efficiency may be an indirect benefit of having streamlined access, it is not the main role of ACLs. Keeping logs of network activities pertains more to security monitoring and auditing than to access control. Similarly, while managing network traffic routes is related to traffic management, it falls under routing and switching, which is separate from access control functionalities.