Comparison between Alloy and Timed Automata for modelling and analysing of access control specifications

Abstract

This paper presents a comparative study between Alloy and Timed Automata for modelling and analysing of access control specifications. In particular, this paper compares Alloy and Timed Automata for modelling and analysing of Access Control specifications in the context of Spatio-Temporal Role Based Access Control (STRBAC) from capability and performance points of view. To conduct the comparison study the same case study (SECURE bank system) is specified using Alloy and Timed Automata. In order to transform the specification of the Secure Bank system into Alloy and Timed Automata this paper makes use of our earlier methods AC2Alloy and AC2Uppaal respectively. The paper then identifies the most important advantages and disadvantages of Alloy and Timed Automata for modelling and analysing of access control specifications.