What happens to the security posture of networks when AC memory-protection is disabled?

When AC (Access Control) memory protection is disabled, the security posture of networks typically worsens significantly. Disabling this feature diminishes the ability to enforce proper access controls and can lead to a range of vulnerabilities, including increased susceptibility to unauthorized access and exploitation by malicious software. This can result in data breaches, loss of integrity, and compromised availability of network resources.

The notion that the security posture remains unchanged does not align with the fundamental purpose of access control mechanisms. When enabled, these protections function to segregate memory access so that only authorized processes can interact with specific memory regions, significantly enhancing security. Disabling these protections removes critical barriers to potential threats, leaving the network more exposed to attacks.

In contrast to performance enhancements, which might be perceived by some as a benefit of disabling memory protection, the negatives generally outweigh any supposed gains in performance. Ultimately, effective network security relies on strong access controls to maintain a robust defense against threats.