Role-based access control (RBAC) is a security framework that helps organizations manage data access by assigning permissions based on predefined user roles rather than individual users, which enhances security, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. By enforcing principles such as least privilege access, separation of duties, and integration with single sign-on (SSO), RBAC minimizes the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches while simplifying administrative tasks. It is increasingly adopted across industries like healthcare, DevOps, and finance to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with regulations. To implement RBAC effectively, organizations should clearly define user roles and responsibilities, plan a staged rollout, manage personnel changes, and conduct regular access reviews to prevent security risks. While RBAC offers significant benefits, challenges such as overcomplicating role structures or ignoring role overlap can pose risks if not addressed properly. Tools like Kong Gateway can facilitate RBAC implementation by providing a centralized platform to enforce policies consistently across APIs, enhancing both security and scalability.