| Website | cerbos.dev |
| Category | Authorization |
| License | Open Source (Apache 2.0) |
| Pricing | Free open-source; paid Cerbos Cloud/Enterprise plans with support and advanced features |
Overview
Cerbos is an open-source authorization engine that moves access rules into YAML policies and scales RBAC/ABAC across apps and services.
Pros
- Policy-as-code YAML policies are readable and testable
- Scales RBAC/ABAC beyond hardcoded app checks
- SDKs and sidecar/serverless deployment options
- Strong auditability and centralized policy management
- Open-source core with active community and integrations
Cons
- Learning curve for policy modeling and YAML
- Requires infrastructure and operations for self-hosting
- Advanced enterprise features may need paid plan
- Less mature than legacy IAM suites for broad identity workflows
Verdict
Cerbos excels at centralizing application authorization as testable, version-controlled policies. It is best for engineering teams building complex RBAC/ABAC requirements across multiple services. The main trade-off is added policy and infrastructure complexity.
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