What aspect of access control systems ensures that access rules are enforced?

The aspect of access control systems that ensures access rules are enforced is associated with the auditing system records. This is because auditing provides a mechanism for tracking and documenting access events within the system. By maintaining detailed records, any unauthorized access or deviation from defined access rules can be identified and addressed. Audits serve as a verification tool that confirms adherence to security policies and reveals any anomalies that might indicate a breach.

In conjunction with this, understanding the other aspects like hardware configuration, system security protocols, and system installation procedures is important for a comprehensive security strategy. However, these elements primarily focus on the structural and preventive measures of access control rather than on the active enforcement of rules through monitoring and reporting mechanisms. Therefore, the auditing system is crucial in validating that established access protocols are being followed correctly.