Abstract: A Software Architecture for Access Control Based on Hierarchical Characteristics includes a computer implemented software architecture for determining object access of a resource by comparing an object profile to a resource profile. The comparison is made with reference to a plurality of object reference categories where each object reference category includes a plurality of hierarchically linked object reference values. The object reference values represent possible characteristics of the object such as, security clearance or job title. The resource profile represents the minimum object reference values necessary for access to the resource and the object profile represents no more than one object reference value for each of the object reference categories.