What does Mandatory Access Control aim to secure?

Mandatory Access Control (MAC) is a security framework that focuses primarily on controlling access to resources based on a system's security policies rather than the identity of individual users. This approach ensures that only authorized processes or users can access specific files and directories, thereby protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access or modification.

In the context of files and directories, MAC assigns security labels to data and resources, enabling the operating system to enforce rules that determine which users or processes can access or manipulate that data. This model is often seen in systems that require a high level of security, such as government or military environments, where regulation of data access is critical.

While users and permissions, network communications, and application processes are indeed important components of a comprehensive security strategy, they do not encapsulate the primary focus of Mandatory Access Control, which is specifically geared towards protecting files and directories through strict adherence to established security policies. This specificity is why the correct answer identifies files and directories as the primary target of MAC.