What are the advantages and disadvantages of using authorization mechanisms over encryption for protecting sensitive data in PHP?

When protecting sensitive data in PHP, using authorization mechanisms such as access control lists or role-based access control can provide fine-grained control over who can access the data. This allows for more flexibility and control compared to simply encrypting the data. However, authorization mechanisms can be more complex to implement and maintain, and may require additional resources and expertise.

// Example of using role-based access control to protect sensitive data
$userRole = getUserRole(); // Function to retrieve user's role
if ($userRole === 'admin') {
    // Allow access to sensitive data
    $sensitiveData = getSensitiveData(); // Function to retrieve sensitive data
    echo $sensitiveData;
} else {
    // Deny access
    echo 'You do not have permission to access this data.';
}