Which of the following refers to rules that determine who can access resources in a network?

The correct answer involves Access Control List (ACL), which specifically refers to a set of rules that determine who can access certain resources within a network. ACLs provide a means of enforcing security by specifying what actions are allowed for different users or groups on resources like networks, directories, or applications. They can include permissions for reading, writing, or executing files, and dictate the level of access users have based on their identity or role.

Access Control Lists are crucial for maintaining security in networking environments, as they can help prevent unauthorized access and protect sensitive information by strictly defining what users can see and do within a network.

While VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) group devices within a network to improve traffic management, they do not directly control access rules. Firewall rules do help regulate traffic based on IP addresses and ports, but they operate at different levels compared to ACLs, which focus specifically on access permissions. Network policies encompass broader rules and guidelines that manage various aspects of network security and functionality but do not pinpoint access restrictions to the granular level offered by ACLs. Thus, Access Control List is the most direct and accurate choice regarding rules governing access to resources in a network.