The reputation based access control system of the present invention allows or denies access to a requested controlled resource to a requesting subject based upon predetermined associations between the resource and security contexts to determine the subject's reputation in those contexts. The reputation based access control system utilizes an authentication system (biometric, challenge/response, etc.) to identify a subject. Once the identity is determined, a resource to be accessed is determined by a reputation based access control unit. The system interfaces with a reputation assessment system to gauge the subject's reputation in these contexts. If the subject's reputation meets the predetermined limits for reputation in those contexts for that resource, the subject is allowed access to the resource. Otherwise access is denied and the proper agents are notified.