1. A computer-implemented method for accessing resource objects, comprising the steps of: receiving a request which involves accessing a resource object; wherein the requested resource object has multiple associations with other objects; evaluating at least one security rule to determine whether to grant access to the requested resource object; wherein the security rule is used to determine a security containment boundary with respect to the requested resource object based upon an association which the requested resource object has with another object; wherein the request to the resource object is processed based upon security access control information associated with the objects contained within the determined security containment boundary.