Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Workflow for RBAC

To set up Role Based Access Control, you'll follow this flow:

1. Invite a user to a team
2. Add them to a workspace
3. Add them to a data access role; and,
4. Control data access with row level security.

Inviting users and row level security are covered in separate pages, which are linked in the above list.

Role Details

Workspace role definitions are as follows:

* Restricted read access is controlled by the data access roles. Restricted write access is controlled by data access roles when the user is creating the content from scratch, and it is controlled by content ownership when the user is editing the content.

** Limited Contributors are able to create virtual datasets from the SQL Lab (in case they have access to the DB). They can't create physical datasets.

Data restriction (via data access roles) is possible for the following workspace roles:

Secondary Contributor

Secondary Contributorshave access to all data within a workspace, but is subject to data restrictions as defined by a data access role. This role grants data access restricted dataset write access to the users. For example, they can create physical datasets from databases or schemas they have access to, they can edit datasets if they are the owner, they can create and manage alerts/reports, and they can upload CSVs if CSV upload is enabled the database they have access to. 

Limited Contributor
Similar to the Secondary Contributor, this user role has access to all data within a workspace, but is subject to data restrictions as defined by a data access role. Limited Contributors can't create physical datasets from databases and schemas, and they can't upload CSVs to databases. However, they can create virtual datasets and charts/dashboards using the data they have access to. 

Viewer
This user role only has access to visualizations (charts and dashboards) that are published, and is also subject to any defined data access role-based restrictions. For example, an external marketing agency may be given view access to published visualizations from a specified dataset. 

Dashboard Viewer
This user role only has access to dashboards that are published, and is also subject to any defined data access role-based restrictions. For example, a potential business partner is given view access rights to a quarterly product sales dashboard used in a presentation by your company.

All of the roles above are assigned to specific users in Preset Manager on the Workspace Roles screen (see Invite Others to your Team to learn more).

Change User Access to a Workspace

Each user's workspace role is set when their invite is sent but can be updated later as needed.

To edit a user's workspace role, select the vertical ellipsis icon in a workspace card and, in the sub-menu, select Edit Workspace Roles.

The Workspace Roles screen appears.

Under the Workspace Role column header, modify a user's workspace role as needed (see Role Details to learn more).

Navigate to Data Access Roles

In the Toolbar, hover your cursor over Settings and then select Data Access Roles.

The Data Access Roles screen appears.

Add a Data Access Role

Select the plus icon to add a new access record.

The Add Data Access Role screen appears.

In the Name field, enter a memorable name for the data access role.

In the Users field, select one or more users to assign to the data access role.

Lastly, in the Permissions field, select one or more data access permissions to associate with the role or leave this field blank if using Row Level Security to create more granular data access.

Types of Permissions

• All database access
• All dataset access
• All query access
• Database access on
• Schema access on <database.schema>
• Dataset access on <database.table>

When done, select Save.

Levels of Data Access Coverage

Wide Access

• All database access
• All dataset access
• All query access

Specific Datasources

• Database Access: Databases defined on Sources / Databases, used for Secondary and Limited Contributors
• Schema Access: Schemas available on the Databases defined on Source / Databases used for Secondary and Limited Contributors
• Dataset Access: Data set defined on Sources / Tables, used for Limited Contributors, Viewers and Dashboard Viewers

Data access roles are defined on the Edit Data Access Role screen (see Add a User to a Data Access Role to learn more).

Note that Workspace Admins are the only users that can create, modify, or delete a role.

Control Data Access with Row Level Security

Row Level Security (RLS) is a powerful feature that enables you to exert a granular level of control over who can query—and view—specific data in selected datasets. This level of query-based access control empowers organizations to align data access permissions (via roles) with larger-scale business initiatives.

You can find more information and a walkthrough on the Row Level Security (RLS) page.

Role Details