Summary:
‘If data exists, concerns for its security can’t be far behind.’
We handle a large amount of data that is also highly sensitive. Our multi-tenant services using the PostgreSQL database further amplified our concerns about data security.
But to our rescue comes a solution that allows our database administrators to define a policy that controls access specific to different users on what data they can view, or edit.
This works not just at the table level but also down to the micro-level to even rows. It has helped us simplify our security management, be compliant, improve performance, and be the most secure.
Want to know what this solution is? Read here!
Introduction
We decided to implement PostgreSQL RLS to improve the data security of our multi-tenant services, which use the PostgreSQL database.
Here is a quick primer on it –
Row-level security (RLS) is an important feature in the PostgreSQL security context. This feature enables database administrators to define a policy on a table that can control data viewing and manipulation on a per-user basis.
A row-level policy can be understood as an additional filter; when a user tries to perform an operation on a table, this filter is applied before any query condition or filtering, and data is shrunk down, or access is denied based on the specific policy.
Row-level security policies can be created specific to a command, such as SELECT or DML commands (INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE) or with ALL. Row-level security policies can also be created for a particular role or multiple roles.
Advantages of Using Row Level Security for Data Security
- Fine-grained Access Control:
Row-level security allows you to control access to individual rows in a table rather than just the entire table. - Simplified Security Management:
RLS allows you to define your security policies in one place rather than managing them separately in your application code. - Improved Performance:
With RLS, the database can filter out rows a user cannot access before returning the query result. - Compliance with Regulations:
Many regulations, such as GDPR and HIPAA, require that data be protected according to specific access control policies. RLS allows you to implement these policies and demonstrate compliance easily. - More Secure Application Design:
By implementing access control at the database level, you can reduce the risk of security vulnerabilities in your application code. The database will prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data, even if your application logic has a flaw.
To Conclude
Implementing PostgreSQL Row-Level Security (RLS) significantly enhances the data security of our multi-tenant services. By allowing fine-grained access control directly at the database level, RLS simplifies security management and improves performance by pre-filtering data according to defined policies.
This approach helps comply with stringent regulations like GDPR and HIPAA and bolsters our application’s overall security by minimizing the risk of unauthorized data access due to potential flaws in application logic.
Ultimately, PostgreSQL RLS ensures a more robust and secure handling of sensitive data, benefiting both administrators and end-users.
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