Implement data object access control

Implementing data object access control is crucial for ensuring that only authorized users can access or modify data within your Databricks workspace. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to implement data object access control using

Databricks Unity Catalog:

Step 1: Set Up Unity Catalog

Ensure Unity Catalog is enabled in your Databricks workspace. This involves configuring your metastore and setting up catalogs and schemas.

Step 2: Create Service Principals or Groups Create service principals or groups in Azure Active Directory (AAD) or you provider to manage permissions.



Step 3: Define Roles and Permissions Identify the roles and associated permissions needed for your data objects (e.g., read, write, manage).



Step 4: Assign Permissions to Catalogs, Schemas, and Tables
Use SQL commands to grant or revoke permissions on your data objects. Below are examples for different levels of the hierarchy:

Granting Permissions on a Catalog
GRANT USE CATALOG ON CATALOG TO ;
GRANT USE CATALOG ON CATALOG sales_catalog TO alice;

Granting Permissions on a Schema
GRANT USE SCHEMA ON SCHEMA . TO ;
GRANT USE CATALOG ON CATALOG finance_db TO alice;

Granting Permissions on a Table
GRANT SELECT ON TABLE .. TO ;

Step 5: Implement Fine-Grained Access Control
Apply fine-grained access control by defining row-level and column-level security policies.


Example: Row-Level Security

CREATE SECURITY POLICY ON TABLE .. WITH (FILTER = );
CREATE SECURITY POLICY restrict_sales ON TABLE finance.sales.transactions WITH (FILTER = country = 'USA');

A policy named restrict_sales and you want to apply it to a table named transactions in the sales schema within the finance catalog. The policy should filter records where the country column is equal to 'USA'.

Step 6: Monitor and Audit Access

Enable auditing to track access and modifications to data objects. Regularly review audit logs to ensure compliance with security policies.

Step 7: Use RBAC for Workspaces and Compute Resources
Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to manage access to workspaces and compute resources, ensuring that users have the appropriate level of access.

By following these steps, you can effectively implement data object access control in your Databricks environment, ensuring that data is secure and only accessible to authorized users.