AI Patterns / AI Interaction Pattern 09
Granular Access Controls
Implement robust, role-based permissioning to ensure users only see the data they are authorized to access, a critical requirement for enterprise security.
The User Problem This Pattern Solves
In any organization, not all data is for all eyes. An AI with universal access to company information poses a massive security and compliance risk. An employee asking about "Q4 project timelines" should not receive an answer synthesized from sensitive HR salary documents. Administrators need a clear and foolproof way to enforce data governance policies within the AI system itself.
The Design Solution & UI Mockup
The solution is an intuitive administrative panel for managing access controls. This UI allows administrators to define permissions for specific users, groups, or roles on a per-data-source basis. Using a clear list of available data sources and simple, unambiguous dropdowns for permission levels (e.g., "Full Access," "Read-Only," "No Access"), the interface makes a complex security task manageable and auditable. This "Privacy by Design" approach ensures that the AI respects the organization's data boundaries by default.
Data Access Controls
Editing permissions for the "Marketing Team" group.
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Finance Reports (Q4)
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HR Personnel Files
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Clinical Trial Data (Project Phoenix)
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Public Marketing Documents
Key Benefits & Impact
Enforces Security
Prevents unauthorized access to sensitive or classified information through the AI interface.
Ensures Compliance
Helps organizations adhere to data privacy regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA.
Provides Data Governance
Gives administrators precise control and a clear audit trail over data access policies.
Design Considerations
The principle of "default-deny" is paramount; users should have no access to a data source unless it is explicitly granted. The interface should support group-based permissions to simplify management for large organizations. Furthermore, a comprehensive and easily searchable audit log that tracks all permission changes (who, what, and when) is a non-negotiable feature for any enterprise-ready system.
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