Key considerations of a strong security model

  • 5 minutes

While security needs vary by organization, the following principles can help guide your approach:

  • Be more restrictive on write access than read access - To maintain data quality, restrict edit and delete rights to record owners while allowing broader read access. This prevents accidental data loss while maintaining usability.
  • Keep it simple - Overcomplicated security models become difficult to manage. If an administrator must assign multiple roles and teams to each user, long-term maintenance can become a challenge. Using tools like Active Directory security groups can simplify access management.
  • Base security design on business requirements - Security should address legitimate business needs rather than being driven by fear or past mistakes. A balanced approach fosters trust between management and employees.
  • Regularly document and review security design - Security needs change as organizations grow. A security model should be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains effective. Keeping documentation up to date allows for easy modifications when business needs evolve.

Security model components

  • Business units - Define organizational structures and determine data access based on hierarchy.
  • Security roles - Control permissions at the table and record levels, ensuring users only access relevant data.
  • Teams - Group users to manage access more efficiently, reducing the need for individual role assignments.
  • Hierarchy security- Allows managers or higher-level positions to view records owned by their team members.
  • Field security - Protects sensitive data at the field level, ensuring only authorized users can view or edit specific details.
  • Sharing and access management:- Controls how individual records are shared among users and teams while mitigating risks associated with excessive sharing.

By carefully designing and managing security within Dynamics 365, your business can maintain compliance, protect sensitive data, and ensure smooth collaboration across teams.