To implement a scalable RBAC model in PostgreSQL, we can design a schema that
separates roles, permissions, and users in a way that allows for easy updates and
efficient querying. Based on general requirements for a multi-tenant Customer
Success Management (CSM) application, here's an initial outline of how we could
structure the RBAC model:
Requirements Recap (Assumptions for Scalability and Flexibility):
User Roles: Each user can be assigned one or more roles, such as Customer Success
Manager, Account Executive, Support Agent, or Administrator.
Permissions: Each role has specific permissions (e.g., view_customer,
edit_customer, generate_report) tied to it.
Multi-Tenant Model: Assume that the system supports multiple tenants, with each
tenant potentially having unique roles and permissions.
Step 1: Database Schema for RBAC
I’ll share a schema outline here, and once you confirm, we can proceed to add
specific PostgreSQL implementation details like indexes, triggers, and queries.
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== Method
This RBAC model in PostgreSQL is designed to enable flexible, scalable access
control with multi-tenant support. The following tables form the core of the model:
=== Database Tables
1. **users**
- Holds basic user information.
2. **roles**
- Defines roles, such as `Customer Success Manager` or `Administrator`.
3. **permissions**
- Specifies all available permissions in the system.
4. **role_permissions**
- Links roles to permissions, specifying what each role can do.
5. **user_roles**
- Links users to roles, specifying each user’s assigned roles.
6. **tenants**
- Represents different clients or organizations in the system.
7. **tenant_roles** *(optional, only for tenant-specific roles)*
- Customizes roles per tenant if tenants require unique roles.
Let’s structure these in SQL:
```sql
-- users table
CREATE TABLE users (
user_id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
username VARCHAR(50) UNIQUE NOT NULL,
email VARCHAR(100) UNIQUE NOT NULL,
tenant_id INT REFERENCES tenants(tenant_id)
);
-- tenants table
CREATE TABLE tenants (
tenant_id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
tenant_name VARCHAR(100) UNIQUE NOT NULL
);
-- roles table
CREATE TABLE roles (
role_id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
role_name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
tenant_id INT REFERENCES tenants(tenant_id) ON DELETE CASCADE
);
-- permissions table
CREATE TABLE permissions (
permission_id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
permission_name VARCHAR(50) UNIQUE NOT NULL
);
-- role_permissions table
CREATE TABLE role_permissions (
role_id INT REFERENCES roles(role_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
permission_id INT REFERENCES permissions(permission_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
PRIMARY KEY (role_id, permission_id)
);
-- user_roles table
CREATE TABLE user_roles (
user_id INT REFERENCES users(user_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
role_id INT REFERENCES roles(role_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
PRIMARY KEY (user_id, role_id)
);
This setup allows for scalable access control by following these principles:
Role Assignment Flexibility: user_roles allows assigning multiple roles to a user.
Multi-Tenancy: tenant_id in roles and users tables associates each role and user
with a tenant, enabling tenant-specific configurations.
Let me know if you’d like to go into more detail on queries, indexes, or discuss
specific user actions.
