NDA Row-Level Security

The query returns hundreds of rows. Most are harmless. One is not. Without row-level security, that single row could expose data you cannot take back.

NDA Row-Level Security is the line between safe and compromised. It enforces access rules at the database level, ensuring users only see rows they are authorized to view. This is not an application-side filter. This is policy baked into the schema itself.

When handling NDA-protected data, row-level security controls who can see what—directly in the database engine. The rule sits next to the data, not in distant business logic. If someone queries beyond their scope, the engine won’t return the row. There is no “almost” secure. Either the row is blocked or it leaks.

To implement NDA Row-Level Security, first identify the sensitive table and the columns that define access scope. Then write policies that evaluate user identity, group membership, or token claims. For example, in PostgreSQL:

CREATE POLICY nda_access ON contracts
 FOR SELECT
 USING (user_id = current_setting('app.current_user_id')::int
 AND nda_signed = true);
ALTER TABLE contracts ENABLE ROW LEVEL SECURITY;

This ensures only users with a signed NDA and matching ID see the data. The policy is enforced for every query—no exceptions.

Testing is critical. Run queries as multiple user roles. Attempt to bypass filters. Policies must handle edge cases like JOINs and subqueries. Performance must be monitored, but strong indexes on scope columns keep overhead low.

For compliance, log access attempts and denials. Pair row-level security with encryption at rest, and audit trails for full NDA coverage. Push enforcement down to the database; client code should assume it will never see prohibited rows.

No middleware patch or API gateway can match the precision of database-enforced row-level security. Once active, it turns the database into a gate that silently intercepts unauthorized requests before data leaves the engine.

See NDA row-level security in action with hoop.dev—set, test, and enforce in minutes. Try it now and protect every row before it’s too late.