Proof of Concept: Column-Level Access

Proof of Concept: Column-Level Access is how you stop it. It’s not theory. It’s a way to block sensitive data at the earliest possible point—inside the database, at the column boundary—without rewriting the entire app or the entire schema.

Column-level access means you control which fields a query can return, based on the role or identity of the requester. With a strong POC, you can show exactly how the database denies access when rules are violated. That proof speaks louder than any documentation.

The test is simple:

1. Define your target table.
2. Pick the columns that contain sensitive or regulated data—SSNs, emails, payment info.
3. Set policy at the column level: either through the database’s native features (like PostgreSQL’s column privileges) or through a middleware layer connected to your app.
4. Run queries with multiple identities and verify that restricted columns never appear in unauthorized results.

A good proof of concept for column-level security will simulate both honest and malicious access. It should log events, show denials, and record the difference between authorized and unauthorized views. With this, stakeholders see how the system enforces data minimization.

Key benefits:

• Limit exposure without touching unrelated code.
• Reduce downstream risk from internal tools or analytics queries.
• Map exactly which parts of the data model need stricter controls.

When built right, a POC column-level access implementation runs fast, scales across environments, and gives clear answers: who can see what. The result is precise, auditable control.

You don’t have to wait months to prove it works. You can run it instantly. See column-level access in action at hoop.dev—build and test your POC in minutes.