11.13 CreateApplicationRoles
As if fixed database roles and custom database roles weren't enough, SQL Server
provides a third category of database role. Sometimes you want users to simply start up
an application and have access to SQL Server's data through the application. In these
cases, you don't want to have to set up logins, user accounts, and other security
configurations to accommodate the application's users. This is the job of application
roles.
I have users who routinely access SQL Server through an application that I've written in
Visual Basic. I also have users who use Web pages to access the data using ASP
techniques. I'd like a simple and easy way to provide these users with limited access to
the database, but I don't want to spend a lot of time configuring SQL Server.
Technique
Create a SQL Server 2000 application role for these users. The application logs into SQL
Server and provides the password that is required to access data. Typically, application
roles are severely limited in their ability to access data.
Steps
SQL Server provides for the creation of application roles. An application role is
established to allow programs that are written in Visual Basic and other programming
languages to freely access and update SQL Server data.
People cannot use application roles. You cannot add users, groups, or other roles to an
application role. The application role is not enabled until a password is provided.
At runtime, the user's application will provide the role's name and password to gain
access to the data that is granted by the application role. The application is unable to do
anything other than the permissions you established for the application role.
1. Open Enterprise Manager and expand the Northwind database's icon.
2. Right-click the Northwind database's Roles icon and select New Database Role
from the shortcut menu. The New Role dialog box opens in response (see Figure
11.24). Select the Application Role option button near the bottom of this dialog
box.
Figure 11.24. The New Role dialog box allows you to createapplication roles.
3. Provide a name and a password for the application role.
4. Click the OK button to save the application role.
5. Right-click the new application role, and select Properties from the shortcut menu.
6. Set the object permissions as you did in steps 6, 7, and 8 in section 11.12 in this
chapter.
Comments
An application role bypasses the normal permissions that are applied to a database. A
user who is not otherwise able to access data will be able to use a program such as Excel,
Word, or Visual Basic to get at the data as long as an application role has been
established for the program. The permissions that are established for the application role
exist only while the application maintains a connection to the database.
While the application role is active, all other permissions that are granted to the user on
the database are suspended, and only the permissions that the application role provides
are enabled.
A user can't exploit an application role to access other databases that SQL Server
manages. The only permissions that an application role has on other databases are the
permissions granted to the default guest user. Under most circumstances, the system
administrator will have disabled or severely limited the SQL Server guest account.
. 11.13 Create Application Roles
As if fixed database roles and custom database roles weren't enough, SQL Server
provides. Typically, application
roles are severely limited in their ability to access data.
Steps
SQL Server provides for the creation of application roles. An application