Skip to main content

Manage Columns

Connecting a column to ALTR enables you to enforce data access governance and advanced data security on that column. Connected Columns are managed on the Data Configuration Configuration → Data Management → Columns page.

Use this page to

  • Connect columns to ALTR

  • Disconnect columns from ALTR

  • Update metadata about columns connected to ALTR

  • View a list of columns connected to ALTR

  • Indicate columns that contain tokens

  • Indicate columns that are encrypted

A column that is connected to ALTR invokes ALTR's cloud-based access control when it is queried. This process enables ALTR to apply data access rules on the column, enforce detokenization policy, and monitor and log access to the column. Refer to ALTR's Integration Documentation for details on how this manifests for different data source.

Connect Columns to ALTR

To connect a column:

  1. Click Data Configuration → Data Management in the Navigation menu.

  2. Click the Columns tab.

  3. Click the Connect Column button.

  4. Select the Data Source the column resides in from the data source dropdown.

  5. Select the Schema and Table or View the column resides in from the relevant dropdowns.

  6. Select the Column from the relevant dropdown.

    Note

    If your data doesn't display in the dropdowns, ensure your service user account has privileges to access the data.

  7. Enter a Name for the column.

  8. For Do you have encryption or tokenization applied to this column?, select

    1. No, if this column is not tokenized or encrypted and continue to the next step.

    2. Yes, if this column is tokenized or encrypted.

      Note

      If this column is tokenized, ensure all values for this column are tokenized and select Tokenization from the Advanced Data Protection dropdown. Learn more.

      If this column is encrypted, ensure the column has been encrypted in Snowflake and select Format-Preserving Encryption from the Advanced Data Protection dropdown. Select the Key, Tweak and Alphabet Type. Learn more.

  9. Click Connect Column.

Disconnect Columns from ALTR

To disconnect a column:

  1. Select Data Configuration → Data Management → Columns in the Navigation menu.

  2. Select the column you wish to disconnect.

  3. Click the Disconnect Column button.

Force Disconnect Columns

Warning

Before force disconnecting a column, consult ALTR Support.

Force disconnecting columns could have a negative impact on your source system if you do not fully understand your data and this feature.

Force disconnect a column if you are unable to disconnect the column as expected. This action ignores any errors encountered during the disconnect process. Use great caution with this feature because it cannot be undone.

Reasons to force disconnect columns include:

  • Column no longer exists in your source system

  • Service user's privileges have been decommissioned

  • ALTR could not connect to Snowflake

To force disconnect a column:

  1. Select Data Configuration → Data Management → Columns in the Navigation menu.

  2. Select the column you wish to disconnect.

  3. Click the Disconnect Column button.

  4. Click the Trouble Disconnecting? link.

  5. Click the Force Disconnect Column button.

  6. Click the Force Disconnect Column button.

  7. Review your source system and clean up any object left behind.

In this section: