SAS 9.2 Security Administration Guide Intelligence Platform User guide
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SAS
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9.2
Intelligence Platform
Security Administration Guide
TW9667_bisecag_colortitlepg.indd 1 2/20/09 10:22:39 AM
The correct bibliographic citation for this manual is as follows: SAS Institute Inc. 2009.
SAS
®
9.2 Intelligence Platform: Security Administration Guide. Cary, NC: SAS Institute
Inc.
SAS
®
9.2 Intelligence Platform: Security Administration Guide
Copyright © 2009, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA
ISBN: 978-1-59994-072-4
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Contents
What’s New
Overview
Roles and Permissions
Authentication and User Management
Auditing, Reporting, and Encryption
Documentation Enhancements
P A R T
1
Fundamentals
1
Chapter 1
4 Security Features
About this Document
Accessibility Features of the SAS Intelligence Platform
Security in the SAS Intelligence Platform
Permissions Overview
Roles Overview
Single Sign-On Overview
Encryption Overview
Security Reporting and Logging Overview
Chapter 2
4 Security Tasks
Introduction to Security Tasks
Facilitate Authentication
Add Administrators
Add Regular Users
Open Up Access
Manage Access
Manage Passwords
Ensure Availability of Application Features
Chapter 3
4 Users, Groups, and Roles
About User Administration
User Definitions
Group Definitions
Role Definitions
Main Administrative Roles
Differences Between Roles and Groups
Relationship Between Capabilities and Permissions
How to Create a Dual User
How to Unlock an Internal Account
How to Assign Capabilities to Roles
User ID Formats
Unique Names and IDs
iv
Identity Precedence
Windows Privileges
Who Can Manage Users, Groups, and Roles?
Chapter 4
4 Getting Started With Permissions
Orientation to Working With Permissions
The Authorization Tab
Explicit Settings
ACT Settings
Inherited Settings
Using WriteMetadata and WriteMemberMetadata Permissions
Key Points About Working With Permissions
P A R T
2
Authorization
49
Chapter 5
4 Authorization Model
Overview of the Metadata Authorization Model
Use and Enforcement of Each Permission
Inheritance Paths
Permissions by Item
Permissions by Task
Authorization Decisions
Fine-Grained Controls for Data
Chapter 6
4 Permissions on Folders
Using Custom Folders to Manage Access
Baseline ACTs
Demonstration: Departmental and Project Separation
Variation 1: Add Subgroups, Designate Content Creators
Variation 2: Add Functional Separation
Key Points About the Baseline ACT Approach
Further Considerations for Permissions on Folders
Chapter 7
4 Permissions on Servers
Managing Access to Server Definitions
Protecting Server Definitions
Hiding Server Definitions
Chapter 8
4 BI Row-Level Permissions
About BI Row-Level Permissions
Filtering Techniques for BI Row-Level Permissions
How to Implement BI Row-Level Permissions
Example: Using BI Row-Level Permissions
BI Row-Level Permissions, Identity-Driven Properties, and Missing Values
Chapter 9
4 OLAP Member-Level Permissions
About OLAP Member-Level Permissions
How to Assign an OLAP Permission Condition
Example: Using Member-Level Permissions
Chapter 10
4 Security Report Macros
Overview of Security Reporting
Authorization Data Sets
Additional Resources for Building Authorization Data Sets
P A R T
3
Authentication
123
Chapter 11
4 Authentication Model
Introduction to the Authentication Model
Authentication to the Metadata Server
Authentication to Data Servers and Processing Servers
Authentication Scenarios
Mixed Providers
Credential Gaps
How Logins Are Used
About PUBLIC Access and Anonymous Access
Chapter 12
4 Authentication Mechanisms
Introduction to Authentication Mechanisms
Credential Management
Direct LDAP Authentication
Host Authentication
Integrated Windows Authentication
Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM)
SAS Internal Authentication
SAS Token Authentication
Trusted Peer Connections
Trusted User Connections
Web Authentication
Summary for Single Sign-On
Summary by Server Type
Chapter 13
4 Authentication Tasks
How to Configure SAS Token Authentication
How to Configure SAS Internal Authentication
How to Change Internal Account Policies
How to Configure Web Authentication
How to Configure Direct LDAP Authentication
How to Configure Integrated Windows Authentication
How to Force Use of Kerberos
How to Store Passwords for the Workspace Server
How to Store Passwords for a Third-Party Server
How to Reduce Exposure of the SASTRUST Password
v
vi
About the Workspace Server’s Options Tab
Chapter 14
4 Server Configuration, Data Retrieval, and Risk
About This Chapter
Identity Passing
Launch Credentials
Host Access to SAS Tables
Choices in Workspace Server Pooling
P A R T
4
Encryption
197
Chapter 15
4 Encryption Model
Encryption Strength and Coverage
Default Settings for On-Disk Encryption
Default Settings for Over-the-Wire Encryption
About SAS/SECURE
Chapter 16
4 Encryption Tasks
How to Change Over-the-Wire Encryption Settings for SAS Servers
How to Increase Encryption Strength for Passwords at Rest
How to Increase Encryption Strength for Outbound Passwords in Transit
P A R T
5
Appendixes
209
Appendix 1
4 Checklists
Checklist For a More Secure Deployment
Distribution of Selected Privileges
Permission Patterns of Selected ACTs
Passwords That Are Managed By the SAS Deployment Manager
Who’s Who in the SAS Metadata
Appendix 2
4 User Import Macros
Overview of User Import and Synchronization
Canonical Tables
External Identities
User Import
User Synchronization
Sample Code for Generic File Import
Sample Code for User Synchronization
About the Sample Code for UNIX /etc/passwd Import
About the Sample Code for Active Directory Import
Reference: User Import and Synchronization Macros
Appendix 3
4 Recommended Reading
Recommended Reading
Glossary
Index
What’s New
Overview
New and enhanced features in the following areas increase security and manageability:
3 roles and permissions
3
3 authentication and user management auditing, reporting, and encryption
3 documentation
Roles and Permissions
3
3
3
3
Expanded support for roles enables you to easily customize the user interface in applications including SAS Web Report Studio, SAS Enterprise Guide, the SAS
Add-In for Microsoft Office, and SAS Management Console.
New administrative roles enable you to manage unrestricted access to metadata, user administration capabilities, the ability to operate the metadata server, and the visibility of plug-ins in SAS Management Console.
The authorization interface always displays effective permissions (a calculation of the net effect of all applicable metadata layer permission settings).
All applications share a single folder tree. Access control inheritance for most items flows through that tree. Inheritance can cross repository boundaries. Each schema, cube, library, and table inherits permissions from only its parent folder.
These inheritance paths are discontinued:
3
3
3
application server
I OLAP schema I cube
application server
I library I table
DBMS server
I DBMS schema I DBMS table
3
A new permission, WriteMemberMetadata, enables you to separate the ability to interact with items in a particular folder from the ability to make changes to the folder itself.
vii
viii
What’s New
3
3
3
3
3
3
When you define member-level access to OLAP data, you can use a graphical query-builder to build the permission conditions.
The SAS.IdentityGroups identity-driven property enables you to make row-level or member-level distinctions based on metadata group memberships.
In BI row-level permissions, an empty string is substituted into the query for an identity who has no value for the identity-driven property that is in use.
Previously, a missing value caused the query to fail.
You can set permissions from within SAS OLAP Cube Studio, SAS Data
Integration Studio, SAS Management Console, and SAS Information Map Studio.
A new Advanced button on each item’s Authorization tab enables unrestricted users to trace the item’s inheritance and look up the permissions that any identity has to the item.
DATA step functions enable you to programmatically define (and query) metadata layer authorization settings. See the SAS Language Interfaces to Metadata.
Authentication and User Management
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Users who are logged on to their Windows desktop can seamlessly launch SAS desktop clients (if the metadata server runs on Windows). This feature, Integrated
Windows authentication, is particularly useful for sites that use smart cards, biometrics, or other forms of multi-factor authentication.
Users who have authenticated to the metadata server access most SAS servers seamlessly. SAS token authentication causes the OLAP server, the stored process server, and, in some configurations, the workspace server to accept users who have authenticated to the metadata server.
You don’t have to create external accounts for SAS internal purposes. Instead, you can use internal accounts that exist only in the metadata. It is appropriate to use internal accounts for administrators and some service identities.
For greater security, you can limit use of trusted peer connections.
Membership in a new user administration role enables you to manage most users, groups, and roles. You can still use permissions to delegate administration of an existing identity.
If you have user administration capabilities, you can directly manage authentication domains from the User Manager and Server Manager plug-ins in
SAS Management Console.
Regular users can’t change their own user definitions. Regular users can still manage their own personal logins.
If a user’s group memberships make more than one login available in an authentication domain, the highest priority login is used. Priority is determined by identity precedence. This is an aspect of credential management.
You can use logins on the PUBLIC and SASUSERS groups. This enables you to provide single sign-on to a third-party server using one account that is shared by all users. This is an aspect of credential management.
You can add, modify, and remove external identity values for users, groups, and roles in SAS Management Console. These values support the identity synchronization process.
You can give each user, group, and role a display name. For an identity that doesn’t have a display name, the name serves as the display name.
You can use the SASSEC_LOCAL_PW_SAVE option in the metadata server’s omaconfig.xml file to control whether the Save user ID and password in this
What’s New
ix
3
3
profile
check box is available to users. This is an aspect of password management.
You can load identity information into the metadata in blocks by using the
MDUIMPLB and MDUCHGLB macros. This is a performance enhancement to the user import process. The corresponding macros from the previous release
(MDUIMPL and MDUCHGL) are still supported.
You don’t have to give users the Windows privilege Log on as a batch job unless they access a standard workspace server using credential-based host authentication.
Auditing, Reporting, and Encryption
3
3
3
3
3
You can use system-wide logging features to audit security events.
You can use the MDSECDS macro to create authorization data sets for security reporting purposes.
Configuring encryption of data in transit among SAS clients and servers is no longer a post-installation task. You select an over-the-wire encryption level (what gets encrypted in transit) and algorithm (what type of encryption or encoding is used) during installation.
By default, passwords in the metadata are encrypted using an industry-standard algorithm (AES fixed key). If you don’t have SAS/SECURE, SASProprietary encoding is used instead.
By default, the PWENCODE procedure uses SASProprietary encoding (sas002). If you have SAS/SECURE, you can choose to use AES encryption (sas003) instead.
Documentation Enhancements
3
3
3
This document has been reorganized and rewritten for this release.
A new document, SAS Management Console: Guide to Users and Permissions, provides step-by-step instructions for performing selected tasks in SAS
Management Console.
SAS Intelligence Platform: Web Application Administration Guide documents security features of the SAS Content Server.
x
What’s New
P A R T
1
Fundamentals
Chapter
1
. . . . . . . . . .
Security Features
3
Chapter
2
. . . . . . . . . .
Security Tasks
7
Chapter
3
. . . . . . . . . .
Users, Groups, and Roles
21
Chapter
4
. . . . . . . . . .
Getting Started With Permissions
39
1
2
C H A P T E R
1
Security Features
About this Document
3
Accessibility Features of the SAS Intelligence Platform
3
Security in the SAS Intelligence Platform
3
Permissions Overview
4
Roles Overview
4
Single Sign-On Overview
5
Encryption Overview
6
Security Reporting and Logging Overview
6
About this Document
This document helps you understand and use the security features of the SAS
Intelligence Platform. This document assumes that you are familiar with the concepts and terminology that are introduced in SAS Intelligence Platform: Overview.
This document is organized as follows:
3
The first four chapters contain the following basic information:
3
3
3 a brief overview of security features instructions for the main security tasks essential facts about SAS users, groups, and roles
3 an orientation to using SAS metadata-layer permissions
3
The other chapters contain detailed reference information and instructions for specialized tasks.
Accessibility Features of the SAS Intelligence Platform
For information about accessibility for any of the products mentioned in this document, see the online Help for that product. If you have questions or concerns about the accessibility of SAS products, send e-mail to [email protected].
Security in the SAS Intelligence Platform
3
3
The security features of the SAS Intelligence Platform offer these benefits: single sign-on from and across disparate systems secure access to data and metadata
3
4 Permissions Overview
4 Chapter 1
3
3
3 role-based access to application features confidential transmission and storage of data
3 logging and auditing of security events access control reporting
The SAS Intelligence Platform is not an isolated system. The platform’s security model cooperates with external systems such as the host environment, the Web realm, and third-party databases. To coordinate identity information, SAS keeps a copy of one
ID (such as a host, Active Directory, LDAP, or Web account ID) for each user. This requirement does not apply to any users for whom a generic PUBLIC identity is sufficient.
Permissions Overview
SAS provides a metadata-based authorization layer that supplements protections from the host environment and other systems. Across authorization layers, protections are cumulative. In order to perform a task, a user must have sufficient access in all applicable layers.
You can use the metadata authorization layer to manage access to the following resources:
3 almost any metadata object (for example, reports, data definitions, information maps, jobs, stored processes, and server definitions)
3
OLAP data
3 relational data (depending on the method by which that data is accessed)
CAUTION:
Some clients (such as SAS Data Integration Studio and SAS Enterprise Guide) enable power users to create and run SAS programs that access data directly, bypassing metadata-layer controls.
It is important to manage physical layer access in addition to metadata-layer controls. For example, use host operating system protections to limit access to any sensitive SAS data sets. See “Host Access to SAS Tables” on page 187.
4
CAUTION:
Not all permissions are enforced for all items.
Enforcement of permissions other than
ReadMetadata and WriteMetadata varies by item type and (for data) by the method with which a library is assigned.
4
Roles Overview
The SAS implementation of roles enables you to manage the availability of application features such as menu items, plug-ins, and buttons. For example, your role memberships determine whether you can see the Server Manager plug-in (in SAS
Management Console), compare data (in SAS Enterprise Guide), or directly open an information map (in SAS Web Report Studio).
Here are some key points about the SAS implementation of roles:
3
Roles are an entirely separate concept from permissions. In general, roles don’t affect access to metadata or data. An exception is that the unrestricted role provides irrevocable grants of all permissions in the metadata authorization layer.
This enables unrestricted users to manage all metadata.
Security Features
4 Single Sign-On Overview
5
3
3
3
3
Not all applications have roles. Applications that have roles include the SAS
Add-In for Microsoft Office, SAS Enterprise Guide, SAS Management Console, and
SAS Web Report Studio.
Not all application features are under role management. An application feature that is under role management is called a capability. Each application that supports roles provides a fixed set of capabilities. You can’t convert a feature that isn’t a capability into a capability. However, if you add custom tasks or develop custom plug-ins, you can register those features as capabilities.
All capabilities are additive. There are no capabilities that limit what you can do.
Capabilities can be categorized as follows:
3
3
3
An explicit capability can be incrementally added to or removed from any role
(other than the unrestricted role, which always provides all explicit capabilities). Most roles have explicit capabilities.
An implicit capability is permanently bound to a certain role. The metadata server’s roles provide implicit capabilities. For example, the user administration role provides the capability to add users, but there is no explicit Create Users capability.
A contributed capability is an implicit or explicit capability that is assigned through role aggregation. If you designate one role as a contributing role for another role, all of the first role’s capabilities become contributed capabilities for the second role.
3
3
3
You can’t assign permissions to a role or capabilities to a group.
A user can’t temporarily assume or relinquish a role; all of a user’s roles are active at all times. Administrators can have two user definitions so they can function as regular users some of the time. See “How to Create a Dual User” on page 29.
If you need detailed information about an application’s capabilities and default roles, see the administrative documentation for that application.
Single Sign-On Overview
SAS provides these single sign-on (SSO) features:
3
To bypass the logon prompt when launching a desktop application (such as SAS
Information Map Studio, SAS Enterprise Guide, SAS Data Integration Studio,
SAS OLAP Cube Studio, or SAS Management Console), use Integrated Windows authentication. The client and the metadata server must be in the same Windows domain or in domains that trust each other. See “Integrated Windows
Authentication” on page 148.
Note:
An alternate method for avoiding the initial logon prompt for a desktop application is to save credentials in a client-side connection profile. This method is supported on all operating systems. If you have more than one connection profile, designate a profile that includes your credentials as your default connection profile. Some sites don’t allow users save credentials in their connection profiles.
See “Password Policies” on page 14.
4
3
3
To bypass the logon prompt when launching a SAS Web application (such as SAS
Web Report Studio or SAS Information Delivery Portal), use Web authentication.
See “Web Authentication” on page 156.
Seamless access to data servers and processing servers is provided by mechanisms including SAS token authentication, Integrated Windows authentication, credential reuse, and credential retrieval. See “Authentication to Data Servers and
Processing Servers” on page 130.
6 Encryption Overview
4 Chapter 1
Encryption Overview
SAS offers encryption features to help you to protect information on disk and in transit. Here is an overview of encryption support in the SAS Intelligence Platform:
3
Passwords in configuration files and the metadata are encrypted or encoded. Most other metadata is not encrypted.
3
Passwords in transit to and from SAS servers are encrypted or encoded. You can choose to encrypt all traffic instead of encrypting only credentials.
Security Reporting and Logging Overview
Security reporting creates a snapshot of metadata-layer access control settings. SAS provides the %MDSECDS autocall macro to enable you to easily build data sets of permissions information. You can use those data sets as the data source for security reports. You can also identify changes in settings by comparing data sets that are generated at different times. See Chapter 10, “Security Report Macros,” on page 115.
Security logging records security-related events as part of a system-wide logging facility. The following table describes the security log categories:
Table 1.1
Logging of Security Events
Category
Audit.Authentication
Audit.Meta.Security.UserAdm
Audit.Meta.Security.GrpAdm
Audit.Meta.Security.AccCtrlAdm
Events Captured
Authentication events, client connection information.
Changes to users, groups, roles, logins, and authentication domains. Includes additions, deletions, modifications, and failed attempts to perform these actions.
Changes to memberships (for groups or roles). Includes adding members, removing members, and failed attempts to perform these actions.
Changes to permissions, permission settings, ACTs, and passwords.* Includes additions, deletions, modifications, and failed attempts to perform these actions.
Audit.Meta.Security
The parent category for security events. Logging settings that you define for this category apply to its child categories.
* This is for passwords on objects such as Tables, Connections, and ProtectedPassthrus.
C H A P T E R
2
Security Tasks
Introduction to Security Tasks
7
Facilitate Authentication
8
Identify or Create User Accounts
8
Coordinate the Workspace Server
8
Add Administrators
9
Add Regular Users
10
Open Up Access
11
Manage Access
12
Limit the Ability to Update or Delete Servers
12
Establish Access Distinctions for Content and Data
13
Provide PUBLIC Access (Optional)
13
Manage Passwords
14
Password Policies
14
Password Updates for Service Accounts
14
Password Updates for Users and Groups
17
External Accounts
17
SAS Internal Accounts
17
Ensure Availability of Application Features
18
Introduction to Security Tasks
This chapter provides instructions for the main security administration activities.
This chapter includes scenario-specific recommendations for these reasons:
3
Different sites have different starting points. For example, migrated deployments include user definitions that were created in the original environment, whereas new deployments include only a few predefined users.
3
Different sites use different hosts. For example, a Windows site might choose to implement Integrated Windows authentication, whereas a UNIX site can’t use that feature.
3
Different sites have different priorities. For example, one site might choose to initially grant broad access to data, whereas another site might need to provide that access selectively.
Note:
Where possible, the instructions include sufficient detail to enable someone who is new to the material to perform standard tasks successfully. For specialized tasks, concepts, and background information, references to other chapters are provided.
4
See Also
Appendix 1, “Checklists,” on page 211
7
8 Facilitate Authentication
4 Chapter 2
Facilitate Authentication
Identify or Create User Accounts
In order to log on to a SAS client, a user must have an account that can provide access to the metadata server. Determine which of the following situations applies to you and complete any tasks as indicated.
3
3
In the simplest case, users already have accounts that are known to the metadata server’s host. For example, the metadata server is on UNIX, and users have accounts in an LDAP provider that the UNIX host recognizes. Or the metadata server is on Windows, and users have Active Directory accounts. No action on your part is required.
In some cases, users have accounts that aren’t currently recognized by the metadata server’s host. Consider the examples in the following table.
Table 2.1
Incorporating Unrelated Accounts
Scenario
You have Active Directory accounts but the metadata server is on UNIX.
You have accounts in an LDAP provider that isn’t known to the metadata server’s host.
You have accounts that are known at your Web perimeter but aren’t known to the metadata server’s host.
Possible Solution
1
Enable the UNIX host to recognize the accounts. See “Pluggable Authentication
Modules (PAM)” on page 149.
Enable the metadata server itself to recognize the LDAP provider. See “Direct
LDAP Authentication” on page 146.
Enable the metadata server to trust users who have authenticated at the Web perimeter. See “Web Authentication” on page 156.
2
1 None of these options enable you to avoid later creating corresponding identity information in the SAS Metadata Repository.
2 This is only a partial solution, because users of desktop applications still need accounts that can be validated by the metadata server or its host.
Note:
Even if your Web accounts are recognized by the metadata server’s host, you might choose to use Web authentication so that SAS Web applications are launched silently.
4
3
In other cases, you must add accounts to your environment. Although it is technically possible to instead use SAS internal accounts for this purpose, those accounts aren’t intended for regular users.
Note:
Someone who directly connects to the OLAP server needs an account with the
OLAP server. This situation occurs when someone uses a data provider to access SAS
OLAP data from the SAS Add-In for Microsoft Office.
4
Coordinate the Workspace Server
Seamless access to the workspace server depends on coordination between that server and the metadata server. This coordination is necessary because authentication
Security Tasks
4 Add Administrators
9
to the workspace server is, by default, performed by the workspace server’s host. The following table provides general recommendations:
Table 2.2
Coordinate the Workspace Server With the Metadata Server
Scenario
Both servers are on Windows.
Both servers are on UNIX.
1
The two servers don’t recognize the same accounts.
2
Recommendation
The preferred approach is to ensure that both servers offer Integrated
Windows authentication (IWA) for desktop clients. See “Integrated Windows
Authentication” on page 148.
An alternative is to use credential-based host authentication for both servers.
See “Host Authentication” on page 147.
Use credential-based host authentication for both servers. No action on your part is required.
To minimize requirements for and exposure of host credentials, SAS provides several alternate configurations. See “Mixed Providers” on page 135.
1 Or both servers are on z/OS.
2 For example, one server is on Windows and the other server is on UNIX.
Note:
Similar coordination for other types of SAS servers isn’t necessary because those servers don’t use host authentication for metadata-aware connections.
4
See Also
“About User Administration” on page 21
“Single Sign-On Overview” on page 5
Add Administrators
For accountability, we recommend that you establish individual metadata administrators rather than sharing the unrestricted SAS Administrator account.
1
Log on to SAS Management Console as someone who has user administration capabilities (for example, sasadm@saspw).
2
3
On the Plug-ins tab, select User Manager (in the foundation repository).
Create a user definition for each administrator:
a b
Right-click and select New
I User.
On the General tab, enter a name.
c
Note:
The administrator’s internal user ID is based on this name, so it is a good idea to use a short identifier here.
4
On the Accounts tab, click Create Internal Account. In the New
Internal Account
dialog box, enter and confirm an initial password. Click
OK
.
4
Note:
By initial policy, internal passwords must be at least six characters, don’t have to include mixed case or numbers, and don’t expire. If you want to force a password change on first use, set a password expiration period.
4
d
Click OK to save the new internal user.
Provide privileges for each administrator:
a
Right-click the SAS Administrators group and select Properties. On the
Members
tab, move the new users to the Current Members list. Click OK.
10 Add Regular Users
4 Chapter 2
b
(Optional) Right-click the Metadata Server:
Unrestricted
role and select
Properties
. On the Members tab, move the new user to the Current
Members
list. Click OK. To perform this step, you must be unrestricted.
Note:
Step 4b establishes a single level of administrative privilege. If you omit step 4b for an administrator, that administrator can perform almost all metadata administrative tasks but is subject to all permission and capability requirements. See “Main Administrative Roles” on page 28.
4
Here are some details and tips:
3
If you log on with an internal account, you must include the @saspw suffix in the user ID that you submit (for example, sasadm@saspw). See “SAS Internal
Authentication” on page 150.
3
To conform to the rule of least privilege, do not use an administrative identity to perform regular user tasks. See “How to Create a Dual User” on page 29.
3
The advantage of using an internal account in step 3c is that this facilitates creation of a dual user, because this approach leaves the user’s external account available for use in a second user definition. A disadvantage of using an internal account is that such an account can’t launch a standard workspace server. These administrators are prompted for host credentials if they attempt to validate or use that server. See “Who Can Launch a Standard Workspace Server?” on page 187.
Note:
It is possible to avoid the prompt by replacing the step 3c instructions above with the step 3c instructions from the following topic. However, this makes it difficult to establish a dual user (because each account can be referenced in only one user definition).
4
Add Regular Users
For accountability, we recommend that you create an individual SAS identity for each person who uses the SAS environment. This enables you to make access distinctions and audit individual actions in the metadata layer. This also provides a personal folder for each user. To create a SAS identity for someone, make a SAS copy of the ID with which that person logs on to SAS applications.
Note:
The metadata server maintains its own copy of each ID but doesn’t keep copies of passwords for identification purposes. As an alternative to using the following instructions, you can batch import users from a provider such as LDAP into the SAS metadata. See Appendix 2, “User Import Macros,” on page 221.
4
1
Log on to SAS Management Console as someone who has user administration capabilities (for example, sasadm@saspw).
2
On the Plug-ins tab, select User Manager (in the foundation repository).
3
For each user:
a b c
Right-click and select New
I User.
On the General tab, enter a name.
On the Accounts tab, click New. In the New Login dialog box, select
DefaultAuth
and enter the user ID for the user’s external account. In the standard configuration, this can be any type of account that is known to the metadata server’s host (an LDAP, Active Directory, host, or other type of account).
Note:
For a Windows account, qualify the ID (for example, WIN\myID or
4
Security Tasks
4 Open Up Access
11
Note:
If your site uses Web authentication, you might create some logins in a different authentication domain. See “Logins for Users Who Participate in
Web Authentication” on page 166.
4
Note:
In a specialized configuration where you set -authpd LDAP: , you must append a suffix to each user ID that is authenticated by your LDAP provider. See “Direct LDAP Authentication” on page 146.
4
4 d
Click OK to save the new login (it is not necessary to include a password in this login). Click OK again to save the new user definition.
If the workspace server is on Windows, give anyone who accesses that server using credential-based host authentication the Log on as a batch job privilege. See
“Windows Privileges” on page 36.
Here are some details and tips:
3
3
3
These instructions create registered users who automatically belong to PUBLIC
(everyone who can access the metadata server) and SASUSERS (those members of
PUBLIC who have a well-formed user definition).
A user who doesn’t have a well-formed definition can still log on to most applications. However, the user has only the PUBLIC identity. In the standard configuration, a PUBLIC-only user can’t access any resources.
You don’t have to make changes on a user’s Authorization tab. This tab has no effect on what a user can do.
Open Up Access
The initial configuration provides sufficient access to data and resources, with these exceptions:
3
Only unrestricted users can access data through information maps, reports that are based on information maps, the metadata LIBNAME engine, or the OLAP server. In the initial configuration, the only grants of the Read permission are in each user’s personal content area (My Folder).
3
Only unrestricted users and members of the SAS Administrators group can register cubes.
To ensure access to resources and data:
1
Log on to SAS Management Console as an administrator (for example, sasadm@saspw).
2
(Optional) Verify that all registered users have at least the minimum required repository-level access.
a
On the Plug-ins tab, under Authorization Manager, expand the Access
Control Templates
node.
3 b c
Right-click the repository ACT (Default ACT) and select Properties.
On the Permission Pattern tab, select SASUSERS. Verify that the
ReadMetadata and WriteMetadata permissions are granted.
(Optional) Verify that all registered users have basic access to the folder tree.
4 a b
On the Folders tab, right-click the root folder (
Properties
.
SAS Folders
) and select
On the folder’s Authorization tab, select SASUSERS. Verify that the
ReadMetadata permission is granted.
Provide metadata layer access to data (this is a broad approach).
12 Manage Access
4 Chapter 2
a
On the Authorization tab for the root folder (
SASUSERS
.
SAS Folders
), select
Note:
To access this tab, select the Folders tab, right-click the root folder, and select Properties.
4
b
Grant the Read permission. This enables registered users to perform tasks such as querying cubes, accessing data through information maps, and viewing the contents of tables.
If you want to manage access to data more narrowly, set grants of the Read permission on specific folders for specific users. Users need the Read permission as follows:
3
3
3
Users need Read permission on an information map in order to access data through that information map. For example, if Joe is denied Read permission on an information map, he can’t view reports that are based on that information map.
Users always need Read permission on OLAP data in order to access that data.
Users sometimes need Read permission on relational data in order to access that data. Read permission is required when data is accessed using the metadata LIBNAME engine.
5
If users who aren’t in the SAS Administrators group will register cubes, grant those users the WriteMetadata permission on the OLAP schema.
6 a
On the Folders tab, expand the Shared Data and SASApp - OLAP Schema folders.
b c
Right-click the schema and select Properties.
On the Authorization tab, select or add an identity and grant
WriteMetadata permission to that identity. For example, to allow all registered users to add cubes, assign the grant of WriteMetadata permission to SASUSERS.
Verify that physical-layer access is available. These are the requirements:
3
Anyone who accesses SAS data sets from a standard workspace server needs host operating system permissions to those files.
3
3
Anyone who performs tasks that involve writing to a host directory needs host layer write access to that directory.
The launch credential for the pooled workspace server, stored process server and, if applicable, workspace server that uses SAS token authentication needs physical-layer access to any SAS data that the server retrieves.
Initially, the SAS Spawned Servers account (sassrv) is the launch credential for all of these servers.
Manage Access
Limit the Ability to Update or Delete Servers
In the initial configuration, the Server Manager capability is available to only the
SAS Administrators group. This prevents other users from accessing server definitions under that plug-in. For greater security, use permissions to protect server definitions.
See “Protecting Server Definitions” on page 85.
Security Tasks
4 Provide PUBLIC Access (Optional)
13
Establish Access Distinctions for Content and Data
In a new deployment, access to most resources and data is undifferentiated. All registered nonadministrators have identical metadata-layer access to content, data, and application features. Everyone who uses a stored process server or pooled workspace server has identical host-layer access to any SAS data that server retrieves. In a migrated deployment, access to most resources and data mirrors access in the original environment.
To manage access to items such as reports, stored processes, information maps, and data definitions, create custom folders that reflect the distinctions that you want to make. See Chapter 6, “Permissions on Folders,” on page 71.
To fully protect SAS data sets, you must also address host access. See “Host Access to SAS Tables” on page 187.
Provide PUBLIC Access (Optional)
Note:
This is not a widely applicable task. Before you use these instructions, verify that they are appropriate for your environment and goals. See “About PUBLIC Access and Anonymous Access” on page 140.
4
If you need to set up a specialized configuration in which unregistered users can participate, make these changes in SAS Management Console:
1
On the Plug-ins tab, under Authorization Manager
I Access Control
Templates
right-click the repository ACT (default ACT) and select Properties.
On the Permission Pattern tab, grant the ReadMetadata and WriteMetadata permissions to PUBLIC.
2
Note:
Even users who only consume content need both of these permissions at the repository level, because some applications write system information about user activity, even during what appears to be a view-only transaction.
4
On the Folders tab, give the PUBLIC group the Read permission for any information maps, cubes, and MLE data that you want to make universally available. A good approach is to create a folder branch for such content, set the grant on the top folder in that branch, and allow the grant to flow through the branch.
Note:
Users also need ReadMetadata permission to folders and content items. In general, it isn’t necessary to set specific grants because this permission must flow through from the repository ACT into the public areas of the folder tree (for navigational purposes).
4
Note:
If you want to allow everyone (including unregistered users) to contribute content to a particular folder, give the PUBLIC group a grant of the
WriteMemberMetadata permission on that folder’s Authorization tab.
4
3
4
On the Plug-ins tab, under User Manager, right-click the PUBLIC group and select Properties. Review the PUBLIC group’s role memberships. Typically, no adjustments are necessary, because the initial role assignments give the PUBLIC group basic capabilities.
Make sure that the PUBLIC group can use servers.
a b
On the Plug-ins tab, under Server Manager, verify that the PUBLIC group has appropriate permissions to the servers that unregistered users will access.
If necessary, add one or more logins on the PUBLIC group’s Accounts tab
(for example, to provide seamless access to a third-party DBMS).
14 Manage Passwords
4 Chapter 2
5 c
If you have configured client-side pooling, verify that PUBLIC is a designated puddle group.
On the Plug-ins tab, under Application Management
I Configuration
Manager
I Web Report Studio, select the Settings tab and the Application
Configuration
section. Set the Allow Public Users property for SAS Web
Report Studio to yes. This change takes effect after you restart the SAS Web
Infrastructure Services application and then restart SAS Web Report Studio.
Note:
Some applications don’t accept PUBLIC-only users.
4
Manage Passwords
Password Policies
Each authentication provider sets password policies for accounts in that provider.
For example, the password expiration policy for a host account is determined by that host. For the SAS internal authentication provider, you can set server-level and per-account policies such as password strength requirements and password expiration periods. See “How to Change Internal Account Policies” on page 163.
In the initial configuration, users can choose to store their credentials in their client-side connection profiles. This prepopulates the logon dialog box in desktop applications. To prevent users from creating a local copy of their credentials, set
SASSEC_LOCAL_PW_SAVE="N" (or ="0" or ="F") in the metadata server’s omaconfig.xml file and restart the server.
In desktop clients, this option controls the availability of a check box that enables the user to choose whether to store their credentials locally.
Note:
A change to the SASSEC_LOCAL_PW_SAVE= setting takes effect after the metadata server is restarted. Each client uses the previous setting for its first connection, discovers the revised metadata server setting, and conforms to that revised setting for subsequent connections. If you change the setting to disallow saved credentials, and credentials are already present in a user’s connection profile, those credentials must be manually removed.
4
Password Updates for Service Accounts
Passwords for a few service accounts require special coordination because these passwords are included in configuration files. The follow table and list provide details.
Table 2.3
Overview of Storage of Service Account Passwords
Owning Metadata Identity Example Account ID Location
In
Files
In
Metadata
sasadm@saspw
SAS Administrator sastrust@saspw
SAS Trusted User
Security Tasks
4 Password Updates for Service Accounts
15
Owning Metadata Identity Example Account ID Location
In
Files
In
Metadata
SAS Anonymous Web User webanon@saspw
SAS General Servers sassrv
LSF Services
1 lsfuser
1 For sites that use a standard configuration of scheduling with Platform Suite for SAS (with SAS
Web Report Studio).
3
3
Here are some exceptions to the preceding table:
Not all sites use all accounts.
Not all sites use the standard account IDs.
3
3
Some sites have additional service accounts (for example, additional logins on the
SAS General Servers Group).
Some sites choose to use external accounts for all service identities (instead of using internal accounts where appropriate).
To update a service account password that is included only in metadata, use either
SAS Management Console or the SAS Deployment Manager. To update a password that is included in configuration files, use the SAS Deployment Manager. Here are some key points about using the SAS Deployment Manager to update passwords:
3
The utility updates both configuration files and metadata. You can update multiple passwords in a single pass.
3
3
3
You must run the utility on each machine that hosts affected components. If you have servers on multiple machines, run the utility on each host, beginning with the metadata server machine.
It might be necessary to update the same password on multiple hosts. For example, if you update the password for the SAS Trusted User on the metadata server’s host, you must also do the same update on the middle-tier machine.
Be sure to supply the same new password for an account on all machines on which you update that account.
3
3
3
If you enter a plaintext password into the utility, the utility encodes that password using SAS proprietary encoding (SAS002).
Passwords for any service accounts that you introduce in SAS Management
Console aren’t managed by this tool. For example, if you designate a new login as the launch credential for a server, that launch credential isn’t automatically added to the list of accounts that the SAS Deployment Manager can update. Server launch credentials aren’t added to a configuration file, so you can update any such passwords from the owning identity’s Accounts tab in SAS Management Console.
Each run of this utility generates an UpdatePasswords.html file that documents the updates that the utility performed and provides instructions for any required post-update activities.
To update a password with SAS Deployment Manager:
1
(Optional) If you are updating the password for an internal account, review the server-level password policies for internal accounts. Also, check each internal account’s properties to determine whether any more (or less) stringent requirements apply.
16 Password Updates for Service Accounts
4 Chapter 2
Note:
In particular, make sure that the account is not subject to a forced password change after the password is reset (either set the password to never expire or change the server-level policy for pre-expired passwords).
4
Note:
By default policy, internal passwords must be at least six characters and don’t have to include mixed case or numbers. The five most recent passwords for an account can’t be reused for that account.
4
2
(Optional) If you have licensed SAS/SECURE and you want to use stronger encryption than SAS002, use the PWENCODE procedure to prepare an
AES-encrypted version of each new password. For example: proc pwencode in=’PWsassrv1’ method=sas003; run;
3
The encrypted password is written to your SAS log. When you use method=sas003, the first part of the password is {sas003}.
Stop all SAS servers and services. Make any necessary adjustments to the state of your third-party Web components, as explained in the following table:
Table 2.4
State of Web Components for a Password Update
Product
WebSphere
WebLogic
JBoss
Component
dmgr (the IBM deployment manager server) nodeagent (the IBM managed node server)
Web application servers (for example, SASServer1) node manager
ManagedWebLogic server
Web application servers (for example, SASServer1)
State
Running
Running
It doesn’t matter
Running
Stopped
Stopped
5
6
4
7
8
9
If you are updating the password for an external account (for example, sassrv), change that password in your external authentication provider (for example, in the host operating system).
Restart the metadata server. Do not restart other servers or services.
On the metadata server’s host, navigate to your equivalent of
SAS-installation-directory/SASDeploymentManager/9.2 and launch config.exe
(Windows), config.sh (UNIX), or config.rexx (z/OS).
In the SAS Deployment Manager, select the update passwords task, select a configuration directory on the current machine, and log on as an unrestricted user
(for example, sasadm@saspw).
Perform the update. If you need detailed assistance with the user interface, see the Help within the utility.
If you have servers on multiple machines, repeat steps 6–8 on each server host as applicable for the accounts that you are updating. Remember that you might have to update the same account on multiple hosts.
Note:
Not all accounts are used on all hosts. If the accounts that you are updating aren’t on a particular host, proceed to the next host.
4
10
Restart all servers and services, and complete any additional post-update tasks as specified in the generated UpdatePasswords.html file.
Note:
Because of dependencies, it is important to start servers and services in a particular order. In particular, you should start the metadata server first and start
Security Tasks
4 Password Updates for Users and Groups
17
Remote Services (the SAS Services Application) before you start the Web servers.
For a complete discussion, see the chapter "Operating Your Servers" in the SAS
Intelligence Platform: System Administration Guide.
4
Note:
You can automate running the deployment manager when you need to perform the same configuration action on many machines in your deployment. The deployment manager uses the same record and playback mechanism as the SAS
Deployment Wizard to perform a non-interactive, silent configuration. For more information, see the topic "Automating the SAS Installation on Multiple Machines" in the SAS Intelligence Platform: Installation and Configuration Guide.
4
CAUTION:
If you choose to use the deployment manager’s record and playback mechanism to update passwords, passwords are written to the response file.
For greater security, delete the response file (or remove the passwords from the response file) when you are finished.
A response file is present only if you use the record and playback mechanism, instead of completing the task manually as documented in the preceding steps.
4
See Also
“Encryption Overview” on page 6
“SAS Internal Authentication” on page 150
“Passwords That Are Managed By the SAS Deployment Manager” on page 215
Password Updates for Users and Groups
External Accounts
In most cases, the SAS copy of an external account includes only a user ID and doesn’t include a password, so no password updates in metadata are necessary.
If any external passwords are stored, updates to those passwords are driven by changes that first occur in the external authentication provider. For example, if a copy of the password for an Oracle account or a host account is stored in the metadata as a group login, you must maintain that copy so that it always matches the actual password.
Any change to the actual password (in Oracle) must be followed by a corresponding update to the SAS copy of the password (in the group login in the metadata).
You can update external passwords in SAS Management Console. If you own logins that include passwords, you can also update those passwords in SAS Personal Login
Manager. To update the SAS copy of an external password in SAS Management
Console, navigate to the owning user or group definition, select the Accounts tab, select a login, and click Edit (next to the table of logins).
SAS Internal Accounts
Every SAS internal account has a password. By initial policy, these passwords don’t expire. See “How to Change Internal Account Policies” on page 163.
To update a SAS internal password in SAS Management Console, navigate to the owning user definition, select the Accounts tab, and click Update (at the bottom of the tab). If you have your own SAS internal account, you can also update your internal password in SAS Personal Login Manager.
Note:
If repeated attempts to log on with an internal account fail, that account might be locked. See “How to Unlock an Internal Account” on page 29.
4
18 Ensure Availability of Application Features
4 Chapter 2
Ensure Availability of Application Features
In general, the initial configuration provides appropriate access to application features. Most nonadministrative capabilities are available to either PUBLIC (everyone who can access the metadata server) or SASUSERS (those members of PUBLIC who have a well-formed user definition). To ensure availability of application features:
1
2
Log on to SAS Management Console as an administrator (for example, sasadm@saspw).
(Optional) Verify current role memberships.
a b c
On the Plug-ins tab, select User Manager.
Clear the Show Users and Show Groups check boxes. The roles that exist in your deployment are displayed.
Right-click any role, select Properties, and select the Members tab. The following table documents initial membership of the predefined roles in a new deployment. Not all deployments include all roles. For any unlisted roles, see the administrative documentation for the associated product or solution.
Table 2.5
Initial Role Memberships in a New Deployment
Role Initial Members
PUBLIC
(Empty)
1
(Empty)
1
Add-In for Microsoft Office: Advanced
Add-In for Microsoft Office: Analysis
Add-In for Microsoft Office: OLAP
BI Dashboard: Administration
Enterprise Guide: Advanced
Enterprise Guide: Analysis
Enterprise Guide: OLAP
Management Console: Advanced
Management Console: Content Management
Metadata Server: Operation
Metadata Server: Unrestricted
Metadata Server: User Administration
Web Report Studio: Advanced
BI Dashboard Administrators
PUBLIC
(Empty)
1
(Empty)
1
SAS Administrators
SASUSERS
SAS Administrators
SAS Administrator
SAS Administrators
(Empty)
2
Security Tasks
4 Ensure Availability of Application Features
19
Role Initial Members
PUBLIC
2
Web Report Studio: Report Creation
Web Report Studio: Report Viewing PUBLIC
2
1 In the initial configuration, the advanced role for this application provides a superset of this role’s capabilities, so those capabilities are widely available even though this role has no members.
2 In a migrated deployment, membership in the SAS Web Report Studio roles is different because the migration maps the roles from the previous release to the new 9.2 roles. An exception is that the ability to manage distribution lists is not preserved. See step 5c below.
3
4
(Optional) Populate the analysis and OLAP roles for SAS Enterprise Guide and the SAS Add-In for Microsoft Office. Initially, only the advanced roles for these applications have members. This can create problems if you later choose to narrow the membership of these advanced roles. To ensure that you don’t inadvertently disable the lower-level roles, make either SASUSERS or PUBLIC a member of the other roles for these applications.
Make BI Dashboard administrative capabilities available.
5 a b
Right-click the BI Dashboard:
Administration
role, select Properties, and select the Members tab.
Move SAS Administrators (or other identities) to the Current Members list.
Make advanced SAS Web Report Studio features available.
a b
Right-click the Web Report Studio:
Advanced
role, select Properties, and select the Members tab.
Move SASUSERS to the Current Members list.
c
Note:
This broad approach makes the menu items for features such as creating cascading prompts and report linking, scheduling, and distribution available to all registered users. A narrower approach is to instead make the
SAS Administrators group a member of this role.
4
On the Capabilities tab, notice that the Manage Distribution List capability isn’t provided by this role. You can use any of these approaches to manage availability of this feature:
3
3
3
Do not select that check box. Only unrestricted users can use this feature.
Select this check box. All members of this role can use this feature.
3
Add this capability to a role that has limited membership (for example, the Management Console:
Advanced
role, which has the SAS
Administrators group as a member).
Create a new role that offers only this capability. Make selected users or groups members of that role.
If you want to further adjust the initial role configuration, make changes on the
Members
tab of a role, make changes on the Capabilities tab of a role, or create a new role.
20
C H A P T E R
3
Users, Groups, and Roles
About User Administration
21
User Definitions
22
Group Definitions
24
Role Definitions
26
Main Administrative Roles
28
Differences Between Roles and Groups
29
Relationship Between Capabilities and Permissions
29
How to Create a Dual User
29
How to Unlock an Internal Account
29
How to Assign Capabilities to Roles
30
User ID Formats
32
Unique Names and IDs
33
Identity Precedence
34
Windows Privileges
36
Who Can Manage Users, Groups, and Roles?
37
About User Administration
In order to make access distinctions and track user activity, a security system must know who is making each request. The primary purpose of user administration is to provide information that helps systems identify each connecting user. In the SAS
Intelligence Platform, the primary user management task is to create SAS copies of external account IDs. For identification purposes, only the account IDs are needed. SAS doesn’t maintain copies of external passwords for identification purposes. For each user, you must create a SAS copy of a unique account ID, with these exceptions:
3
For metadata administrators and some service identities, you can use a SAS internal account instead of a SAS copy of an external account ID.
3
For users who don’t need an individual identity, you don’t have to store an account
ID. Such users share the generic PUBLIC identity.
SAS uses its copy of these IDs to establish a unique SAS identity for each connecting user. All of a user’s group memberships, role memberships, and permission assignments are ultimately tied to the user’s SAS identity. See “How SAS Identity is
Determined” on page 126.
To access user administration features in SAS Management Console, select the User
Manager
on the Plug-ins tab. If you don’t want to use SAS Management Console to interactively create user definitions, you can write SAS programs that import and periodically update account IDs from your authentication provider. See Appendix 2,
“User Import Macros,” on page 221.
21
22 User Definitions
4 Chapter 3
User Definitions
Each SAS user has identity information in two distinct realms:
3
3
In an authentication provider, the user has an account that can access the metadata server. See “Identify or Create User Accounts” on page 8.
In the SAS environment, the user has a definition that includes a copy of the account ID with which the user accesses the metadata server.
Coordination between the two realms establishes SAS users. Every SAS user is based on a match between these values:
3 the account ID with which a user authenticates
3 an account ID that is listed on that user’s Accounts tab
The following figure depicts some examples:
Figure 3.1
Examples: User Accounts and User Definitions
User account?
User account?
User definition?
User account?
User definition?
Bill
No SAS identity
Susan
PUBLIC
Generic SAS identity
Tara Individual SAS identity
Tara
ETL
SASUSERS
PUBLIC
Direct membership
Implicit memberships
Note:
In the preceding figure, the term "user account" refers to an account in an authentication provider. The term "user definition" refers to a metadata object that represents the user. Someone who doesn’t have an account that provides access to the metadata server can’t connect to the server at all.
4
The following list and display provide details about user definitions:
3
3
3
3
3
On the Accounts tab, any Windows user ID must be fully qualified (for example,
WindowsDomain\user-ID
, MachineName\user-ID, or [email protected]).
If you find that a user has only the PUBLIC identity even though the user has a user definition, examine the user’s Accounts tab. The account ID might be missing, not accurately entered, or not properly qualified. Passwords and authentication domain assignments are never the cause of this problem. The match is based only on the account ID.
Users can maintain their own logins (with SAS Personal Login Manager or SAS
Management Console) but can’t make other changes to their definitions.
A user’s Authorization tab does not determine what that user can do. This tab can affect the ability of other users to modify or delete this user.
For instructions for adding users, see Chapter 2, “Security Tasks,” on page 7.
Figure 3.2
A User Definition
A name is required and must be unique among users within a metadata server.
Users, Groups, and Roles
4 User Definitions
23
An external identity is needed if this user is batch synchronized.
A SAS internal name.
Each ID is exclusive to one SAS identity.
For a Windows account, the ID must be qualified.
No logins are visible unless you have user administration capabilities or you are this user.
Displays first-level memberships. Does not show implicit membership in
SASUSERS and
PUBLIC. Does not show indirect memberships.
Asterisks are displayed regardless of whether a password is stored.
Internal accounts are not intended for regular users.
24 Group Definitions
4 Chapter 3
Group Definitions
Groups are primarily used in permission assignments. You can also use a group to populate a role or to make a shared credential available to multiple users. The following figure illustrates how the users in the previous topic might participate in a group structure:
Figure 3.3
Example: Users in a Group Structure
Bill
PUBLIC
Susan
ETL
SASUSERS
SAS
Administrators
Tara
Report
Users
The following table introduces three important predefined groups:
Table 3.1
PUBLIC, SASUSERS, SAS Administrators Groups
Group Description
PUBLIC
SASUSERS
A standard group with implicit membership. This group includes everyone who can access the metadata server, either directly or through a trust relationship. A user who does not have an individual identity uses the PUBLIC group identity.
A standard group with implicit membership. This group includes those members of the
PUBLIC group who have an individual identity. All members of the SASUSERS group are also members of the PUBLIC group.
SAS Administrators A standard group for metadata administrators. In a standard configuration, members are granted broad access and administrative capabilities, but aren’t unrestricted.
3
3
The following list and display highlight important details:
3
The Groups and Roles tab enables you to create a nested group structure.
The Accounts tab is often blank for a group. An entry on a group’s Accounts tab makes a shared external account available to all members of the group. Such logins typically provide access to a third-party database server and should include both a user ID and a password. See “How to Store Passwords for a Third-Party
Server” on page 174.
A group’s Authorization tab does not determine what that group can do. This tab can affect the ability of other users to modify or delete this group.
Figure 3.4
A Group Definition
A name is required and must be unique among groups and roles within a metadata server.
Excludes roles because a role can’t be a member of a group.
Users, Groups, and Roles
4 Group Definitions
25
An external identity is needed if this group is batch synchronized.
This group’s direct members.
Any groups or roles that this group directly belongs to.
Often, a group definition has no logins.
26 Role Definitions
4 Chapter 3
Role Definitions
Roles manage the visibility of application features such as menu items, plug-ins, and buttons. In the initial configuration, registered users have almost all nonadministrative capabilities. If you want to alter the initial configuration, use either or both of these techniques:
3
To increase or reduce the availability of a role, adjust a role’s membership on its
Members
tab. For example, on the Enterprise Guide:
Advanced
role’s Members tab, you might remove PUBLIC and add a few individual power users (or a custom group of power users). Any capabilities that are provided exclusively by the
Enterprise Guide: Advanced
role will no longer be available to other restricted users.
Initially, the other SAS Enterprise Guide roles have no members, so narrowing the membership of this role limits the availability of all capabilities. To preserve the availability of the capabilities of the less privileged roles, assign a group (such as PUBLIC) as the member of those roles.
3
To redistribute capabilities, change the selections on a role’s Capabilities tab or assign contributing roles on a role’s Contributing Roles tab. For example, on the Management Console:
Content Management
role’s Capabilities tab, you might clear the User Manager check box. Only users who get this capability from another role (such as Management Console:
Advanced
) or are unrestricted will be able to see this plug-in.
Initially, some capability assignments are redundant across an application’s roles. For example, SAS Web Report Studio’s basic print capability is provided by all of that application’s predefined roles. To prevent someone from having a capability, make sure they aren’t in any role that provides that capability.
The following list and display highlight important details:
3
Not all application features are under role management. Not all applications have roles.
3
Roles and groups serve distinct purposes. You can’t assign permissions to a role or capabilities to a group.
3
Don’t change the Name of any of the predefined roles.
3
The Members tab doesn’t show indirect memberships. For example, the SAS
Administrator is a member of the Metadata Server:
Operation
role, but the
SAS Administrator is not listed on that role’s Members tab. Only the direct member (SAS Administrators) is listed.
3
The metadata server roles have implicit capabilities. For example, members of the
Metadata Server: User Administration
role can create new users, but there is no Create Users check box on any Capabilities tab.
3
The relationships that you create using the Contributing Roles tab are monolithic; you can’t deselect a contributed capability. These relationships are also dynamic; a change to the capabilities of one role affects any roles to which the first role contributes its capabilities.
3
There are no negative capabilities (capabilities that limit what someone can do).
You can’t deny a capability to anyone.
3
A role’s Authorization tab does not determine what that role can do. This tab can affect the ability of other users to modify or delete this role.
Figure 3.5
A Role Definition
A name is required and must be unique among groups and roles within a metadata server.
Excludes roles because a role can’t be a member of a role.
indicates that some child nodes are selected.
indicates that a capability comes from a contributing role.
Users, Groups, and Roles
4 Role Definitions
27
An external identity is needed if this role is batch synchronized.
This role’s direct members.
Implicit capabilities aren’t listed.
Explains the selected capability.
Any roles that contribute their capabilities to this role.
28 Main Administrative Roles
4 Chapter 3
Main Administrative Roles
Table 3.2
Main Administrative Roles
Role
Metadata Server:
Unrestricted
Metadata Server:
User Administration
Metadata Server:
Operation
Capabilities
Members have all capabilities and can’t be denied any permissions in the metadata environment.
1
Members can create, update, and delete users, groups, roles
(other than the unrestricted role), internal accounts, logins, and authentication domains.
2
Members can administer the metadata server (monitor, stop, pause, resume, quiesce) and its repositories (add, initialize, register, unregister, delete).
3
Members can see all plug-ins in SAS Management Console (in the initial configuration).
Initial
Membership
SAS
Administrator
SAS
Administrators
SAS
Administrators
Management Console:
Advanced
SAS
Administrators
1 Unrestricted users can use only those logins that are assigned to them (or to groups to which they belong). They don’t automatically have implicit capabilities that are provided by components other than the metadata server.
2 Restricted user administrators can’t update identities for which they have an explicit or ACT denial of
WriteMetadata.
3 Only someone who has an external user ID that is listed in the adminUsers.txt file with a preceding asterisk can delete, unregister, add, or initialize a foundation repository. Only an unrestricted user can analyze and repair metadata or perform tasks when the metadata server is paused for administration.
3
3
Here are some details:
3
Many of the preceding tasks have permission requirements in addition to capability requirements. In a standard configuration, the SAS Administrators group has the necessary permissions.
3
3
3
3
To operate servers other than the metadata server, you need the Administer permission, not a particular role or capability.
The metadata server’s roles have implicit capabilities. Implicit capabilities aren’t listed on any Capabilities tab.
You can’t deselect capabilities for the unrestricted role.
The metadata server’s adminUsers.txt file provides many of the same privileges that it did in previous releases. However, we recommend that you use roles instead, except as specified in documentation for a particular task.
The method that most applications use to retrieve credentials supports normal use of stored credentials, regardless of role memberships. However, if someone who has user administration capabilities makes a raw metadata request for logins, no usable passwords are returned.
Do not give user administration capabilities to the identity that the object spawner uses to retrieve server launch credentials from the metadata. In a typical configuration, the spawner uses the SAS Trusted User to retrieve server launch credentials (through a raw metadata request). If the SAS Trusted User is a member of the user administration role (or the unrestricted role), the spawner will not operate properly.
Users, Groups, and Roles
4 How to Unlock an Internal Account
29
Differences Between Roles and Groups
Roles and groups serve distinct purposes. You can’t assign permissions to a role or capabilities to a group. Here are some additional distinctions:
3
The identity hierarchy is relevant for groups, but not for roles. If you are a member of a role, you have all of that role’s capabilities, regardless of whether you are a direct member of that role and what your other memberships are.
3
3
3
You can deny a permission to a group, but you can’t deny a capability to a role.
Each role either provides or doesn’t provide each capability. No role takes capabilities away from its members.
A group’s permissions are not displayed as part of a group definition, but a role’s capabilities are displayed as part of a role definition.
A group can be a member of another group, but a role cannot be a member of another role. Instead, one role can contribute its capabilities to another role.
Relationship Between Capabilities and Permissions
Having a certain capability is not an alternative to meeting permission requirements.
Permissions requirements and capability requirements are cumulative. For example, even if you are in the Enterprise Guide:
OLAP
role, you can’t access data in a cube for which you don’t have the Read and ReadMetadata permissions.
Use roles and permissions in conjunction with one another. You can use permissions to constrain the scope of a role. For example, to allow someone to create reports but add them to only one folder, give the person the Web Report Studio:
Report Creation
role, but grant them the WriteMemberMetadata permission on only that one folder.
How to Create a Dual User
To enable someone to alternately function as an administrator and as a nonadministrator, create two user definitions for that person as follows:
3
3
One definition is based on an internal account and is a member of the SAS
Administrators group. See “Add Administrators” on page 9.
The other definition is based on an external account and is not a member of the
SAS Administrators group. See “Add Regular Users” on page 10.
Dual users log on with their internal account when they need administrative privileges and with their external account the rest of the time.
Note:
The only way to make someone a dual user is to give that person two user definitions, each based on a different account. You can’t create a dual user by adding a login to a definition that already has an internal account or by adding two logins to one definition.
4
Note:
Dual users should use a dedicated client-side connection profile for their internal account. In that profile, the user should leave the Authentication Domain field blank. This optimizes credential reuse.
4
How to Unlock an Internal Account
By initial policy, making three consecutive unsuccessful attempts to log on with a
SAS internal account causes that account to be locked for one hour. This topic explains
30 How to Assign Capabilities to Roles
4 Chapter 3 how to unlock the account immediately, so that you don’t have to wait until the account lockout period has passed.
The preferred approach is to locate another user who has user administration capabilities. That user can unlock the internal account by completing these steps:
1
Log on to SAS Management Console as someone who is unrestricted or who has user administration capabilities.
2
3
4
5
On the Plug-ins tab, select User Manager.
In the display pane, clear the Show Groups and Show Roles check boxes.
Right-click the user definition of the person whose SAS internal account is locked out and select Properties.
Select the Accounts tab. A message box asks whether you want to unlock the account. Click Yes.
In the user’s Properties dialog box, click OK. The account is now unlocked.
Note:
It isn’t necessary to reset the user’s internal password as part of unlocking the user’s internal account.
4
If there is no other administrator available and you have the necessary host access, you can use this approach as a last resort:
1
Edit the metadata server’s adminUsers.txt file to create a new unrestricted user.
a b c
Navigate to your equivalent of SAS/Lev1/SASMeta/MetadataServer/
adminUsers.txt
. Open the file with a text editor.
Add a user ID for an account that is known to the metadata server’s host.
Include a preceding asterisk (for example, *WIN\winID or *unixID).
Stop and restart the metadata server to make the change take effect.
CAUTION:
Stopping the metadata server stops other components.
4
2
3
4
Log on to SAS Management Console using the user ID that you added to the adminUsers.txt file. In the status bar at the bottom of the application window, notice that you are unrestricted. Unlock the locked account (see the preceding instruction list).
To verify that the account is unlocked, log on to SAS Management Console using the account.
Open the adminUsers.txt file, remove the entry that you added, and stop and restart the metadata server.
Here are some additional tips:
3
3
3
If you choose to change the password for the original SAS Administrator, you might need to update the deployment. See “Password Updates for Service
Accounts” on page 14.
You can customize the account lockout policy. See “How to Change Internal
Account Policies” on page 163.
We recommend that you establish individual metadata administrators rather than sharing the predefined SAS Administrator account. See “Add Administrators” on page 9.
How to Assign Capabilities to Roles
To learn about customizing the distribution of capabilities across roles, complete this exercise in SAS Management Console.
Users, Groups, and Roles
4 How to Assign Capabilities to Roles
31
1
2
3
Log on as someone who has user administration capabilities and is a member of the SAS Administrators group (for example, sasadm@saspw).
On the Plug-ins tab, select User Manager (make sure you are in the foundation repository). In the display area, clear the Show Users and Show Groups check boxes. The roles that exist in your deployment are displayed.
Right-click User Manager and select New
I Role. On the General tab, enter
Test Role
in the Name field.
4
Note:
Creating a new role isolates this exercise from the rest of your deployment, ensuring that your current configuration is preserved.
4
To learn how to directly assign capabilities, select the Capabilities tab:
a
Notice that a message at the top of the tab reminds you that a few capabilities (for example, those of the metadata server’s roles) aren’t listed on this tab (because those capabilities are implicit).
b c d
Notice that the first node (Applications) has an empty branch icon
This indicates that no explicit capabilities are assigned to this role.
Notice that there is a second-level node for each component that provides explicit capabilities. A role can provide capabilities from multiple
.
applications.
Click + to expand the SAS Management Console node. Click + to expand the
Plug-ins
node. Select the Authorization Manager check box. Notice that the branch icons are now partial capabilities are selected.
. This indicates that some of the
Note:
To see a description of any capability, click that capability’s text and look at the Description field at the bottom of the tab.
4
5 f e
Click the partial icon for the Plug-ins folder. This action causes all of the capabilities beneath that node to be selected. Click again to cycle back to the empty branch icon (no capabilities assigned). Click a third time to revert to the immediately preceding state (only the Authorization Manager check box selected).
Click the Authorization Manager check box to clear it.
To learn how to indirectly assign capabilities, select the Contributing Roles tab:
a
In the Available Roles list, select Management Console:
Content
Management
. Before you make this a contributing role, verify its capabilities.
i ii iii iv
Click Properties, select the candidate role’s Capabilities tab, and expand SAS Management Console
I Plug-ins. Notice that four capabilities are selected. All check boxes are disabled because this dialog box is in read-only mode when it is accessed in this manner.
Check the role’s description on the General tab to determine whether the role provides any further capabilities (implicit capabilities).
Check the role’s Contributing Roles tab (just in case it has a contributing role that provides implicit capabilities).
Click Cancel to return to the Contributing Roles tab of your test role.
b
Move the Management Console:
Content Management
role to the Current
Roles
list. This role now contributes all of its capabilities to your new role. If capabilities of this contributing role change, the capabilities of your test role change also.
It is necessary to use contributing roles in these circumstances:
3
You want to extend implicit capabilities (like the capabilities of the metadata server roles) to other roles.
32 User ID Formats
4 Chapter 3
3
You want to provide dynamic aggregation of roles so that changes to one role propagate to other roles that have the first role as a contributing role.
6
To learn about interactions between contributed and directly assigned capabilities, select your test role’s Capabilities tab again.
a b c d e
Under SAS Management Console
I Plug-ins, notice that capabilities from the Management Console:
Content Management
role are now selected. A visual indicator identifies these as contributed capabilities.
Select the already-selected Authorization Manager check box. This adds a direct assignment on top of the contributed assignment, making the assignment independent from the underlying contributing role.
Click the tree icon for the Plug-ins folder three times (stop when only the
Authorization Manager
check box is explicitly selected).
Select the Authorization Manager check box again. It reverts back to the contributed state. You can’t incrementally remove a contributed capability.
If you want to make your role independent of the Management Console:
Content Management
role:
i ii iii
Add explicit selections on top of all contributed capabilities.
Select the Contributed Roles tab. Move the Management Console:
Content Management
role back to the Available roles list box.
Select the Capabilities tab. Notice that you can now clear any capability.
Note:
This technique (trace a contributing role and then remove it) is a good way to create a new role that is based on another role but offers fewer capabilities. Of course, anyone who has both roles has any capability that is offered by either role.
4
7
To close the dialog box (and not save the test role), click Cancel.
User ID Formats
In most cases, users can launch SAS applications using the same ID and password as they use in the rest of your computing environment. However, when you create a SAS copy of a Windows user ID, you must qualify the ID (for example,
WindowsDomain\user-ID
, MachineName\user-ID, or [email protected]).
Failure to meet the preceding requirement doesn’t prevent a successful logon.
However, it prevents SAS from recognizing the user’s individual identity and causes the user to have only the PUBLIC identity. See “Authentication to the Metadata Server” on page 126.
If your site accepts Windows IDs in disparate formats, you must coordinate the format of the copies with the format in which users submit their IDs. This table describes the common forms for an Active Directory user ID:
Table 3.3
Overview: Forms of an Active Directory User ID
Form
1
Short
UPN
Basic Syntax
user-ID user-ID@UPNsuffix
Examples joe [email protected]
Users, Groups, and Roles
4 Unique Names and IDs
33
Form
1
Down-level
Kerberos
Basic Syntax
down-level-domain-name\user-ID user-ID@realm
Examples orionsports\joe
or sales\joe or mymachine\joe
2
1 User Principal Name (UPN) is an Active Directory concept. Down-level domain is a Windows NT concept.
2 The realm in a Kerberos name is usually a Windows domain. A Kerberos name can include an instance (in the format user-ID/instance@realm). Additional site-specific variations might occur.
In the SAS Intelligence Platform, follow these standards for Windows user IDs:
3
If users log on interactively, they can use the short form except in these unusual cases:
3
3
The user needs to host authenticate to a metadata server that has been configured to directly use a provider other than its host. See “Direct LDAP
Authentication” on page 146.
The user has multiple accounts with the same user ID in different down-level domains (for example, machine\joe, domain1\joe, and domain2\joe).
3
If users log on interactively, they can also use one other site-supported form (either the UPN form or the down-level form). Use one of these approaches:
3
3
In the metadata, store each user ID in UPN form. Tell users not to use the down-level form when they log on.
In the metadata, store each user ID in down-level form. Tell users to not use the UPN form when they log on.
3
If users log on to SAS desktop applications through Integrated Windows authentication, their user IDs should usually be stored in down-level form. In general, that is the form in which SAS obtains user IDs after Kerberos authentication occurs.
Note:
If you prefer to store user IDs in the native Kerberos form, add the setting
SASUSEKERBNAME true
as a Windows system environment variable on the server host. For example, on the Windows desktop, right-click My Computer, select
Properties
, select the Advanced tab, click the Environment Variables button, add the setting under System variables, and reboot the machine. This setting affects only connections that use Integrated Windows authentication. If you use this setting, you might want to make sure that the Integrated Windows authentication process always chooses the Kerberos protocol. See “How to Force
Use of Kerberos” on page 172.
4
3
If users log on to SAS Web applications through Integrated Windows authentication (which occurs only if you configure Web authentication and have set up Integrated Windows authentication with your Web provider), the form of the returned user ID might differ. See the documentation for your Web application server.
Note:
In the status bar of applications such as SAS Management Console, a currently connected Windows user ID is always displayed in the format
user-ID@VALUE
, regardless of how the user logged on or how the user’s ID is stored in the metadata. For example, if you log on as Joe and your stored user ID is WIN\joe, the status bar displays your authenticated ID as joe@WIN.
4
Unique Names and IDs
The metadata server enforces these identity-related constraints:
34 Identity Precedence
4 Chapter 3
3
You can’t create a user definition that has the same name as an existing user definition. The display names don’t have to be unique.
Note:
We recommend that you avoid using spaces or special characters in the name of a user, group, or role that you create. Not all components support spaces and special characters in identity names.
4
3
3
You can’t create a group or role definition that has the same name as an existing group or role definition. The display names don’t have to be unique.
You can’t assign the same external account ID to two different identities. All of the logins that include a particular ID must be owned by the same identity. This requirement enables the metadata server to resolve each ID to a single identity.
3
3
3
This requirement is case-insensitive. For example, you can’t assign a login with an ID of smith to one user and a login with an ID of SMITH to another user.
This requirement applies to the fully qualified form of the ID. For example, you can assign a login with an ID of winDEV\brown to one user and a login with an ID of winPROD\brown to another user. In this example, winDEV and winPROD are Windows domain names, which are incorporated into the fully qualified form of an external account ID.
This requirement can’t be mitigated by associating the logins with different
SAS authentication domains. For example, assume that one user has a login with an ID of smith that is associated with a SAS authentication domain named DefaultAuth. In that case, you can’t give any other user a login with the ID smith, even if you plan to assign the login to a different SAS authentication domain.
Note:
To enable multiple users to share an account, store the credentials for that account in a login as part of a group definition. Then add the users who will share the account as members of that group definition.
4
3
If you give a user two logins that contain the same ID, the logins must be associated with different authentication domains. Within an authentication domain, each ID must be unique. For example, if you give the person Tara O’Toole two logins that both have an ID of tara, then you can’t associate both of those logins with the OraAuth authentication domain.
Note:
Like the previous requirement, this requirement is case-insensitive and is applied to the fully qualified form of the external account ID.
4
3
A user can have multiple locations, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers.
However, each user can have only one item of a given type. For example, a user can have one home e-mail address and one work e-mail address, but not two work e-mail addresses.
Identity Precedence
Identity precedence affects authorization decisions when a user has more than one relevant permission setting because of the user’s group memberships. Identity precedence affects login priority when someone has more than one login in an authentication domain. Identity precedence is not relevant for roles.
This is the precedence ranking for users and groups:
1
the user’s individual identity, based on the user’s authenticated ID.
2
a user-defined group that has user as a member. This is a first-level group membership for the user.
Users, Groups, and Roles
4 Identity Precedence
35
3
4
5
a user-defined group that has another user group as a member. For example, assume that the user belongs to a group named ETL_Advanced, and that group is a member of another group called ETL_Basic. In that case, the ETL_Basic group is a second-level group for that user. If you have additional levels of nesting, each successive level has less precedence.
the SASUSERS implicit group, which includes everyone who has an individual identity.
the PUBLIC implicit group, which includes everyone who can access the metadata server (regardless of whether they have an individual identity or not).
The examples in the following table illustrate the hierarchy:
Table 3.4
Examples of Identity Hierarchies
User Information
User has no individual identity.
User has an identity and no explicit group memberships.
User is a direct member of two user-defined groups (GroupA and GroupB), and one of those groups is a member of a third group
(GroupA is a member of the Report Users group).
User’s Identity Hierarchy
Primary identity: PUBLIC
Primary identity: self
First-level memberships: SASUSERS
Second-level memberships: PUBLIC
Primary identity: self
First-level memberships: GroupA, GroupB
Second-level memberships: Report Users
Third-level memberships: SASUSERS
Fourth-level memberships: PUBLIC
The following figure illustrates the examples from the preceding table:
Figure 3.6
Examples of Identity Hierarchies
Self
PUBLIC
SASUSERS
GroupA
Self
GroupB
PUBLIC
Report Users
SASUSERS
PUBLIC
Note:
To avoid introducing unnecessary complexity, don’t make PUBLIC or
SASUSERS a member of another group. For example, if you make PUBLIC a member of GroupA, then a user who is an indirect member of GroupA (through his automatic membership in PUBLIC) has GroupA as his lowest precedence membership. This contradicts the usual expectation that every user’s lowest precedence membership is
PUBLIC. This is not an issue for roles.
4
36 Windows Privileges
4 Chapter 3
Windows Privileges
Table 3.5
Access this computer from the network
Description
To Whom
How
This privilege is required in order to connect to SAS servers.
Give this privilege to all users who access SAS servers on Windows.
Typically, this right is already granted to the Windows group
Everyone
. To confirm, check the
Windows local policy settings.
Table 3.6
Log on as a batch job
Description
To Whom
This privilege is required in order to run a stored process server or any type of workspace server.
On the Windows computer that hosts the SAS object spawner, give this privilege to the accounts under which workspace servers and stored process servers run:
3
3
3 any service account under which one of these servers run all puddle logins for any client-side pooled workspace servers any user accounts under which a standard workspace server runs
1
How Modify the local security policy. For example, on Windows XP, this right is managed from the
Windows control panel under Administrative Tools
I Local Security Policy I User Rights
Assignment
I Log on as a batch job. If you have an operating system group (such as SAS Server
Users) that has this right, you just add users and service account identities to that group.
1 Users who authenticate to the standard workspace server by Integrated Windows authentication or SAS token authentication don’t need this privilege.
Users, Groups, and Roles
4 Who Can Manage Users, Groups, and Roles?
37
Table 3.7
Trusted for delegation
Description
To Whom
How
This privilege enables a process to allow each user’s credentials to be sent to further machines for authentication (for example, to access a UNC path). The privilege is needed if the workspace server is accessed through Integrated Windows authentication and provides access to Windows network resources.
1
Give this privilege to the account under which the object spawner runs. By default, the spawner runs as a service under the local system account, so the computer account for spawner’s host needs the privilege.
As a Windows domain administrator, under Start
I Control Panel I Administrative Tools I Active
Directory Users and Computers, access the properties dialog box for the relevant account and grant the privilege.
For example, if the spawner runs under the local system account, select the spawner host machine under
Computers
. On the
Delegation
tab (or the
General
tab), select the
Trust this computer for delegation
check box.
Or, if the spawner runs under a service account, select that account under
Users
. On the
Delegation
tab (or the
Accounts
tab), select the
Account is trusted for delegation
check box. This setting is available only for service accounts that have registered service principal names.
1 With Integrated Windows authentication, the workspace server does not receive the requesting user’s credentials, so the workspace server cannot provide credentials for downstream servers. Instead, the spawner account must be trusted to delegate each requesting user’s identity as necessary.
Note:
In most cases, an object spawner on Windows runs as a service under the local system account account. If the spawner instead runs under some other account, that account must be a Windows administrator on the spawner’s host and have the
Windows user rights Adjust memory quotas for a process and Replace a
process level token
. These user rights assignments are part of the local security policy for the Windows computer that hosts the spawner.
4
Who Can Manage Users, Groups, and Roles?
Your roles and permissions determine which user management tasks you can perform. In a standard configuration, any member of the SAS Administrators group has the capabilities and permissions to perform almost all user management tasks.
The following table provides basic information:
Table 3.8
Who Can Manage Users, Groups and Roles?
Metadata Server Role
Unrestricted
User administration
None
Actions Supported
Perform all identity management tasks.
Add, modify, and delete most identities.
1
Update your personal logins in SAS Personal Login Manager.
2
1 Permission requirements apply. The User Manager capability (which enables you to see the
User Manager
plug-in in SAS Management Console) is also required.
2 If you have the User Manager capability, you can perform this task in SAS Management Console.
Here are some additional details:
3
A special rule prevents restricted user administrators from updating the unrestricted role.
38 Who Can Manage Users, Groups, and Roles?
4 Chapter 3
3
In order to change a role’s capabilities, restricted user administrators must also have the WriteMetadata permission on the associated software component. In the standard configuration, the SAS Administrators group has this grant.
3
3
3
To prevent a restricted user administrator from updating a particular identity, deny that user administrator the WriteMetadata permission on that identity’s
Authorization
tab.
To delegate management of an existing identity to someone who isn’t a user administrator, grant the WriteMetadata permission to the delegated administrator on the target identity’s Authorization tab.
In the initial configuration in a new deployment, all registered users have the
User Manager capability through SASUSERS membership in the Management
Console: Content Management
role.
C H A P T E R
4
Getting Started With
Permissions
Orientation to Working With Permissions
39
The Authorization Tab
40
Where Are Permissions Set?
40
Who are Permissions Assigned To?
40
What Do the Colors Indicate?
41
What Is the Effect of a Permission Setting?
41
Explicit Settings
42
ACT Settings
43
Inherited Settings
44
Using WriteMetadata and WriteMemberMetadata Permissions
45
Key Points About Working With Permissions
47
Orientation to Working With Permissions
When you work with permissions, it is helpful to keep these three central questions in mind:
3
3
3
Where is the permission set?
Who is the permission assigned to?
What is the effect of the permission?
The authorization layer that SAS provides supports very specific settings. For example, on reportA, give userA a grant of the ReadMetadata permission. For simplicity, it is preferable to set permissions at a less granular level whenever possible. The recommended approach is to create a folder structure and set permissions so that each folder offers appropriate group-level access to its contents. For example, on folderA, give
groupA a grant of the ReadMetadata permission. Items within each folder inherit permission settings from that folder.
This chapter demonstrates the mechanics of setting SAS permissions by providing brief exercises that you can safely experiment with in your own deployment. This chapter also introduces the authorization model.
39
40 The Authorization Tab
4 Chapter 4
The Authorization Tab
Where Are Permissions Set?
You can set permissions on a folder, a report, an information map, a server definition, a cube definition, a stored process definition, or almost any other metadata item. Each item’s permission settings are displayed on that item’s Authorization tab. To view or set permissions for any item, right-click the item, select Properties, and select the item’s Authorization tab.
On an item’s Authorization tab, you can set permissions individually by selecting check boxes in the Effective Permissions list. These are called explicit settings. You can also set permissions in patterns by clicking the Access Control Templates button. These are called ACT settings.
Note:
For specialized tasks such as setting repository-level permissions and defining access to subsets of data, see “Granularity and Mechanics” on page 52.
4
Who are Permissions Assigned To?
You can assign permissions to individual users or to user groups. Each SAS user has an identity hierarchy that starts with the user’s individual SAS identity, can include multiple levels of nested group memberships, and ends with automatic membership in
SASUSERS and then PUBLIC. For a depiction, see “Identity Precedence” on page 34.
On an item’s Authorization tab, the Users and Groups list usually includes at least the following groups:
PUBLIC automatically includes everyone who can access the metadata server. This is the broadest group.
SASUSERS automatically includes those members of PUBLIC who have a well-formed user definition. This is a broad group that represents all registered users.
Getting Started With Permissions
4 What Is the Effect of a Permission Setting?
41
SAS Administrators includes metadata administrators. This is a small, highly privileged group.
SAS System Services includes one or more service identities. This group shouldn’t have regular users as members. Usually, the SAS Trusted User is the only member.
Someone who isn’t listed on an item’s Authorization tab has the access of their closest listed group. Each user’s closest listed group is determined by that user’s group memberships and identity hierarchy. Here are some examples:
3
3
3
The closest listed group for an administrator is usually SAS Administrators.
The closest listed group for a regular registered user is often SASUSERS.
The closest (and only) listed group for an unregistered user is PUBLIC.
To create specialized settings, click Add and add users or groups to the list. Or, click
Access Control Templates
and apply a predefined pattern of settings.
The Advanced button is available only if you are unrestricted. Use this button to trace an item’s inheritance parents or to look up settings for any user.
What Do the Colors Indicate?
The following table explains the significance of the check box colors:
Table 4.1
Significance of Color in the Effective Permissions List
Color Term
Explicit
Significance
The permission is set on the current item and individually assigned to the selected identity.
(clear)
1
ACT The permission comes from an applied ACT whose pattern explicitly assigns the grant or denial to the selected identity.
(green)
Indirect The permission comes from someone else (a group that has an explicit or ACT setting) or somewhere else (a parent item or the repository ACT).
2
(gray)
1 Explicit settings are usually white because the background color for the permissions list is usually white.
2 For the WriteMemberMetadata permission, gray can indicate that the setting mirrors the WriteMetadata setting.
For an unrestricted user, gray indicates a grant that can’t be removed.
What Is the Effect of a Permission Setting?
On each item’s Authorization tab, the permissions list always includes at least the following basic permissions:
3
3 the ReadMetadata permission (controls the ability to see an item) the WriteMetadata permission (controls the ability to update or delete an item)
Other permissions are specialized and affect only certain types of items. For example, the ability to delete most items is controlled by the WriteMetadata permission, not by the Delete permission. For details, see “Use and Enforcement of
Each Permission” on page 53.
The effect of a particular permission setting is influenced by any related settings that have higher precedence. For example, if a report inherits a grant from its parent folder
42 Explicit Settings
4 Chapter 4 but also has an explicit denial, the inherited grant has lower precedence. The explicit setting determines the outcome, so the result is a denial.
On each item’s Authorization tab, the check marks that are displayed in the
Effective Permissions
list incorporate all precedence considerations. The displayed effective permissions are a calculation of the net impact of all applicable permission settings in the metadata layer. However, the Authorization tab doesn’t reflect access in other layers such as the operating system.
Explicit Settings
A permission that is assigned to a particular user or group is an explicit setting for that user or group. To experiment with explicit settings, complete this exercise in SAS
Management Console:
1
Log on as someone who has a well-formed user definition.
2
3
On the Folders tab, right-click your My Folder
Create a new folder named test.
and select New Folder.
Right-click the test folder and select Properties. On the test folder’s
Authorization
tab, briefly examine the settings for each identity in the Users
and Groups
list box. Notice that all of the settings are indirect settings come from the test folder’s parent folder.
. These
4
Note:
You can’t remove anyone, because all of the listed identities participate in settings that are defined elsewhere.
4
To give the SASUSERS group an explicit setting:
a
In the Users and Groups list box on the test folder’s Authorization tab, select SASUSERS. Notice that SASUSERS has an indirect denial of the
ReadMetadata permission.
f b c d e
Note:
These instructions assume that your My Folder has standard settings. If this setting is not present, select another identity (such as
PUBLIC) that does have an indirect denial of ReadMetadata.
4
Select the opposing check box (grant ReadMetadata). This gives the
SASUSERS group an explicit
test
folder.
grant of ReadMetadata permission on the
Select the grant ReadMetadata check box again. This removes the explicit grant and reveals the underlying indirect denial.
Select the (already selected) deny ReadMetadata check box. This adds an explicit denial on top of the indirect denial.
Click OK. An error message tells you that you can’t save these settings. The only explicit setting on the test folder is the denial of ReadMetadata permission for SASUSERS. This denial blocks access for all registered users, including you. Click OK to close the message box and return to the
Authorization
tab.
Note:
If you are unrestricted, you won’t see the error message. Go to step
5.
4
To see the impact that the SASUSERS denial has on you, select yourself in the Users and Groups list box on the test folder’s Authorization tab.
Notice that your previous indirect grant of ReadMetadata permission is now an indirect denial of ReadMetadata permission.
Getting Started With Permissions
4 ACT Settings
43 g
To restore access for yourself, select the grant ReadMetadata check box. This gives you an explicit grant that offsets the SASUSERS explicit denial. Click
OK
.
Note:
An offsetting grant doesn’t have to be assigned directly to you; it can be assigned to any group that is closer to you than the group that has the explicit denial. For example, your custom group memberships are closer to you than SASUSERS, and SASUSERS is closer to you than PUBLIC.
4
5
To give an explicit setting to someone who is not already listed:
a
On the test folder’s Authorization tab, click Add. In the Add Users and
Groups dialog box, clear the Show Groups check box. Move one user (such as the SAS Demo User) to the Selected Identities list box and click OK.
b
Note:
In practice, it is preferable to assign permissions to groups rather than to individual users (for ease of management).
4
On the Authorization tab, notice that the user is selected and has an explicit grant of ReadMetadata permission. An explicit grant of
ReadMetadata permission is automatically given to every restricted identity that you add.
Select the opposing check box, deny ReadMetadata permission. This replaces the explicit grant with an explicit denial.
c
Note:
If the selected user has the unrestricted role, you can’t change any settings.
4
Click Remove and then click Yes in the confirmation message box. You can remove this user because this user is named only in explicit settings.
6
Note:
Regular users can’t navigate to each other’s MyFolder because of a denial of ReadMetadata permission to PUBLIC on a parent folder.
4
To clean up, right-click the test folder and select Delete.
ACT Settings
Instead of setting every permission explicitly, use access control templates (ACTs).
Each ACT consists of a pattern of grants and denials that are assigned to different users and groups. When you apply an ACT to an item, the ACT settings are added to the item’s protections. When you want to assign the same settings to several disparate resources, using an ACT is beneficial for these reasons:
3
3
It is easier to apply a pattern than it is to set each permission individually on each resource for which the pattern is appropriate.
If you need to change access to the items to which a pattern is applied, you can simply update the permission pattern, rather than revisiting each resource and individually modifying the settings.
To learn more, complete this exercise in SAS Management Console:
1
Log on as someone who has a well-formed user definition.
2
3
On the Folders tab, right-click your My Folder
Create a new folder named test2.
and select New Folder.
Right-click the test2 folder and select Properties. On the folder’s
Authorization
tab, briefly examine the settings for each identity in the Users
and Groups
list box. Notice that all of the settings are indirect .
44 Inherited Settings
4 Chapter 4
4
To apply an ACT to the test2 folder:
a
Click Access Control Templates. In the Add and Remove Access Control
Templates dialog box, expand the Foundation node in the Available
b
list box and select Private User Folder ACT .
Before you apply this ACT to the test2 folder, click Properties to verify the settings that this ACT provides. On the Permission Pattern tab, notice that this ACT provides denials of ReadMetadata, WriteMetadata, and
CheckInMetadata permissions for the PUBLIC group, grants of these permissions for the SAS Administrators group, and a grant of ReadMetadata permission for the SAS System Services group.
Note:
Each ACT’s pattern consists of only the explicit settings on that ACT’s Permission Pattern tab. Settings that are unspecified (blank) on an ACT’s pattern have no effect when that ACT is applied to an item.
4
c
Click Cancel to return to the list of ACTs that are applied to the test2 folder.
In the Add and Remove Access Control Templates dialog box, move Private
d e
User Folder ACT
to the Currently Using list box. This adds that
ACT’s settings to the access controls for the test2 folder. Any future changes to this ACT’s permission pattern will affect access to this folder.
Note:
The Currently Using list box includes only applied ACTs; so this list typically does not include the repository ACT (default ACT).
4
Click OK to return to the Authorization tab. Notice that the PUBLIC denials of ReadMetadata, WriteMetadata, and CheckInMetadata permissions now come from an ACT (those denials are now green ). Select SAS
Administrators
and notice the green grants of the same permissions. These
ACT settings override and hide the underlying indirect settings.
Click OK to close the Properties dialog box for the test2 folder.
Note:
If you are restricted, an error message indicates that you can’t save the settings. Click OK to dismiss the message. On the Authorization tab, select yourself and add explicit grants of ReadMetadata and
WriteMetadata permissions. Click OK.
4
5
To clean up, right-click the test2 folder and select Delete.
Several predefined ACTs are provided on the Plug-ins tab under Authorization
Manager
I Access Control Templates. You can create additional ACTs in this location.
Inherited Settings
Instead of setting permissions on every individual item, use inherited settings. This approach reduces the number of access controls that you have to manage. For example, rather than adding explicit settings or ACTs to every report, you can set permissions on a folder that contains reports for which those permissions are appropriate.
To learn more, complete this exercise in SAS Management Console:
1
Log on as someone who has a well-formed user definition.
2
3
On the Folders tab, right–click your My Folder
Create a new folder named parent.
and select New Folder.
Right-click the parent folder and create another folder named child.
Getting Started With Permissions
4 Using WriteMetadata and WriteMemberMetadata Permissions
45
4
5
6
7
8
9
Right-click the child folder and select Properties. On the Authorization tab, select SASUSERS. Notice that this group has an indirect denial of the Read permission. Click Cancel.
Right-click the parent folder and select Properties. On the Authorization tab, select SASUSERS, add an explicit grant of Read permission, and click OK.
Right-click the child folder and select Properties. On the Authorization tab, select SASUSERS. Notice that this group now has an inherited grant of Read permission.
On the child folder’s Authorization tab, add an explicit permission on top of the inherited grant of Read grant of Read permission, and click OK.
This ensures that read access for SASUSERS is preserved even if the setting on the parent folder changes.
To verify that the explicit setting on the child folder is preserved, change the
parent
folder setting for SASUSERS to an explicit denial of Read permission, and then check the child folder settings again. For SASUSERS, the explicit grant of Read permission is still there. The denial on the parent folder is not relevant for the child folder because there is an explicit setting on the child folder.
To clean up, right-click the parent folder and select Delete.
Using WriteMetadata and WriteMemberMetadata Permissions
The following permissions affect the ability to create, update, and delete metadata.
WriteMetadata (WM)
Edit, delete, change permissions for, or rename an item. For example, to edit a report, you need WM for the report. To delete a report, you need WM for the report (and WMM for the report’s parent folder). For containers other than folders
(such as repositories, libraries, and schemas), WM also affects adding and deleting child items. For example, to add an item anywhere in a repository, you need WM at the repository level. For folders, adding and deleting child items is controlled by
WMM, not WM.
WriteMemberMetadata (WMM)
Add an item to a folder or delete an item from a folder. For example, to save a report to a folder, you need WMM for the folder. To remove a report from a folder, you need WMM for the folder (and WM for the report). To enable someone to interact with a folder’s contents but with not the folder itself, grant WMM and deny WM.
Note:
We recommend that anyone who has a grant of WM is not denied WMM.
4
To experiment with WM and WMM, complete this exercise in SAS Management
Console:
1
Log on as someone who has a well-formed user definition.
Note:
Step 5a assumes that you are restricted and aren’t in the SAS
Administrators group. To create a temporary restricted user for this exercise, complete steps 2-3 in “Add Administrators” on page 9 (for example, use the name
temp
and log on as temp@saspw).
4
46 Using WriteMetadata and WriteMemberMetadata Permissions
4 Chapter 4
2
3
On the Folders tab, right-click your My Folder
Create a new folder named learn.
To see how WM influences WMM: and select New Folder.
4 a b c d e
Right-click the learn folder, select Properties, and select the
Authorization
tab.
Notice that WMM is in the permissions list. This permission is meaningful only for folders.
In the Users and Groups list box, select PUBLIC. Notice that this group has indirect denials for both WM and WMM. Add an explicit grant of
WM. Notice that this causes the WMM setting to change to a grant.
Select the grant WM check box again. This clears the check box and removes the explicit grant. Notice that the WMM setting also reverts to a denial.
Add an explicit grant of WMM. Notice that this has no effect on the WM setting. The mirroring is one-way. WM influences WMM, but WMM doesn’t influence WM. Remove the grant of WMM to revert to the initial settings
(indirect denials of both WM and WMM). Click OK.
To see how WMM on a folder is conveyed to the items inside the folder:
a
Right-click the learn folder and select New Folder. Create a new folder named child.
b c
On the learn folder’s Authorization tab, click Add. In the Add Users and
Groups dialog box, clear the Show Groups check box. Move one restricted user (such as the SAS Demo User) to the Selected Identities list box and click OK.
In the permissions list, give the user who you just added an explicit denial of
WM and an explicit grant of WMM. Click OK.
5
Note:
If the permissions list is disabled, the selected user is unrestricted (for example, the original SAS Administrator is unrestricted). Add a restricted user to the Authorization tab.
4
d
On the child folder’s Authorization tab, select the user who you added in step 4b. Notice that the denial of WM on the learn folder isn’t conveyed to the child folder. Instead, the grant of WMM on the learn folder is conveyed to the child folder as an indirect grant of WM. On the child folder, the
WMM setting mirrors the WM setting as usual.
To see which actions each permission controls:
a
Right-click your My Folder . Notice that actions such as New Folder and New Stored Process are available (because you have WMM) but, if you are a regular user, Rename and Delete are not (because you don’t have WM).
6
Note:
This is an example of a folder that is under administrative control.
Certain users (or groups) can contribute items to the folder, but the folder itself is protected.
4
b
Right-click the learn folder and examine its pop-up menu. Notice that the
New Folder
, New Stored Process, Delete, and Rename actions are all available (because you have both WM and WMM).
To clean up, right-click the learn folder and select Delete. If you created a temporary user for this exercise, log on with your administrative account, delete
Getting Started With Permissions
4 Key Points About Working With Permissions
47
the temporary user (on the Plug-ins tab under User Manager) and that user’s associated folder (at SAS Folders
I Users I <the temporary user>).
Key Points About Working With Permissions
Here are some key points about using metadata layer permissions:
3
These permissions supplement protections from the host environment and other systems. Across authorization layers, protections are cumulative. In order to perform a task, a user must have sufficient access in all applicable layers.
3
Setting permissions is an item-centric activity. To define permissions for someone, do not begin by finding that person’s user definition. Instead, begin by navigating to an item that you want to protect or make available.
3
Only the ReadMetadata and WriteMetadata permissions are universally relevant and enforced. See “Use and Enforcement of Each Permission” on page 53.
3
After you add a broad denial, review the impact that this has on everyone else.
For example, if the only setting on an item is an explicit PUBLIC denial, that denial blocks access for everyone (other than unrestricted users). To offset the denial, add one or more selective explicit (or ACT) grants.
3
Before you deny the ReadMetadata permission on a folder, consider the navigational consequences. Without ReadMetadata permission on a folder, you can’t navigate to items beneath that folder. Users need a clear path of grants of
ReadMetadata permission in order to navigate to the content that they use.
The following table summarizes what happens when you select a check box on the
Authorization
tab. In each row, the pointer indicates an action (a mouse click) that occurs between the before and the after.
Table 4.2
Mechanics of the Effective Permissions List
Before and After Explanation
A new explicit setting overrides and hides the opposing indirect (gray) setting.
A new explicit setting overrides and hides the opposing ACT (green) setting.
A new explicit setting is added on top of the matching indirect (gray) setting.
A new explicit setting is added on top of the matching ACT (green) setting.
A new explicit setting replaces the opposing explicit setting.
The explicit setting is removed and an underlying indirect (gray) or ACT (green) setting is revealed.
The following figure summarizes the relative priority of access controls based on where they are set and who they are assigned to.
48 Key Points About Working With Permissions
4 Chapter 4
Figure 4.1
Summary: Relative Precedence of Access Controls
Highest Precedence
Explicit or ACT settings on the target item
(for any identity)
Identity precedence resolves conflicts.
The requesting user
Direct groups
Indirect groups
SASUSERS
PUBLIC
Ties yield denials unless a tie has an explicit grant and only ACT denials.
Settings on the immediate parent
Settings on a successive parent
Settings from the repository ACT
Lowest Precedence
In the preceding figure, notice that explicit and ACT settings on an object (a report in this case) always have priority over settings on the object’s parent (a folder in this case).
For example, if a report has an explicit denial of ReadMetadata permission for PUBLIC and the report’s folder has a grant of ReadMetadata permission for you, you can’t see the report. For further discussion and examples, see “Authorization Decisions” on page 62.
See Also
“The Authorization Tab” on page 40
“Orientation to Working With Permissions” on page 39
SAS Management Console: Guide to Users and Permissions
P A R T
2
Authorization
Chapter
5
. . . . . . . . . .
Authorization Model
51
Chapter
6
. . . . . . . . . .
Permissions on Folders
71
Chapter
7
. . . . . . . . . .
Permissions on Servers
85
Chapter
8
. . . . . . . . . .
BI Row-Level Permissions
93
Chapter
9
. . . . . . . . . .
OLAP Member-Level Permissions
109
Chapter
10
. . . . . . . . .
Security Report Macros
115
49
50
C H A P T E R
5
Authorization Model
Overview of the Metadata Authorization Model
51
About Metadata-Based Permissions
51
Granularity and Mechanics
52
Inheritance Paths and Identity Precedence
52
Use and Enforcement of Each Permission
53
Inheritance Paths
53
Permissions by Item
55
Permissions by Task
60
Authorization Decisions
62
Fine-Grained Controls for Data
65
What Are Fine-Grained Controls?
65
Considerations for Batch Reporting
65
Identity–Driven Properties
66
Overview
66
Examples
67
What Implementations are Available?
67
How are Fine-Grained Controls Assigned?
68
Overview of the Metadata Authorization Model
About Metadata-Based Permissions
SAS provides a metadata-based authorization layer that supplements protections from the host environment and other systems. Across authorization layers, protections are cumulative. In order to perform a task, a user must have sufficient access in all applicable layers.
CAUTION:
Some clients (such as SAS Data Integration Studio and SAS Enterprise Guide) enable power users to create and run SAS programs that access data directly, bypassing metadata layer controls.
It is important to manage physical layer access in addition to metadata layer controls. For example, use host operating system protections to limit access to any sensitive SAS data sets. See “Host Access to SAS Tables” on page 187.
4
CAUTION:
Not all permissions are enforced for all items.
Enforcement of permissions other than
ReadMetadata and WriteMetadata varies by item type and (for data) by the method with which a library is assigned.
4
51
52 Granularity and Mechanics
4 Chapter 5
Granularity and Mechanics
You can set permissions at these levels of granularity:
3
Repository-level controls function as a gateway and as a parent-of-last-resort.
Repository-level controls are managed from the Permission Pattern tab of the repository ACT. All registered users should have ReadMetadata and
WriteMetadata permissions for the foundation repository.
3
3
Resource-level controls manage access to a specific item such as a report, an information map, a stored process, a table, a column, a cube, or a folder. You can define resource-level controls individually (as explicit settings) or in patterns (by using access control templates).
Fine-grained controls affect access to subsets of data within a resource. To establish fine-grained controls, you add constraints called permission conditions to explicit grants of the Read permission.
Inheritance Paths and Identity Precedence
Permission settings are conveyed across two distinct relationship networks:
3
In the resource relationships network, permissions that you set on one item can affect many other items. For example, a report inherits permissions from the folder in which the report is located. This network is a simple folder tree, with these exceptions:
3
The root folder isn’t the ultimate parent. This folder inherits from the repository (through the permission pattern of the repository ACT).
3
The root folder isn’t a universal parent. Some system resources (such as application servers, identities, and ACTs) are not in the folder tree. For these items, the repository ACT is the immediate and only parent.
3
Inheritance within a table or cube follows the data structure. For example, table columns and cube hierarchies don’t have a folder as an immediate parent. Instead, a column inherits from its parent table and a dimension inherits from its parent cube.
3
In the identity relationships network, permissions that you assign to one identity can affect many other identities. For example, if you grant a group access to a report, that grant applies to everyone who is a member of the group. This relationship network is governed by a precedence order that starts with a primary
(usually individual) identity, can incorporate multiple levels of nested group memberships, and ends with implicit memberships in SASUSERS and then
PUBLIC.
Authorization Model
4 Inheritance Paths
53
Use and Enforcement of Each Permission
Table 5.1
Use and Enforcement of Each Permission
Permission
(Abbreviation)
ReadMetadata (RM)
Actions Affected and Limitations on Enforcement
WriteMetadata (WM)
WriteMemberMetadata
(WMM)
CheckInMetadata (CM)
Administer (A)
Read (R)
Create (C)
View an item or navigate past a folder. For example, to see an information map you need RM for that information map. To see or traverse a folder you need RM for that folder.
Edit, delete, change permissions for, or rename an item. For example, to edit a report you need WM for the report. To delete a report you need WM for the report (and WMM for the report’s parent folder). For containers other than folders (such as repositories, libraries, and schemas), WM also affects adding and deleting child items. For example, to add an item anywhere in a repository you need WM at the repository level. For folders, adding and deleting child items is controlled by WMM, not WM.
Add an item to a folder or delete an item from a folder. For example, to save a report to a folder you need WMM for the folder. To remove a report from a folder, you need
WMM for the folder (and WM for the report). To enable someone to interact with a folder’s contents but with not the folder itself, grant WMM and deny WM.
1
Check in and check out items in a change-managed area. Applicable only in an optional configuration for SAS Data Integration Studio.
2
Monitor an OLAP server. Stop, pause, resume, refresh, or quiesce a server or spawner.
For the metadata server, the ability to perform these tasks is managed by the
Metadata Server: Operation
role, not by the A permission.
Read data. For example, while you need RM for a cube in order to see that cube, you need R for the cube in order to run a query against it. Enforced for OLAP data, information maps, data that is accessed through the metadata LIBNAME engine, and dashboard objects.
Add data. For example, on a table, C controls adding rows to the table. Enforced for data that is accessed through the metadata LIBNAME engine.
Write (W)
Delete (D)
Update data. For example, on a table, W controls updating the rows in the table.
Enforced for data that is accessed through the metadata LIBNAME engine, for publishing channels, and for dashboard objects.
Delete data. For example, D on a library controls deletion of tables from the library.
Enforced for data that is accessed through the metadata LIBNAME engine and for dashboard objects.
1 A folder’s WMM settings mirror its WM settings unless the folder has explicit or ACT (green) settings of WMM. A grant (or deny) of WMM on a folder becomes an inherited grant (or deny) of WM on the items and subfolders in that folder. WMM is not inherited from one folder to another.
2 In any change-managed areas of a foundation repository, change-managed users should have CM (instead of
WM and WMM). Change management is a SAS Data Integration Studio feature.
Inheritance Paths
In the metadata layer, parent items convey their effective permissions to child items.
Children inherit the net effect of their parents’ access controls, not the access controls
54 Inheritance Paths
4 Chapter 5 themselves. The following figures depict inheritance paths in a foundation repository.
The arrows in the figure flow from parent to child. For example, a folder conveys its effective permissions to the items that it contains. The arrows in the second figure flow from child to parent, showing the same relationships from a different perspective.
Figure 5.1
Inheritance Paths (Integrated View)
Repository ACT
ACT
User, Group, Role
Application
Server
Logical
Server
Root Folder
Server
Parent Folder
Report
Stored Process
Information Map
Library
Table Column
OLAP Schema
Cube
Measure
Dimension
Level
Hierarchy
Connection
Authorization Model
4 Permissions by Item
55
Figure 5.2
Inheritance Paths (Separated View)
BI Content Items
Repository
ACT
Relational Data
Root
Folder
Parent
Folder
Table
Stored
Process
Report Information
Map
Column
Cube
Library
Measure
Level
OLAP Data
OLAP
Schema
Dimension
Hierarchy
System Items
User
Group
Role
ACT
Application
Server
Logical
Server
Server
Connection
Here are some details about the preceding figures:
3
The depicted folder structure is arbitrary and intended only to show the security relationships between different types of items.
3
3
3
Not all item types are depicted. To trace inheritance for a particular item, click
Advanced
on that item’s Authorization tab. This feature is available to only unrestricted users.
The root folder represents the top of the folder tree for the foundation repository.
It corresponds to the SAS Folders node on the Folders tab in SAS Management
Console.
The root folder inherits settings from the Permission Pattern tab of the repository ACT.
3
Any custom repositories are represented as folders (immediate children of the foundation root folder). Although these folders inherit permissions from both the foundation root folder and the repository ACT of the custom repository, access to items within the custom repository branch should be managed from the folder side
(except for items that aren’t in the folder tree).
3
3
On the Folders tab in SAS Management Console, your My Folder is displayed directly below the root folder. This is just a shortcut for accessing your personal content area; this folder is not an immediate child of the root folder.
The figures show users, groups, and roles inheriting repository-level permissions.
The Authorization tab in a user, group, or role displays default settings that reflect special rules that prevent regular users from modifying or deleting identities. An identity’s Authorization tab can affect access to that identity’s definition. An identity’s Authorization tab has no effect on what that identity can do.
Permissions by Item
The following figure depicts common items and uses arrows to indicate items whose permission settings are most likely to need an adjustment. Here are some details about the figure:
56 Permissions by Item
4 Chapter 5
3
3
3
3
3
Most of the up arrows indicate a need to extend the ability to read data. In the interest of a more secure initial deployment, read access to data is not granted by default.
Each down arrow indicates a need to limit the ability to modify or delete a system item. Other system items are protected by default.
MLE refers to the metadata LIBNAME engine. The MLE items are listed to highlight the elevated permission requirements that apply when data is accessed through this engine.
In any change-managed areas in a foundation repository, change-managed users should have CheckInMetadata permission (instead of WriteMetadata or
WriteMemberMetadata). Change management is a SAS Data Integration Studio feature.
The intent of the figure is to highlight the adjustments that are most commonly needed. In general, it is preferable to set permissions on a parent (such as a folder) rather than on a specific item (such as a report).
Figure 5.3
Common Access Adjustments By Item
Legend:
Increase access to make fully available.
Reduce access to improve security.
BI Content
Folder
Information map
Report
Stored process
Publication channel
Dashboard
Data
Folder
MLE library
Other library
MLE table
Other table
OLAP schema
Cube
System
Repository
ACTs
Repository
Predefined
User-defined
Servers
Application
Logical
Server
Identities
User
Group
Role
The following tables provide item-specific instructions and tips. The purpose of the tables is to highlight special requirements for common items.
Authorization Model
4 Permissions by Item
57
Table 5.2
Permissions Tips: Selected Items in the Folder Tree
The root folder is the first folder on the
Folders
tab. This folder’s
Authorization
tab is an important point of control for narrowing WM. Unlike other folders, the root folder does not have the
WriteMemberMetadata permission in its permission list. This is because the root folder is a software component object, not a true folder. The root folder can contain only other folders.
Root folder
Folder
Information map
For folders, follow these guidelines:
3
Provide users with a clear path of grants of ReadMetadata permission to all of the content that they access. This is a navigational requirement; to navigate past a folder, you need
ReadMetadata permission for that folder.
3
To enable users to contribute items to a folder, grant them WriteMemberMetadata permission on that folder.
3 On a folder, grant WriteMetadata permission only to users who should be able to delete, move, or rename that folder.
3
Don’t assume that every permission that is listed on a folder’s for every item in that folder.
Authorization
tab is relevant
3 If you deny ReadMetadata permission on a folder, make sure that you don’t prevent the SAS
Trusted User from having that permission on all cubes and schemas within that folder. A reasonable approach is to give the SAS System Services group a grant of ReadMetadata permission on the folder. This preserves necessary access for this privileged service identity.
See Chapter 6, “Permissions on Folders,” on page 71 and “Using WriteMetadata and
WriteMemberMetadata Permissions” on page 45.
To access any data through an information map, you need Read permission on that information map.
You can manage Read permission globally or selectively. For example:
3 A broad approach is to grant Read permission to SASUSERS on the repository ACT’s
Permission Pattern
tab or on the
Authorization
tab of the top folder.
3 A narrow approach is to grant Read permission to smaller groups on specific subfolders or even specific information maps.
Report
If a user can’t run a report, check these things:
3
3
3
Does the user have Read permission for the underlying information map?
Does the user have Read permission for any underlying OLAP cube?
Does the user have Read permission for any underlying relational data that is accessed via the
MLE?
3
3
3
Does the SAS Trusted User have ReadMetadata permission for any underlying cube?
Does the account that retrieves any underlying SAS data have physical access to that data?
Is the underlying information map in a legitimate folder? See the wrs.map.accessibility.check
property in the SAS Intelligence Platform: Web Application Administration Guide.
It is especially important to manage ReadMetadata permission to pregenerated reports, because those reports contain data. Any user who views a pregenerated report sees the same data, regardless of his or her permissions to the underlying tables or cubes.
58 Permissions by Item
4 Chapter 5
Stored process
Channel
To run a stored process, you need ReadMetadata permission on the stored process. If you can see a stored process but can’t run it, you might not have the necessary grant of Read permission for the underlying data. To register a stored process, you need WriteMetadata permission for the target application server.
The method that you use to make a stored process available can affect data retrieval and security. For example, in the standard configuration, a stored process that is assigned to a workspace server and embedded in an information map retrieves SAS data under the pooled workspace server’s host identity. However, if a user opens that same stored process directly (for example, as a report in SAS
Web Report Studio), the host identity of the requesting user (or group) retrieves the data.
In a new deployment, only the SAS Administrators group can add channels, subscribers, and content.
To enable all registered users to publish content to a particular channel, navigate on the
Folders
tab to System
I Publishing I Channels and grant Write and WriteMetadata permissions to
SASUSERS on that channel’s
Authorization
tab (WM is required only if a channel has an archive persistent store).
To enable all registered users to add channels or subscribers, grant WriteMemberMetadata permission on the relevant parent folder (for example, on the System
I Publishing I Subscribers I Content
Subscribers folder). See “Using WriteMetadata and WriteMemberMetadata Permissions” on page 45.
The permissions model for dashboards and their related items (indicators, data models, and ranges) has several unique aspects. See the SAS Intelligence Platform: Web Application Administration Guide.
Dashboard
Schema
Cube
Cube component
To associate an OLAP schema with an application server, you need WriteMetadata permission for the schema and the server. To add cubes to a schema, you need WriteMetadata permission for the schema and WriteMemberMetadata permission for the target folder.
The SAS Trusted User must have ReadMetadata permission for all OLAP schemas and cubes. This access is usually granted through the SAS System Services group.
To register cubes, you need WriteMetadata permission for the OLAP schema and
WriteMemberMetadata permission for the target folder. To associate a cube with a schema, you need
WriteMetadata permission for the cube and the schema. Read permission is enforced for cubes. Grant
Read permission broadly (as described in the information map row), or add narrower grants of Read permission on folders or individual cubes.
The SAS Trusted User must have ReadMetadata permission for all OLAP schemas and cubes. This access is granted through the SAS System Services group.
To access the the
Authorization
tab for an OLAP dimension, measure, level, or hierarchy, navigate on
Plug-ins
tab under Authorization Manager
I Resource Management I By Location I
<Application Server>.
For cube components, Read permission is enforced. If you lack access to a measure that participates in a calculated measure, you can get unintended results.
There are navigational requirements for Read permission on cube components. If a user does not have
Read permission to a hierarchy, the user can’t navigate to the top levels within the hierarchy. If a user does not have Read permission to a particular level in a hierarchy, the user can’t navigate to the next level.
To associate a library with an application server, you need WriteMetadata permission for the server
(but not for the library). For a library that is accessed via the metadata LIBNAME engine (MLE), you need the Create permission in order to add tables and the Delete permission in order to delete tables.
Library
Authorization Model
4 Permissions by Item
59
Table
Column
To associate a table with a library, you need WriteMetadata permission for the table and the library.
For a table that is accessed via the MLE, you need Read permission in order to access data. The
Create, Delete, and Write permissions affect your ability to add, update, or delete data. You can grant these permissions broadly (as described in the information map row) or narrowly (for example, to a small group of users on a particular table’s
Authorization
tab).
To access a column’s
Authorization
tab, navigate on the
Plug-ins
tab under Authorization
Manager
I Resource Management I By Location I <Application Server>.
The MLE doesn’t support column-level access distinctions for the Read permission. Column-level access distinctions for the ReadMetadata permission are always supported.
Table 5.3
Permissions Tips: Selected Items Outside the Folder Tree
Repository
Application server
On a foundation repository, all participating users should have repository-level ReadMetadata and
WriteMetadata permissions. To verify access:
1
On the
Plug-ins
tab, select
Authorization Manager
I Access Control Templates and select the repository ACT. This ACT is usually named
Default ACT
and always has a blue cylinder as part of its icon .
2
Right-click, select
Properties
, and select the
Permission Pattern
tab.
3
Select the SASUSERS group. On the repository ACT for a foundation repository, SASUSERS is usually granted ReadMetadata and WriteMetadata.
Other predefined entries in this pattern provide necessary administrative and service access.
To monitor or operate servers other than the metadata server, you need the Administer permission on the server. To verify access:
1
On the
Plug-ins
tab, navigate to
Server Manager
and select a server.
2
Right-click, select
Properties
, and select the
Authorization
tab.
3
Select the SAS Administrators group. Verify that this group is granted ReadMetadata,
WriteMetadata, and Administer permissions.
To associate a stored process, OLAP schema, or library with an application server, you need
WriteMetadata permission for that application server. Certain service identities need ReadMetadata permission to all server definitions. See Chapter 7, “Permissions on Servers,” on page 85.
To use a logical server, you need ReadMetadata permission for at least one of that server’s connections. This is called server access security. Certain service identities need ReadMetadata permission to logical server definitions. See “Hiding Server Definitions” on page 88.
Logical server
60 Permissions by Task
4 Chapter 5
Identity
ACT
User administration capabilities enable you to create, update, and delete users, groups, and roles. You can delegate management of an identity to someone who doesn’t have user administration capabilities by adding explicit or ACT (green) grants of WriteMetadata permission on the identity’s
Authorization
tab. An identity’s
Authorization
tab has no effect on what that identity can do.
To create an ACT, you need repository-level WriteMetadata permission. Each predefined ACT is protected by settings on its
Authorization
tab. ACTs that you create aren’t automatically protected. It is important to add protections to any ACTs that you create. To protect an ACT:
1
On the
Plug-ins
tab, select the ACT under
Authorization Manager
I Access
Control Templates
.
2
On the ACT’s
Authorization
tab, narrow access. For example, if you explicitly deny
WriteMetadata permission to PUBLIC, only unrestricted users can modify or delete the ACT. If you also add an explicit grant for the SAS Administrators group, members of that group can also modify or delete the ACT.
Permissions by Task
The following tables show required metadata layer permissions for selected tasks.
This list explains symbols in the tables:
3
3
3
An asterisk (*) in a column heading indicates that an item is optional. For example, not all reports include a stored process.
R
MLE indicates that the Read permission is required only if data is accessed through the metadata LIBNAME engine.
R
MLE, OLAP indicates that the OLAP data can be also involved (the Read permission is always required for OLAP data).
Table 5.4
Working with Folders: Permissions for Selected Tasks
Task
Add a folder
Delete a folder
Rename a folder
Set folder permissions
Add an item to a folder
Delete an item from a folder
Copy/export items
Paste/import items
1 If the parent folder is the root folder
Repository
RM, WM
RM
RM
RM
RM, WM
RM
RM
RM, WM
Parent Folder
RM, WMM
1
RM, WMM
1
RM
RM
RM
RM
RM
RM
, you need RM, WM on the root folder.
Folder
-
RM, WM
RM, WM
RM, WM
RM, WMM
RM, WMM
RM
RM, WMM
Item
-
-
-
RM, WM
RM
-
-
-
Authorization Model
4 Permissions by Task
61
Table 5.5
Working with Reports: Permissions for Selected Tasks
Task
Create and save a new report
Delete a report
View or refresh a report
View a batch report
Edit or rename a report
Set report permissions
Repository
RM, WM
RM
RM
RM
RM
RM
Parent
Folder
RM, WMM
RM, WMM
RM
RM
RM
RM
Report
-
RM, WM
RM
RM
RM, WM
RM, WM
Stored
Process*
RM
-
RM
Information
Map*
RM, R
Data
RM, R
MLE, OLAP
-
RM, R
-
RM, R
MLE, OLAP
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Table 5.6
Working with Information Maps: Permissions for Selected Tasks
Task
Create and save a new information map
Delete an information map
Set information map permissions
Edit or rename an information map
Run queries in an information map
Repository
RM, WM
RM
RM
RM
RM
Parent
Folder
RM, WMM
RM, WMM
RM
RM
RM
Information
Map
Stored
Process*
RM
RM, WM
RM, WM
RM, WM
RM, R
-
-
-
RM
Data
RM, R
MLE, OLAP
-
-
-
RM, R
MLE, OLAP
Table 5.7
Working with Stored Processes: Permissions for Selected Tasks
Task Repository
Register a stored process
Delete a stored process
Set stored process permissions
Run a stored process
RM, WM
RM
RM
RM
Parent
Folder
RM, WMM
RM, WMM
RM
RM
Application
Server
RM, WM
RM, WM
RM
RM
Stored
Process
-
RM, WM
RM, WM
RM
Data
-
-
-
RM, R
MLE, OLAP
Table 5.8
Working with Publishing Channels: Permissions for Selected Tasks
Task
Add a channel or subscriber
Delete a channel or subscriber
Edit a channel or subscriber
Publish content to a channel
Repository
RM, WM
RM
RM
RM, WM
1
Parent Folder
RM, WMM
RM, WMM
RM
RM
1 WM is required if the channel has an archive persistent store.
2 Content is published to only those subscribers for whom you have RM.
Channel
-
RM, WM
RM, WM
RM, W, WM
1
Subscriber
-
RM, WM
RM, WM
RM
2
62 Authorization Decisions
4 Chapter 5
Table 5.9
Working with Tables: Permissions for Selected Tasks
Task
Register a table
Delete a table
Set table permissions
Access table data
Register a library
Repository Application
Server
RM, WM RM
RM
RM
RM
RM, WM
RM
-
RM
RM, WM
Library
RM, WM
RM, WM
RM
RM
-
Parent
Folder
RM, WMM
RM, WMM
RM
RM
RM, WMM
Table
-
RM, WM
RM, WM
RM, R
MLE
-
Column
-
-
-
RM
-
Table 5.10
Working with Cubes: Permissions for Selected Tasks
Task
Register a cube
Delete a cube
Rebuild a cube
Refresh a cube
Set cube permissions
Access cube data
Register a schema
Use the OLAP Server Monitor
Repository Application
Server
RM, WM RM
RM
RM
RM
RM
RM
RM
RM
-
RM
RM, WM
RM
RM
RM, WM
A
OLAP
Schema
RM, WM
RM, WM
RM
RM
RM
RM
-
-
Parent
Folder
RM, WMM
RM, WMM
RM
RM
RM
RM
RM, WMM
-
Cube
-
RM, WM
RM, WM
RM, R
RM, WM
RM, R
-
-
Source
Data Sets
RM, R
MLE
-
RM, R
MLE
RM, R
MLE
-
-
-
-
Authorization Decisions
The following figure depicts the evaluation process that determines whether a restricted user (Joe) has a particular permission for a particular item.
Authorization Model
4 Authorization Decisions
63
Figure 5.4
Authorization Decision Flowchart
Deny
On the item
Does Joe have an
explicit
grant or denial of this permission?
Deny
No
Is there an ACT whose pattern explicitly grants or denies this permission to Joe?
Several such ACTs, at least one has a denial.
No
Deny
Any other tie.
Deny
Grant
Grant
Several such ACTs, none have a denial.
Permission condition?
Yes
No
Is there a grant or denial that applies to Joe because of his
group memberships?
Consider only the explicit and ACT settings that are closest to Joe.
No
On the item’s immediate parent
What is Joe’s effective setting for this permission?
Grant
Tie with an explicit grant and no explicit denial.
Permission condition?
Yes
No
Grant
Deny
Grant
Conditional Grant
Here are some details that help you interpret the preceding figure: explicit settings
A user has an explicit setting on an item if the user is individually granted or denied a permission on the item’s Authorization tab. Explicit settings have the highest precedence. However, managing a large number of explicit settings for individual users can be cumbersome. For greater efficiency, we recommend that you set explicit permissions for groups, use ACTs, and rely on inheritance.
ACT settings
A user has an ACT setting (green) on an item if an ACT that is applied to the item has a permission pattern that explicitly grants or denies the relevant permission to the user. Each ACT adds its pattern of grants and denials to the settings for each item to which the ACT is applied. A green check box on an item’s
Authorization
tab indicates that at least one ACT is applied to that item. To determine which ACTs are applied to an item, click the Access Control
Templates
button on the item’s Authorization tab.
64 Authorization Decisions
4 Chapter 5 indirect settings (derived from group memberships)
A user has a group setting on an item if a group to which the user belongs has an explicit or ACT setting on the item. Group settings matter only if the requesting user has no relevant explicit or ACT settings on the target item.
Identity precedence determines which group settings are closest to each user. See
“Identity Precedence” on page 34.
If you directly assign a user to multiple groups (or directly assign a group to multiple groups), you can get identity precedence ties. For example, if Joe is a direct member of GroupA and GroupB, and the only settings on an item are conflicting explicit settings for those groups, both of those settings are closest to
Joe. These conflicts are resolved as follows:
3
Explicit settings have precedence over ACT settings.
3
Conflicting explicit settings result in a denial.
3
Conflicting ACT settings result in a denial.
indirect settings (inherited from a parent item)
Inherited settings come from a parent item (such as a folder). Inherited settings matter only if there are no relevant explicit, ACT, or group settings on the target item. When there are no relevant settings on an item, access to the item is the same as access to the item’s immediate parent. The controlling setting is usually an explicit or ACT setting that is defined somewhere in the item’s inheritance path.
If there are no explicit or ACT settings on any parent (or if the item’s only parent is the repository), the repository ACT determines the outcome. If that ACT’s pattern neither grants nor denies the permission, then the permission is denied.
Note:
If there is no repository ACT, all permissions are granted (you should always have a designated repository ACT).
4
Note:
If an item has more than one immediate parent, a grant from any inheritance path is sufficient to provide access. Having multiple immediate parents is not a common situation.
4 permission conditions
Permission conditions constrain explicit grants of the Read permission on OLAP dimensions (limiting access to members) or information maps (limiting access to rows). On the Authorization tab, the presence of an Edit Condition or Edit
Authorization
button indicates that a permission condition is assigned to the currently selected user or group. See Table 5.14 on page 69.
The following table summarizes the principles of the authorization decision process:
Table 5.11
Precedence Principles for Authorization
Principle
Settings on an item have priority over settings on the item’s parents.
Conflicting settings on an item are resolved by identity precedence.
In an identity precedence tie, explicit settings have priority over
ACT settings.
Example
1
LibraryA has an explicit denial for PUBLIC. LibraryA’s parent folder has an explicit grant for Joe.
LibraryA has an explicit denial for GroupA and an explicit grant for GroupAA. Joe is a direct member of GroupA.
GroupA is a direct member of GroupAA.
LibraryA has an ACT denial for GroupA and an explicit grant for GroupB. Joe is a direct member of both GroupA and GroupB.
Outcome
Joe can’t see
LibraryA.
Joe can’t see
LibraryA.
Joe can see
LibraryA.
Authorization Model
4 Considerations for Batch Reporting
65
Principle
In an identity precedence tie that isn’t resolved by the preceding row, the outcome is a denial.
A grant from any inheritance path can provide access.
Example
1
LibraryA has an explicit denial for GroupA and an explicit grant for GroupB. Joe is a direct member of both GroupA and GroupB.
ObjectA has no explicit or ACT settings, one immediate parent that conveys a grant, and another immediate parent that conveys a denial.
2
Outcome
Joe can’t see
LibraryA.
Joe can see
ObjectA.
1 The settings described in this column are the only explicit or ACT settings for ReadMetadata permission on
LibraryA (or ObjectA).
2 Having more than one immediate parent is not a common circumstance.
Fine-Grained Controls for Data
What Are Fine-Grained Controls?
Business requirements often specify that different users should see different portions, or slices, of data. In some cases, the requirement is driven by the sensitive nature of data. For example, company policy might state that each sales person should be able to access only his or her own salary information. In other cases, the requirement is intended to prevent information overload. For example, each regional sales team within a national organization might be interested in only the sales trend information for their region. Row-level access distinctions are frequently based on each user’s place in an organizational structure such as a management hierarchy or a product matrix. The visibility of data can depend on a simple, site-specific condition such as a user’s security clearance level, or on a more complex condition that consists of multiple filters.
You use fine-grained controls to specify who can access particular rows within a table or members within a cube dimension. These controls often subset data by a user characteristic such as employee ID or organizational unit. For example, a table that contains patient medical information might be protected by row-level permissions that enable each doctor to see only those rows that contain data about that doctor’s patients.
Unlike other access controls, fine-grained controls are based on filters and rely on target data that is modeled to work with those filters. When fine–grained controls are used, there are three possible authorization decision outcomes for a request to view data:
Grant
The requesting user can access all data.
Deny
Grant-withconditions
The requesting user can’t access any data.
The requesting user can access only the data that meets specified filtering conditions.
Considerations for Batch Reporting
When you use fine-grained controls, it is essential to understand that only dynamically generated reports display data based on the access that is defined for the requesting user. Static reports display data based on the access that is defined for the user ID that was used to generate the report. For example:
3
Manually refreshed reports contain cached data (which can be updated by a user action in the report viewer).
66 Identity–Driven Properties
4 Chapter 5
3
Pre-generated reports reflect the access of the user ID that was used to generate the report. Identity-specific access distinctions are preserved for pre-generated reports only if you define a separate report job for each user ID.
Identity–Driven Properties
Overview
It is often necessary to make per-person access distinctions for the rows in a table or the members in a dimension. You can make a separate filter for each user (such as
where name="joe"
). However, if you have more than a few users, this approach quickly becomes cumbersome. The more efficient alternative is to create a dynamic filter (such as where name="&name;") that can discover and insert the correct, user-specific value into the WHERE expression each time access is requested.
To create a dynamic filter, use an identity–driven property as the value against which values in the target data are compared. This list explains how the substitution works:
Note:
This discussion is not applicable to the SPD Server, which has its own implementation of identity-based filtering.
4
1
Each identity-driven property corresponds to a characteristic (such as name, user
ID, or external identity).
2
Each user’s values for these characteristics (such as joe, WinXP\joe, or 607189) are stored in the metadata.
3
4
The identity-driven property is aware of the user ID with which a client authenticated and can locate information that is stored in the metadata for that user ID.
Each time it receives a request, the identity-driven property substitutes a user-specific value into the filter expression.
These are the most useful identity-driven properties:
SAS.Userid
returns an authenticated user ID, normalized to the uppercase format USERID or
USERID@DOMAIN.
SAS.ExternalIdentity
returns a site-specific value (for example, employee ID). This property is often useful because its values are likely to match user information in your data. An identity can have more than one external identity value; however, only the first value is returned. Unlike the values for other identity-driven properties, values for this property are not always populated in the metadata. See “External Identities” on page 226.
SAS.IdentityGroups
returns a list of the groups and roles that this identity belongs to (directly, indirectly, or implicitly). The list contains the group and role names, as displayed in the Name field on the General tab for each group or role.
SAS.PersonName
returns a user name, as displayed in the Name field on the user’s General tab.
These identity-driven properties are also supported:
SAS.IdentityGroupName
returns a group name, as displayed in the Name field on the group’s General tab.
If a user logs on with an ID that is stored in a login on a group definition, then the
Authorization Model
4 What Implementations are Available?
67
name of the group that owns that login is returned. If a user logs on with a user
ID that is not stored in the metadata, then the PUBLIC group is returned.
This property is useful only in the unusual circumstance where a user logs on with the user ID that is defined for a group login. In almost all cases, a user logs on with a user ID that is defined for an individual user definition. This property is not supported if client-side pooling is used.
SAS.IdentityName
returns a user name or group name, as displayed in the Name field on the General tab for the user or group. This property is a generalization of SAS.PersonName
and SAS.IdentityGroupName.
Note:
In certain circumstances, a connecting identity might not have a value for the identity-driven property that you are using. This can happen with the ExternalIdentity property (sometimes), the IdentityGroupName property (almost always), or the
PersonName property (rarely). When a connecting user doesn’t have a value for the property that a query uses, an empty string is returned or the query fails.
4
Examples
For example, to enable each user to see only his or her own salary information, you could give the PUBLIC group a filter that is based on the SAS.PersonName property.
At run time, the SAS.PersonName value that is associated with the connected user ID is substituted into the filter. In this way, the query is modified as appropriate for each requesting client.
This table contains examples of filters that are based on identity properties, showing representations of both the generic form and how each filter would be modified when executed by a user named Harry Highpoint. Harry is a member of the ETL and
Executives groups. The example assumes that the customer has an employee information table named EmpInfo which includes Name, Category, WinID, Department, and EmpID columns.
Table 5.12
Examples of Filters That Use Identity-Driven Properties
As Defined (Generic Form)
Where EmpInfo.WinID=&SAS.Userid;
Where EmpInfo.EmpID=&SAS.ExternalIdentity;
Where EmpInfo.Department IN &SAS.IdentityGroups;
Where EmpInfo.Name=&SAS.IdentityName;
Where EmpInfo.Name=&SAS.PersonName;
Where EmpInfo.Category=&SAS.IdentityGroupName;
As Executed (Resolved Form)
Where EmpInfo.WinID="HIGH@WIN"
Where EmpInfo.EmpID="123–456–789"
Where EmpInfo.Department IN
(’ETL’,’Executives’,’PUBLIC’,’SASUSERS’)
Where EmpInfo.Name="Harry Highpoint"
Where EmpInfo.Name="Harry Highpoint"
Where EmpInfo.Category=’ ’
1
1 Because the user does not log on with a user ID that is stored as part of a group definition, the user has no value for this property. This either returns an empty string (in BI row-level permissions) or causes the query to fail (in other implementations).
What Implementations are Available?
Each of these components offers an implementation of fine-grained controls:
Information Maps (BI Row-Level Permissions)
68 How are Fine-Grained Controls Assigned?
4 Chapter 5 provides filtering for SAS data sets and third-party relational data accessed through an information map. You define and assign the filters in SAS Information
Map Studio. See Chapter 8, “BI Row-Level Permissions,” on page 93.
This feature is practical for use with large, dimensionally modeled data marts.
BI row-level permissions do not require a specific data model. BI row-level permissions can limit access to data within fact tables without incurring the performance cost of directly filtering those tables. This is accomplished by ensuring that access to a fact table is always subject to an inner join with a filtered dimension (the filtering criteria is usually some type of identity information). This feature enables you to define granular access to third-party data without requiring you to maintain individual user accounts within those database systems.
CAUTION:
Not all SAS clients require that users go through information maps in order to access data.
Comprehensive security that incorporates BI row-level permissions requires a specific, high-security configuration of SAS Web Report Studio.
4
SAS OLAP Server provides filtering for SAS OLAP data using MDX expressions. You define and assign the filters in SAS Management Console, SAS OLAP Cube Studio, or SAS
Data Integration Studio. See Chapter 9, “OLAP Member-Level Permissions,” on page 109.
SAS Scalable Performance Data Server enables you to define database views that filter rows based on the user ID of the connecting client. This functionality is provided by the @SPDSUSR system variable. The metadata-based identity driven properties are not available in this implementation. See the SAS Scalable Performance Data Server: Administrator’s
Guide.
The following table compares the implementations:
Table 5.13
Comparison of Fine-Grained Control Implementations
Implementation Secure Graphical Filter
Creation
Standard
Authorization UI
Metadata-
Aware
Identity-
Driven
OLAP member-level
SPD Server row-level
BI row-level
How are Fine-Grained Controls Assigned?
Note:
This discussion is not applicable to the SPD Server.
4
Fine-grained controls are assigned to users or groups on the Authorization tab of the target dimension or table. These filters are available only to constrain an explicit grant of the Read permission. These filters are incorporated into the access control evaluation process as permission conditions.
A permission condition is applied only if it is on the setting that is closest to the requesting user. Other conditions that are relevant because of further-removed group memberships don’t provide additional, cumulative access. If there is an identity precedence tie between multiple groups at the highest level of identity precedence, those tied conditions are combined in a Boolean OR expression. If the identity
Authorization Model
4 How are Fine-Grained Controls Assigned?
69
precedence tie includes an unconditional grant, access is not limited by any conditions.
The following table provides examples:
Table 5.14
Precedence for Permission Conditions
Principle
If there are multiple permission conditions that apply to a user because of the user’s group memberships, then the highest precedence identity controls the outcome.
If there are multiple permission conditions at the highest level of identity precedence, then any data that is allowed by any of the tied conditions is returned.
Scenario
A filter on InformationMapA limits Read permission for
GroupA.
Another filter on
InformationMapA limits Read permission for the SASUSERS group.
The user is a member of both
GroupA and SASUSERS.
A filter on DimensionA limits
Read permission for GroupA.
Another filter on DimensionA limits Read permission for
GroupB.
The user is a first level member of both GroupA and
GroupB.
Outcome and Explanation
The user can see only the rows that GroupA is permitted to see.
GroupA has higher identity precedence than SASUSERS, so the filters that are assigned to
GroupA define the user’s access.
The user can see any member that is permitted for either GroupA or
GroupB.
The following example describes the impact of identity precedence when a manager uses an information map that includes both of the following filters for a SALARY table:
3
3
A permission condition that is assigned to the SASUSERS group gives each user access to his or her own salary information.
A permission condition that is assigned to a Managers group enables each manager to see the salaries of the employees that he or she manages.
When the manager accesses the SALARY table, the filter that is assigned to the
Managers group is applied and the filter that is assigned to SASUSERS is ignored.
This is because the manager’s direct membership in the Managers group has higher identity precedence than the manager’s implicit membership in the SASUSERS group.
To avoid a situation in which managers can see their employees’ salaries but each manager can’t see his or her own salary, you can use either of these approaches:
3
3
Assign the filters to two groups that have the same identity precedence. For example, if you assign the first filter to a general purpose user-defined group
(rather than to SASUSERS), and you make each manager a direct member of that group, then managers will have an identity precedence tie between that group and the Managers group. This situation causes the two filters to be combined for members of the Managers group, enabling those users to see any row that is permitted by either filter.
Define the Managers filter in a way that encompasses all of the rows that the managers should be able to see. In other words, combine (OR together) the
SASUSERS filter and the Managers filter.
70
C H A P T E R
6
Permissions on Folders
Using Custom Folders to Manage Access
71
Baseline ACTs
71
Demonstration: Departmental and Project Separation
73
Variation 1: Add Subgroups, Designate Content Creators
76
Variation 2: Add Functional Separation
79
Key Points About the Baseline ACT Approach
81
Further Considerations for Permissions on Folders
82
Consolidation of ACTs
82
Separated Administration
83
End Users, Folders, and Permissions
83
Using Custom Folders to Manage Access
To use the metadata authorization layer to manage access to content (such as reports, data, information maps, and stored processes), create folders and set permissions so that each folder offers appropriate access. Items within each folder inherit permission settings from that folder.
Note:
If you aren’t familiar with the SAS folder structure, see the chapter "Working with SAS Folders" in the SAS Intelligence Platform: System Administration Guide.
4
Baseline ACTs
One approach to establishing protections on custom folders is to create a few general-use ACTs and apply one or more of those ACTs on the Authorization tab of any folder that you need to secure. To grant access back to a particular group, supplement a folder’s baseline ACT settings by adding grants on that folder’s
Authorization
tab.
The examples in this chapter use the following baseline ACTs:
Hide prevents visibility (for users who aren’t in the SAS Administrators group).
Protect
LimitData prevents updates, deletions, and contributions (by users who aren’t in the SAS Administrators group).
prevents access to data through the OLAP server, information maps, and the metadata LIBNAME engine (for all restricted users).
71
72 Baseline ACTs
4 Chapter 6
Each ACT’s name describes the effect of applying that ACT to an item that has no explicit or ACT (green) settings. The following tables document the permission pattern for each of these ACTs:
Table 6.1
The Hide ACT
Group
PUBLIC
SAS Administrators
SAS System Services
Permission Pattern
1
Denial ReadMetadata
Grant ReadMetadata
Grant ReadMetadata
1 Gives SAS Administrators and service identities exclusive read access to metadata.
Table 6.2
The Protect ACT
Group
PUBLIC
SAS Administrators
Permission Pattern
1
Denial WriteMetadata, WriteMemberMetadata,
CheckInMetadata, Write, Administer
Grant WriteMetadata, WriteMemberMetadata,
CheckInMetadata, Write, Administer, ReadMetadata
1 Gives SAS Administrators exclusive write access to metadata.
Table 6.3
The LimitData ACT
Group
PUBLIC
Permission Pattern
1
Denial Read
1 Prevents all restricted users from accessing data (through information maps, the OLAP server, and the metadata LIBNAME engine).
Each baseline ACT reduces a particular type of access down to a minimal level. In the Hide and Protect ACTs, the grants to SAS Administrators preserve standard administrative access so that members of that group can manage all metadata (for alternatives, see “Separated Administration” on page 83). In the Hide ACT, the grant to
SAS System Services preserves necessary service access (the SAS Trusted User, who is a member of that group, reads certain metadata on behalf of all users). The LimitData
ACT is unusual in that the pattern consists of a single setting. This chapter uses this
ACT for consistency and in case at some future point you want to give a restricted user access to all data.
To create the baseline ACTs:
1
Log on to SAS Management Console as a registered user (anyone who has a well-formed user definition). Select the Plug-ins tab.
2
3
Expand Authorization Manager, right-click Access Control Templates, and select New Access Control Template.
On the General tab, enter the ACT name (Protect, Hide, or LimitData).
Note:
If you previously created the Protect ACT to protect server definitions, just verify that the pattern on that ACT is correct.
4
Permissions on Folders
4 Demonstration: Departmental and Project Separation
73
4
On the Permission Pattern tab, define the settings this ACT will provide:
a b
Click Add. In the Add Users and Groups dialog box, clear the Show Users check box. Move PUBLIC and any other participating identities (SAS
Administrators
and SAS System Services) to the Selected Identities list box. Click OK.
On the Permission Pattern tab, define explicit settings as specified in the preceding tables. Remove the automatically created grants of
ReadMetadata permission except as specified.
5
Note:
Make sure you are on the Permission Pattern tab and not the
Authorization
tab.
4
On the Authorization tab, protect the ACT that you are creating. Either apply the Protect ACT or add explicit settings that deny WriteMetadata permission to PUBLIC and grant WriteMetadata permission to the SAS Administrators group.
Note:
If the Users and Groups list box on the ACT’s Authorization tab is empty, click OK to save the ACT. Then, right-click the new ACT, select
Properties
, and select the Authorization tab again.
4
6
Click OK. Repeat until you have created all three baseline ACTs.
Demonstration: Departmental and Project Separation
This example creates a secured custom branch with mutually exclusive access for two divisions. In this example, the project level folders are for only organizational purposes
(there are no access distinctions at the project level). The following figure depicts the goals and group structure.
Figure 6.1
Demonstration: Folder and Group Structure
SAS Folders
My Folder
DemoBranch
DivisionA
Project1
Project2
DivisionB
Project1
Project2
GroupA can consume and contribute.
GroupB can consume and contribute.
PUBLIC
SASUSERS
SAS Administrators sasadm
SAS System Services sastrust
GroupA userA
GroupB userB
To set this up, complete these steps:
74 Demonstration: Departmental and Project Separation
4 Chapter 6
1
2
3
Log on to SAS Management Console as someone who has user administration capabilities and is a member of SAS Administrators (for example, sasadm@saspw).
Select the Plug-ins tab.
Create two temporary groups:
a b c
Right-click User Manager and select New
I Group.
On the General tab, enter the name GroupA. Click OK.
Repeat steps 2a-b to create a group named GroupB.
Create two temporary users:
4 f a b c d e
Right-click User Manager and select New
I User.
On the General tab, enter the name userA.
On the Groups and Roles tab, move GroupA to the Member of list box.
On the Accounts tab, click Create Internal Account. In the New Internal
Account dialog box, enter and confirm a simple password (for example
123456
). Click OK to save the new account.
Notice that the new account now appears at the bottom of the Accounts tab.
Click OK to save the new user.
Repeat steps 3a-e to create userB (who should be in GroupB).
Create the folder structure:
5 a b
On the Folders tab, right-click the root folder
Folder
. Create a new folder named DemoBranch.
and select New
I
Add subfolders under DemoBranch until it looks like the structure in the preceding display.
Protect the top of your custom branch:
a b c
Right-click DemoBranch and select Properties.
On the Authorization tab, click Access Control Templates.
In the Add and Remove Access Control Templates dialog box, move the Protect and LimitData ACTs to the Currently Using list box (you have to expand the
Foundation
node to get to the ACTs).
6
Note:
For instructions for creating the ACTs, see “Baseline ACTs” on page
71.
4
d
Click OK to return to the Authorization tab. Review the revised settings.
Notice that PUBLIC and SAS Administrators have some green settings
The green settings come from the ACTs that you applied.
On the DivsionA folder:
.
7 a b
Apply the Hide ACT.
Add GroupA to the Authorization tab and give them explicit
ReadMetadata, WriteMemberMetadata, and Read permissions.
On each project folder below DivisionA: grants of
8 a b
Apply the Protect ACT.
Give GroupA an explicit grant of the WriteMemberMetadata permission.
Repeat steps 6 and 7 for the DivisionB folders and subfolders (assigning the grants to GroupB). The following table summarizes the protections for the first four folders:
Permissions on Folders
4 Demonstration: Departmental and Project Separation
75
Table 6.4
Demonstration: Permission Settings
Folder
Baseline ACTs
Protections
Supplemental Grants
DemoBranch
Protect
LimitData
DivisionA
Hide GroupA: +RM, +WMM, +R
Project1
Project2
Protect
Protect
GroupA: +WMM
GroupA: +WMM
9
Test the protections:
a b
Log on as userA@saspw. On the Folders tab, notice which folders in the
DemoBranch are visible to you. Right-click each folder and notice where you can add content (where the New Folder and New Stored Process actions are available) and where you can’t.
Log on as userB@saspw and repeat the same checks.
10
To clean up, log on with the identity that you used in step 1. On the Plug-ins tab, delete the temporary groups and users (under User Manager). On the Folders tab, delete the DemoBranch and each user’s My Folder
Users
).
(under System
I
Here are some key points about this example:
3
ReadMetadata permission flows into the DemoBranch from its parent folder. In all of the examples in this chapter, the immediate parent to the DemoBranch is visible to all registered users (SASUSERS). This is a standard setting. Unless you apply the Hide ACT to the top of your custom branch, the SASUSERS grant of
ReadMetadata permission flows into your branch.
3
The ability to create, manage, and delete content is shut off at the top (by the
Protect ACT on the DemoBranch). This constraint flows throughout the tree
(except where you add supplemental grants of WriteMemberMetadata permission to specific functional groups on specific folders). Users don’t add content or access data in the DemoBranch, so no supplemental grants are needed on that folder.
3
3
3
Because you want to prevent members of GroupB from seeing the DivisionA branch, you apply the Hide ACT on that branch. You then add supplemental grants for GroupA to restore their access.
On DivisionA’s project folders, you apply the Protect ACT to override GroupA’s inherited grant of WriteMetadata permission (GroupA’s grant of
WriteMemberMetadata permission on DivisionA becomes an inherited grant of
WriteMetadata permission on the immediate children of DivisionA). This prevents members of GroupA from renaming, deleting, or changing permissions on each project folder. You then add a supplemental grant of WriteMemberMetadata permission so that members of GroupA can contribute content in the project folders.
On DivisionA’s project folders, you don’t apply the Hide ACT, because the
ReadMetadata access that flows in from the DivisionA folder is appropriate. In this example, the requirement is that all members of GroupA should be able to access content throughout the DivsionA branch.
76 Variation 1: Add Subgroups, Designate Content Creators
4 Chapter 6
3
Notice that it isn’t necessary to use separate folders for each type of object.
Note:
Any content contributors who register cubes must have WriteMetadata permission on the OLAP schema . By default, the schema is in the SAS Folders/
Shared Data/ SASApp - OLAP Schema
folder.
4
Variation 1: Add Subgroups, Designate Content Creators
This example eliminates the project folders and introduces the following requirements:
3
3
3
Regional employees see only content for their region.
A central group of managers see all content.
A central group of content creators creates all content.
The following figure depicts the folder and group structure.
Figure 6.2
Variation 1: Folder and Group Structure
Managers can consume.
ContentCreators can consume and contribute.
SAS Folders
My Folder
DemoBranch
DivisionA
RegionA1
RegionA2
DivisionB
RegionB1
RegionB2
PUBLIC
SASUSERS
SAS Administrators sasadm
SAS System Services
Managers sastrust
ContentCreators
RegionA1 group can consume.
RegionA2 group can consume.
RegionB1 group can consume.
RegionB2 group can consume.
GroupA
RegionA1
RegionA2
GroupB
RegionB1
RegionB2
The following table lists the protections for the first four folders:
Permissions on Folders
4 Variation 1: Add Subgroups, Designate Content Creators
77
Table 6.5
Variation 1a: Permission Settings
Folder Protections
Baseline ACTs Supplemental Grants
DemoBranch
Protect
LimitData
DivisionA
Hide GroupA: +RM
ContentCreators: +RM
Managers:+RM
RegionA1
Hide RegionA1: +RM, +R
ContentCreators: +RM, +R, +WMM
Managers:+RM, +R
RegionA2
Hide RegionA2: +RM, +R
ContentCreators: +RM, +R, +WMM
Managers:+RM, +R
Notice that you are repeating many of the same explicit settings on each region, and that this will be the case throughout the DemoBranch. For greater efficiency and more centralized control, create a custom ACT (called RegionLevel) that provides the supplemental grants for your content creators (RM, R, WMM) and your managers (RM,
R). Remember to protect the ACT itself as explained in step five in “Baseline ACTs” on page 71.
The following table lists the protections for the first four folders:
Table 6.6
Variation 1b: Permission Settings (use a supplemental ACT)
Folder
Baseline ACTs
Protections
Supplemental Grants
DemoBranch
Protect
LimitData
DivisionA
Hide GroupA: +RM
ContentCreators: +RM
Managers:+RM
78 Variation 1: Add Subgroups, Designate Content Creators
4 Chapter 6
Folder
RegionA1
RegionA2
Baseline ACTs
Hide
Hide
Protections
Supplemental Grants
RegionA1: +RM, +R
RegionLevel
RegionA2: +RM, +R
RegionLevel
If you decide to offer content at the division level and you want that content to be available to only managers, you might make these changes:
3
Create a DivisionLevel ACT with grants for Managers (RM, R) and
ContentCreators (RM, R, WMM). Apply that ACT to each division folder.
Note:
This is the same pattern that you use for the RegionLevel ACT, so you could instead simply use that ACT. In this example, you choose to create a separate ACT because you anticipate that the requirements for division-level access and region-level access might diverge in the future.
4
3
Apply the Protect ACT on each region folder (to take away the inherited grant of
WriteMetadata permission that content contributors inherit from their division-level grant of WriteMemberMetadata permission).
Note:
If you choose to not do this, members of the content creators group can delete, rename, or change permissions for the region folders.
4
The following table lists the protections for the first four folders:
Table 6.7
Variation 1c: Permission Settings (support division-level content)
Folder
Baseline ACTs
Protections
Supplemental Grants
DemoBranch
Protect
LimitData
DivisionA
Hide GroupA: +RM
DivisionLevel
Folder
RegionA1
RegionA2
Permissions on Folders
4 Variation 2: Add Functional Separation
79
Baseline ACTs
Hide
Protect
Hide
Protect
Protections
Supplemental Grants
RegionA1: +RM, +R
RegionLevel
RegionA2: +RM, +R
RegionLevel
Variation 2: Add Functional Separation
This example includes three custom groups that represent users who have specific job responsibilities (Data Admins, Map Creators, and Report Creators). Each division folder has separate subfolders for different types of content (data definitions, information maps, report definitions, and stored processes). Supplemental write access in each folder is limited to members of the appropriate functional groups as follows:
3
Data administrators can work in each division’s data definitions folder.
3
3
3
Information map creators can work in each division’s information maps folder.
Report creators can work in each division’s reports folder.
Information map creators and report creators can work in each division’s stored processes folder.
Note:
Access for these functional groups is also limited by departmental separations. For example, only DivisionA’s report creators (and SAS Administrators) can add, update, and delete items in DivisionA’s reports folder.
4
The following figure depicts goals and group structure.
80 Variation 2: Add Functional Separation
4 Chapter 6
Figure 6.3
Variation 2: Folder and Group Structure
Managers and
GroupA can consume.
SAS Folders
My Folder
DemoBranch
DivisionA data definitions information maps reports stored processes
DivisionB
PUBLIC
SASUSERS
SAS Administrators
GroupA’s Data Admins can contribute.
GroupA’s Map Creators can contribute.
GroupA’s Report Creators can contribute.
GroupA’s Map Creators and Report Creators can contribute.
SAS System Services sasadm
Managers sastrust
GroupA
Data Admins
Map Creators
GroupB
Report Creators
The following table lists the protections for the first six folders:
Table 6.8
Variation 2a: Permission Settings (functional separation)
Folder
Baseline ACTs
Protections
Supplemental Grants
DemoBranch
Protect
LimitData
DivisionA
Hide Managers: +RM, +R
GroupA: +RM, +R data definitions
Protect* Data Admins: +WMM information maps
Protect* Map Creators: +WMM reports
Protect* Report Creators: +WMM stored processes
Protect* Map Creators: +WMM
Report Creators: +WMM
* You don’t strictly need the Protect ACT here, because protections flow through from the
DemoBranch folder (and aren’t interrupted by any supplemental grants of WM or WMM on higher level folders). However, you do need the supplemental grants of WMM on these folders, so you might choose to also apply the Protect ACT here for clarity.
Permissions on Folders
4 Key Points About the Baseline ACT Approach
81
Here are some details about this example:
3
On DivisionA, users who aren’t in the Managers group, GroupA, or SAS
Administrators are locked out. Such users can’t see or traverse DivisionA or any folders in the DivisionA branch. Managers and members of GroupA have supplemental grants of ReadMetadata and Read permissions on DivisionA; these grants flow through the entire DivisionA branch.
Note:
In order to view a DivisionA report, you need ReadMetadata permission and (in most cases) Read permission to the report’s underlying components (such as information maps, stored processes, and data).
4
3
3
On each content type folder, one or more functional groups has a supplemental grant of WriteMemberMetadata permission. However, functional group access is also constrained by division-level ReadMetadata access. For example, even though all report creators have WriteMemberMetadata permission on the DivisionA reports folder, only those report creators who are members of GroupA can see the folder.
Nothing in these settings prevents creation of a certain type of item. For example, a map creator can create a report and add that report to the map folder or the stored processes folder. Here are some techniques for increasing control:
3
3
3
You can use roles to limit the ability to create reports in SAS Web Report
Studio.
You should limit the ability to register libraries, stored processes and OLAP schemas by managing WriteMetadata permission on application servers.
You can use the map accessibility check configuration option to limit the locations from which SAS Web Report Studio will use relational maps.
3
3
You might choose to put the supplemental grants of WriteMemberMetadata permission in additional ACTs (such as MapCreators ACT, ReportCreators ACT) instead of using explicit settings on each folder. Using ACTs is more centralized, which is beneficial in accommodating later changes to the pattern. Of course, the more divisions you have, the more work it would be to update explicit settings, so the more valuable it would be to centralize settings with ACTs.
Consider how you would handle an exception requirement. For example, to let a particular data administrator who isn’t in GroupA contribute to the DivisionA data definitions folder, you might give that user a clear path of grants of
ReadMetadata permission to the folder and supplemental grants of
WriteMemberMetadata and Read permissions on the folder.
Key Points About the Baseline ACT Approach
3
3
3
In general, it isn’t necessary to add protection to the predefined folders (such as the root folder, each user’s My Folder, and the System folder). These folders are protected by default.
The preceding examples don’t add grants of ReadMetadata permission on the
DemoBranch folder because that folder’s parent (the SAS Folders node) is visible to all registered users. The grant of ReadMetadata permission to SASUSERS on the SAS Folders node flows into the DemoBranch.
To hide a branch, apply the Hide ACT to the relevant folder and grant back
ReadMetadata permission to any groups who should have access. Remember that a denial of ReadMetadata permission on a folder prevents navigation to content and folders that are below the hidden folder (and that this can’t be mitigated by a grant of ReadMetadata permission on a lower-level folder or other item).
82 Further Considerations for Permissions on Folders
4 Chapter 6
3
To enable a group to contribute content to a particular folder, give that group a grant of WriteMemberMetadata permission on that folder and consider applying the Protect ACT to each immediate subfolder.
Note:
This protects lower-level folders that inherit the contributing group’s
WriteMemberMetadata permission grant (from the parent folder) as a grant of
WriteMetadata permission (on the child folder). If you don’t protect a child folder, the contributing group can rename, delete, or change permissions on that folder.
To enable content contributions to the child folder, grant WriteMemberMetadata permission on that folder (and consider repeating the denial of WriteMetadata permission on any subfolders that are below that folder).
4
Note:
Any content contributors who register cubes must have WriteMetadata permission on the OLAP schema. By default, the schema is in the SAS Folders/
Shared Data/ SASApp - OLAP Schema
folder.
4
3
3
3
If you want a group to access data through cubes, information maps, or the metadata LIBNAME engine, give that group a grant of Read permission on the folder that contains the relevant items. For any folder where you add a grant of
Read permission, determine whether you want that grant to flow through to the subfolders. Apply the LimitData ACT to any immediate subfolders where you want to prevent data access. The navigational requirement for a clear path of
ReadMetadata permission doesn’t apply to the Read permission.
The examples in this chapter ensure that content contributors have Read permission to the resources that they use. If you have a content contributor who isn’t also a content consumer, you can choose to not provide Read permission. For example, if you give a user ReadMetadata permission but not Read permission to an information map, that user can still design the map (but can’t perform tasks such as testing queries).
You might be able to save some time by using this technique:
1
2
Create one sub-branch (for example, the DivisionA branch in the preceding examples). The folders should have appropriate permission settings but contain no content.
Copy that empty sub-branch to create the other branches (for example, to create the DivisionB folders). Change the folder name on the copy and update the settings as necessary. Often, you only have to remove and add a few supplemental grants.
Note:
If this technique proves useful, consider keeping an empty template branch that is visible only to administrators. You can use the template if you need to add more branches later.
4
Further Considerations for Permissions on Folders
Consolidation of ACTs
In general, consolidation (using one pattern in all of the places where it is appropriate) is beneficial, because it simplifies management. However, it might be appropriate to maintain two ACTs that have the similar patterns in circumstances such as these:
3
You anticipate that access requirements might diverge. For example, if you think you will eventually separate folder administration from server administration, you might create a SystemProtect ACT for items that aren’t in the folder tree.
Permissions on Folders
4 End Users, Folders, and Permissions
83
Note:
Another example is that this chapter suggests that you use the baseline
Protect ACT to protect servers and folders, but doesn’t demonstrate another legitimate use of that ACT, to protect the ACTs themselves. This use was omitted from the introductory information about the baseline ACTs only in the interest of avoiding confusion in the initial discussion. Consider returning to the
Authorization
tab of each ACT, removing the explicit settings, and applying the
Protect ACT.
4
3
You want to use a pattern that is similar to but not exactly the same as one of the predefined ACTs. For example, the baseline Hide ACT is not very different from the predefined Private User Folder ACT. We strongly recommend that you do not modify or delete the predefined ACTs, because these ACTs are an integral part of the protections that are set up for you during installation. The usage of each predefined ACT requires certain settings. Modifying the settings on a predefined
ACT can compromise the security that that ACT provides.
Separated Administration
If you need to separate administration privileges by department, the approach in this chapter is not granular enough. If you don’t want the SAS Administrators group to have universal access, consider creating parallel sets of baseline ACTs.
For example, to separate administration for an East region and a West region, you might create ACTs such as Hide_East, Hide_West. In each baseline ACT pattern, you would replace the SAS Administrators group with a narrower administrative group (for example, East_Admins, West_Admins). The denials to PUBLIC and grants to the SAS
System Services group would not change. Any unrestricted users can still access everything.
End Users, Folders, and Permissions
Proper use of the WriteMetadata and WriteMemberMetadata permissions protects a folder structure. Keep in mind that end users can affect access to content as follows:
3
A user who can update an item can add settings on that item. You can’t prevent this by limiting the availability of SAS Management Console because users can set permissions in other applications (for example, SAS Information Map Studio, SAS
OLAP Cube Studio, SAS Data Integration Studio, SAS Enterprise Guide, and the
SAS Add-In for Microsoft Office).
3
3
A user who can contribute items to a folder can also add subfolders below that folder. You can’t prevent this by limiting the availability of SAS Management
Console because users can add folders in other applications (for example, SAS
Information Map Studio, SAS OLAP Cube Studio, SAS Data Integration Studio,
SAS Enterprise Guide, and the SAS Add-In for Microsoft Office).
If you give someone CheckInMetadata permission on a folder, that person can update or delete the folder (through change management activities), as well as check in content to that folder. Change management is an optional feature that is available only for SAS Data Integration Studio.
84
C H A P T E R
7
Permissions on Servers
Managing Access to Server Definitions
85
Protecting Server Definitions
85
Hiding Server Definitions
88
Managing Access to Server Definitions
Server metadata is not automatically protected. We recommend that you limit access to server metadata as follows:
3
To protect definitions, use the WriteMetadata permission to limit the ability to update or delete server metadata.
3
If you want to limit use of a particular server, use the ReadMetadata permission to hide that server’s definition.
Protecting Server Definitions
In the initial configuration, the Server Manager capability is available to only the
SAS Administrators group. This provides some protection for server definitions. For greater security, use permissions to define access as follows:
3
3
3
The SAS Administrators group should be able to administer, update, and delete all server definitions.
Users who assign libraries, stored processes, or an OLAP schema to an application server must have WriteMetadata permission for that application server.
No other users should be able to update or delete server definitions.
To efficiently set the permissions, create and use an access control template (ACT).
This enables you to avoid individually setting the same grants and denials on multiple pieces of server metadata. If you want to enable regular users to assign libraries, stored processes, or an OLAP schema to a particular application server, supplement the ACT settings with a grant of WriteMetadata permission on that application server. The following instructions are one way to set the permissions:
1
2
Log on to SAS Management Console as a member of the SAS Administrators group (for example, sasadm@saspw). Select the Plug-ins tab.
(Optional) To examine the current settings:
a b
Expand Server Manager, right-click the SASApp application server select Properties.
and
On the Authorization tab, select SASUSERS. Notice that this group (which includes all registered users) has both ReadMetadata and WriteMetadata
85
86 Protecting Server Definitions
4 Chapter 7
3
permissions. The application server inherits these grants from the standard repository-level settings. Click OK to close the dialog box.
To create the ACT:
a b
Expand Authorization Manager, right-click Access Control Templates, and select New Access Control Template.
On the General tab, enter a name such as Protect.
c
Note:
If you already have a Protect ACT, verify that the pattern on that
ACT’s Permission Pattern tab is correct and that settings on that ACT’s
Authorization
tab protect the ACT itself. Then, proceed to step 4.
4
On the Permission Pattern tab, define settings that you want to apply to all server metadata:
i ii
Click Add. In the Add Users and Groups dialog box, clear the Show Users check box. Move PUBLIC and SAS Administrators to the Selected
Identities
list box and click OK.
On the Permission Pattern tab:
3
3
Select PUBLIC and set the denials in the following table
Remove the grant of ReadMetadata permission for PUBLIC by clicking the already selected grant ReadMetadata check box. This clears that check box so that the pattern neither grants nor denies this permission to PUBLIC.
Note:
A grant of ReadMetadata permission is automatically added for each user or group that you add to a Permission Pattern tab.
The purpose of the Protect ACT is to limit the ability to update or delete items, not to change the visibility of items, so it is important to undo the automatically created grant of ReadMetadata permission for
PUBLIC. Do not instead add a denial of ReadMetadata permission for
PUBLIC. That denial would interrupt the grant of this permission for
SASUSERS that flows through from the repository ACT.
4
3
Select SAS Administrators and set the grants in the following table.
For this group, you can leave the automatic grant of ReadMetadata permission in place.
Table 7.1
The Protect ACT
Group
PUBLIC
Permission Pattern
1
Denial WriteMetadata, WriteMemberMetadata,
CheckInMetadata, Write, Administer
SAS
Administrators
Grant WriteMetadata, WriteMemberMetadata,
CheckInMetadata, Write, Administer, ReadMetadata
1 Gives SAS Administrators exclusive write access to metadata.
To increase reusability, this pattern includes extra permissions.
d
On the Authorization tab, add explicit you are creating: settings to protect the ACT that
Note:
If the Users and Groups list box on the ACT’s Authorization tab is empty, click OK to save the ACT. Then, right-click the new ACT, select
Properties
, and select the Authorization tab again.
4
3
Select PUBLIC and deny WriteMetadata permission. Leave the indirect
(gray) ReadMetadata setting in place.
Permissions on Servers
4 Protecting Server Definitions
87
3
Select SAS Administrators and grant WriteMetadata permission.
Leave the indirect (gray) ReadMetadata setting in place.
4 e
Click OK.
(Optional) If you want to allow some nonadministrators to assign libraries, stored processes, or an OLAP schema, and you don’t already have a group that represents those users, create a new custom group.
5
Note:
As an alternative to creating a group for only this purpose, you can skip this step and instead assign the permissions to specific users in step 5c.
4
a b c d
Right-click User Manager and select New
I Group.
On the General tab, enter a name such as Data Admins.
On the Members tab, move users (or groups) to the Selected Identities list box.
Click OK to save the new group. You will grant WriteMetadata permission to this group in step 5c. This group doesn’t participate in the ACT’s pattern because this group needs WriteMetadata permission on only some of the target objects.
To set the protections:
a b
Expand Server Manager, right-click the first application server is your first pass) and select Properties.
(if this
On the Authorization tab, click Access Control Templates. In the Add and Remove Access Control Templates dialog box, move the Protect ACT to the Currently Using list box (you have to expand the Foundation node to get to the ACT). Click OK to return to the Authorization tab.
Note:
Review the revised settings. Notice that SASUSERS is now denied
WriteMetadata permission and that PUBLIC and SAS Administrators have some green settings . The green settings come from the Protect ACT.
4
c
(Optional) If the current item is an application server to which nonadministrators will assign libraries, OLAP schemas, or stored processes, click Add, add one or more identities to the Authorization tab, and give each of those identities an explicit grant of WriteMetadata permission.
For example, you might assign the grant to a group (such as GroupA) or to individual users.
d e
Note:
Don’t extend WriteMetadata access to the SASMeta application server, because that server should be used for only a few specialized administrative tasks.
4
Click OK to save the settings for this object.
Repeat steps 5a-d for every immediate child of Server Manager (except the table server). Immediate children include objects such as other application servers, third-party servers, the share server, the content server, and spawners.
f
Apply the Protect ACT to every logical server that is under an application server where you added an individual grant of WriteMetadata permission (for SASUSERS or a custom group such as Data Admins).
Note:
This protects lower-level server metadata that would otherwise inherit the nonadministrator’s WriteMetadata grant from the application server. This also prevents nonadministrators who have WriteMetadata permission on the application server from deleting that application server.
4
The following table summarizes typical protections.
88 Hiding Server Definitions
4 Chapter 7
Table 7.2
Example: Protecting Server Definitions
Object
ACT
Added Settings
Supplemental Grants
SASApp Protect DataAdmins: +WM
Each logical server inside SASApp
SASMeta
Protect
(none)
Protect
(none)
(none) Other immediate children of
Server Manager
*
Protect
* Except the table server, which does not need any changes.
Hiding Server Definitions
Initially, all registered users can use almost all servers. In general, the SASUSERS group has the ReadMetadata permission on all server metadata.
Note:
The logical workspace server within the SASMeta application server has limited availability. This avoids the potentially confusing situation in which a regular user is offered the SASMeta server context in applications such as SAS Enterprise Guide.
SASMeta
should be used only as instructed in a few specialized administrative tasks.
4
These initial settings are appropriate until you want to allow only certain users to use certain servers. Here are some reasons why you might choose to limit use of a server:
3 to create different levels of host access from a particular server component ,
3
3
3 logical server , or application server . This is one part of the configuration.
to direct high priority users to a server on hardware that offers superior performance.
to direct power users to a server with settings that offer advanced options.
to enable users in SAS Information Map Studio to use a standard workspace server even when a logical pooled workspace server is present.
If you choose to limit use of a server, preserve access as follows:
3
Make sure that the SAS System Services group has ReadMetadata permission for server metadata. This enables the SAS Trusted User to see server definitions.
This is necessary because the object spawner uses the SAS Trusted User to discover and read all server metadata.
Note:
Users should not be members of the SAS System Services group. This group is for service identities. In the standard configuration, the only member of this group is the SAS Trusted User.
4
3
Make sure that the SAS General Servers group has ReadMetadata permission for server metadata. This enables the metadata identity of the launched server to see the server definition. This is a requirement for stored process servers and pooled workspace servers. This isn’t a requirement for standard workspace servers.
Note:
Users should not be members of the SAS General Servers group. This group is for service identities. In the standard configuration, the only member of this group is the SAS Trusted User.
4
Permissions on Servers
4 Hiding Server Definitions
89
3
3
3
In general, the SAS Administrators group should have ReadMetadata permission for all server metadata.
In order to use a server-side pooled workspace server, a user must have the
ReadMetadata permission for that server and for a standard logical workspace server definition within the same application server. An application server that contains only a server-side pooled workspace server is not accessible to users through SAS clients.
Any user who will use a particular server needs ReadMetadata permission for that server, with these exceptions:
3
The requirement for ReadMetadata permission doesn’t apply to requests to use a client-side pooled workspace server. A user can use a client-side pooled workspace server even if that user can’t see that server definition.
3
The requirement for ReadMetadata permission isn’t enforced if the Use
Server Access Security
check box on a logical server’s Options tab is present and not selected. This check box should always be selected.
To efficiently set the permissions, create an access control template (ACT) that includes the core grants and denials that you would use when you hide any server. To enable selected users to use a particular server, supplement the ACT settings with a grant of ReadMetadata permission on that server. The following instructions explain one way you can set these permissions:
1
Log on to SAS Management Console as a member of the SAS Administrators group (for example, sasadm@saspw). Select the Plug-ins tab.
2
(Optional) To examine the current settings:
3 a b
Expand Server Manager, right-click the server or server component that you are limiting use of and select Properties.
On the Authorization tab, select SASUSERS. Notice that this group (which includes all registered users) has ReadMetadata permission. The application server inherits the grant from the standard repository-level settings. Click OK to close the dialog box.
To create the ACT:
a b c
Expand Authorization Manager, right-click Access Control Templates, and select New Access Control Template.
On the General tab, enter a name such as HideServer.
On the Permission Pattern tab, define general settings for hiding servers:
i ii
Click Add. In the Add Users and Groups dialog box, clear the Show Users check box. Move PUBLIC, SAS Administrators, SAS General Servers, and SAS System Services to the Selected Identities list box and click OK.
On the Permission Pattern tab:
3
3
Select PUBLIC and add a denial of ReadMetadata permission.
Make sure that the other three groups each have a grant of
ReadMetadata permission.
Table 7.3
The HideServer ACT
Group
PUBLIC
SAS Administrators
SAS General Servers
Permission Pattern
1
Denial ReadMetadata
Grant ReadMetadata
Grant ReadMetadata
SAS System Services Grant ReadMetadata
1 Gives SAS Administrators and service identities exclusive read access to metadata.
90 Hiding Server Definitions
4 Chapter 7
This pattern, when applied to a standard workspace server, grants a little more access than is strictly necessary. For a standard workspace server, the SAS General Servers group doesn’t need ReadMetadata permission. If you want to avoid this, consider omitting the SAS General
Servers group from this ACT and remembering to add an explicit grant for this group when you are hiding a stored process server or pooled workspace server.
d
On the Authorization tab, protect the ACT that you are creating. Either apply the Protect ACT or add explicit settings that deny WriteMetadata permission to PUBLIC and grant WriteMetadata permission to the SAS
Administrators group.
e
Note:
If the Users and Groups list box on the ACT’s Authorization tab is empty, click OK to save the ACT. Then, right-click the new ACT, select
Properties
, and select the Authorization tab again.
4
Click OK.
4
(Optional) If you don’t already have a group that represents the users who will use the server, create a new custom group.
a b c d
Right-click User Manager and select New
I Group.
On the General tab, enter a name such as GroupA.
On the Members tab, move users (or groups) to the Selected Identities list box.
Click OK to save the new group. You will grant ReadMetadata permission to this group in step 5c. This group doesn’t participate in the general pattern because this group doesn’t need ReadMetadata permission on all servers.
Note:
As an alternative to creating a group for only this purpose, you can skip this step and instead assign the permissions directly to specific users in step 5c.
4
5
To set the permissions:
a b
Under Server Manager, right-click the server that you are limiting use of and select Properties.
On the Authorization tab, click Access Control Templates. In the Add and Remove Access Control Templates dialog box, move the HideServer ACT to the Currently Using list box (you have to expand the Foundation node to get to the ACT). Click OK to return to the Authorization tab.
c d
Note:
If the Currently Using list already includes another ACT (such as the Protect ACT), don’t remove that assignment.
4
Note:
Review the revised settings. Notice that SASUSERS is now denied
ReadMetadata permission and that PUBLIC and SAS Administrators have some green settings
ACT.
4
. The green settings come from the HideServer
Click Add, add one or more identities to the Authorization tab, and give each of those identities an explicit grant of ReadMetadata permission.
For example, you might assign the grant to a group (such as GroupA) or to individual users.
Click OK to save the settings for this object.
For example, the following table summarizes settings that you might add to provide mutually exclusive access to two server components beneath a standard workspace server that is configured for SAS token authentication:
Permissions on Servers
4 Hiding Server Definitions
91
Table 7.4
Example: Hiding Server Definitions
Object
ACT
Added Settings
1
Supplemental
Grants
HideServer GroupA: +RM SASApp - ServerA
SASApp - ServerB HideServer GroupB: +RM
1 These settings don’t determine which of the users who can see the server can also update or delete the server. See the preceding topic, "Protecting Server Definitions."
6
Note:
Someone who has ReadMetadata permission for both ServerA and ServerB
(for example, members of the SAS Administrators group) uses the first server in the object spawner’s list of servers.
4
If you are limiting use of a logical server or server component, ensure that the Use
Server Access Security
check box on the logical server’s Options tab is selected. If the check box is present and not selected, requirements for
ReadMetadata permission for that server and its components are not enforced.
This option affects only enforcement of the ReadMetadata permission.
Note:
User access to a client-pooled workspace server is determined by the user’s puddle group memberships, not by permissions on the server definition.
4
92
C H A P T E R
8
BI Row-Level Permissions
About BI Row-Level Permissions
93
Filtering Techniques for BI Row-Level Permissions
95
How to Implement BI Row-Level Permissions
95
Preliminary Tasks
95
Data Modeling
97
Overview and Examples
97
Content of a Security Associations Table
99
Format of a Security Associations Table
99
Creation and Maintenance of a Security Associations Table
100
Information Map Tasks
100
Overview
100
How to Add a Security Associations Table to an Information Map
100
How to Create an Identity-Driven Filter
101
How to Assign a Filter for Row-Level Permissions
102
Verification
102
Example: Using BI Row-Level Permissions
103
Assumptions and Data Model
103
Implementation and Testing
103
Variation 1: Use External Identity Values for Filtering
105
Variation 2: Apply Different Filtering Logic to Different Groups
105
BI Row-Level Permissions, Identity-Driven Properties, and Missing Values
106
About BI Row-Level Permissions
BI row-level permissions limit access to SAS data and third-party relational data when it is accessed through an information map. The initials BI indicate that this is a business intelligence feature. BI row-level permissions are defined in information maps, mediated and enforced by SAS Intelligent Query Services, and surfaced when reports are viewed in applications such as SAS Web Report Studio.
CAUTION:
BI row-level permissions are defined within information maps, so these constraints do not provide comprehensive security for the underlying data sources. A user who accesses the data directly is not subject to the filters that are defined within information maps.
BI row-level permissions provide filtering whenever a SAS data set or third-party relational data is accessed through an information map. However, comprehensive security that incorporates this filtering requires a high-security configuration of SAS
Web Report Studio. See “Preliminary Tasks” on page 95.
4
The following figure depicts how BI row-level permissions are incorporated when a report is generated. In the figure, a user requests access to a report that includes data
93
94 About BI Row-Level Permissions
4 Chapter 8 for which row-level permissions have been defined dynamically. See “Identity–Driven
Properties” on page 66. For each step of the report-generation process, the figure depicts the access control activities in the metadata layer.
Figure 8.1
Report-Generation Process
Report Generation Activities
Joe requests to view the report.
Report Definition reference to information map
Report definition is processed.
Information map is processed.
Joe’s value for
SAS.ExternalIdentity is substituted into the filter.
A query that incorporates the resolved filter is generated.
Metadata server enforces
Joe’s ReadMetadata access to information map.
Information Map
Query select * from Orders
Filter where EmpID=&SAS.ExternalIdentity;
Metadata server enforces
Joe’s ReadMetadata access to table and column definitions.
SAS Intelligent Query Services requires Joe to have Read access to the information map in order to access any data through the information map.
Orders Table
EmpID
1234
5151
2233
5678
5151
1234
1234
Name
Tara
Joe
Marcel
Henri
Joe
Tara
Tara
Orders
245
306
75
75
180
224
79
Data server pre-filters the data as specified in the query that was generated by
SAS Intelligent Query Services.
Report is compiled using data that is retrieved by the generated query.
Access Control Activities
Metadata server enforces
Joe’s ReadMetadata access to report.
Report is displayed for Joe. Rendered report includes only those rows where “5151” is the employee ID.
The overall flow is the same as for any other report: the report definition and underlying information map are processed, a query is generated to retrieve the data, and the report is displayed. These are the row-level security aspects of the process:
3
The information map includes a filter that is assigned to a particular metadata
identity. This example uses an identity-driven property in a filter that is based on each group member’s employee ID. The filter is assigned to a group to which Joe
BI Row-Level Permissions
4 Preliminary Tasks
95
3 belongs. At run time, SAS Intelligent Query Services uses information from the metadata repository to substitute Joe’s employee ID into the filter. The resolved, user-specific form of the filter is incorporated into the generated query. The filter is used to screen the target table before the rest of the generated query runs.
The target data includes information that corresponds to the filter. In this example, the corresponding information consists of user-specific employee ID values in the EmpID column within the Orders table. The data server uses these values to filter the data as specified in the query that was generated by SAS
Intelligent Query Services.
Filtering Techniques for BI Row-Level Permissions
To ensure that target data is prescreened by a filter before any other criteria are applied, incorporate that filter into an information map as a prefilter. Use one of these methods:
3
To use a filter as an authorization-based prefilter, assign it to users or groups as part of an information map’s access controls. The filter is evaluated as a permission condition. See “Authorization Decisions” on page 62.
3
To use a filter as a general prefilter, attach it to an information map as part of the information map’s properties. The filter applies to everyone. The filter functions as an additional restriction and operates independently of any access controls that might grant broader access.
Both methods support dynamic filters. See “Identity–Driven Properties” on page 66.
Table 8.1
Summary of BI Row-Level Filtering Techniques
Filter Method
Authorizationbased
Identitydriven
General
Static
Authorizationbased
General
Typical Usage
Per-person access distinctions for every member of a particular group. You create one identity-driven filter and assign it to a group. For example, each user in GroupA can
see his or her own salary information.
Per-person access distinctions for everyone. You create one identity-driven filter and attach it directly to the information map (not to any particular user or group). For example, everyone can see his or her own salary information.
A few distinct subsets. You create a different filter for each subset and assign each filter to a different group. For example, each user in GroupA can see sales totals for the
West region; each user in GroupB can see sales totals for the East region.
One fixed subset for everyone. This is not a row-level method because it does not yield different results for different users. For example, everyone can see global sales totals.
How to Implement BI Row-Level Permissions
Preliminary Tasks
1
If you need comprehensive security, set up the high-security configuration of SAS
Web Report Studio. This prevents regular users from circumventing row-level
96 Preliminary Tasks
4 Chapter 8 filters by accessing the target tables directly (without going through the information map that enforces the filters). In the high-security configuration, SAS
Web Report Studio uses a privileged account to fetch the data. Regular users have only mediated access to the target tables.
In the following environments, you might not need the high-security configuration:
3
3
3
3 prototype environments environments that do not have strict security requirements environments in which a firewall separates untrusted users environments in which untrusted users do not have the tools, knowledge, or operating system privileges to access files and metadata on the server tier
2
For instructions for setting up the high-security environment, see "Configure a
Client-side Pooling Workspace Server to Enforce Row-Level Security" in the chapter "Configuring Client-side Pooling" in the SAS Intelligence Platform:
Application Server Administration Guide.
Make sure that appropriate coarse-grained controls are in place for users.
Table 8.2
Metadata Layer Coarse-Grained Controls
Access
All rows
No rows
Some rows
Target Table
Grant Read, ReadMetadata
Deny Read, ReadMetadata
Grant Read, ReadMetadata
Information Map
Grant Read, ReadMetadata
Grant
1
Read, ReadMetadata
Grant Read
2
, ReadMetadata
1 Set these grants if the "No rows" users access other tables through this information map.
2 For authorization-based prefilters, this must be an explicit grant.
Note:
In the high-security configuration, only the restricted puddle account and
IT staff who test queries in SAS Information Map Studio have physical access to the target table. If you use server-side pooling, only the server launch credential should have physical access to the target table.
4
3
If the target data is in a third-party database, enable authentication to that server.
3
Make sure that IT staff who test queries against the data from SAS
Information Map Studio can authenticate to the DBMS server. For example, you can store individual or group DBMS credentials for those users, or require those users to interactively provide a DBMS user ID and password.
See “How to Store Passwords for a Third-Party Server” on page 174.
3
Make sure that regular users can access the DBMS server. For example, you can store individual or shared DBMS credentials for users as you did for the
IT staff.
4
Note:
In the high-security configuration, you use a different approach so that physical access for regular users is mediated by a privileged service account.
4
Plan how you will create the data subsets that will narrow grants of the Read permission for each user. Your choice will be affected by the number and type of access distinctions that you are making, the information that your data already contains, and your plans for enhancing your existing data to support row-level filtering. See “Filtering Techniques for BI Row-Level Permissions” on page 95.
Note:
In a situation in which multiple filters (multiple distinct permission conditions) apply to a particular user as a result of the user’s group memberships,
BI Row-Level Permissions
4 Data Modeling
97
the subset of data that is available to that user is determined by identity precedence. See Table 5.14 on page 69.
4
Data Modeling
Overview and Examples
It is usually necessary to enhance existing data to include information that works with the filters that you want to use. For example, consider a four-person company with a flat organizational structure and a business requirement that each employee sees only his or her own order information. The order information is stored in this table:
Figure 8.2
Orders Example: Target Table
EmpID
1234
5151
2233
5678
5151
1234
1234
ORDERS
Orders
245
306
75
75
180
224
79
Assume that you didn’t import users (so you don’t have SAS.ExternalIdentity values in the metadata that correspond the EmpID values in the ORDERS table). To avoid setting up a different filter for each user, you decide to use the SAS.PersonName
identity-driven property. Create a table that maps each user’s PersonName (from the
Name
field on the General tab of the user’s definition) to the user’s employee ID. The following figure depicts how that table is used to prescreen the data for each user.
Figure 8.3
Orders Example: Data Model
SAS Metadata Repository
PersonName: Joe Smith
Filter:
Where SASName=
&SAS.PersonName;
Security Associations Table
EMPLOYEE_INFO
SASName
Tara O’Toole
EmpID
1234
Joe Smith
Marcel Dupree
Henri LeBleu
5151
2233
5678
Inner join of subset:
EMPLOYEE_INFO.EmpID=ORDERS.EmpID
Target Table
EmpID
ORDERS
Orders
1234 245
5151
2233
5678
306
75
75
5151
1234
1234
180
224
79
98 Data Modeling
4 Chapter 8
Another simple example is to subset employee performance information based on each manager’s external identity value, as depicted in the following figure.
Figure 8.4
Performance Example: Data Model
SAS Metadata Repository
ExternalIdentity: 5151
Filter:
Where ManagerID=
&SAS.ExternalIdentity;
Security Associations Table
Organization
ManagerID Employee
5151
5151
5151
5151
Tara
Marcel
Henri
Jacques
Inner join of subset:
Organization.Employee=Performance.Employee
Target Table
Performance
Employee Rating
Tara
Marcel
Henri
Jacques
24
22
18
28
Another example is to subset sales information by each salesperson’s geographic responsibilities. Assume that there is a metadata group for each country and that some employees have responsibilities in multiple continents. The following figure depicts continent-level subsetting based on each salesperson’s metadata group memberships.
Figure 8.5
Sales Example: Data Model
SAS Metadata Repository
PUBLIC
SASUSERS
Spain Morocco
Filter:
Where SASgroup is in
&SAS.IdentityGroups;
Security Associations Table
GroupToRegion
SASgroup Region
PUBLIC
Morocco
Japan
France
Lebanon
Spain
GLOBAL
Africa
Asia
Europe
Middle East
Europe
Inner join of subset:
GrouptoRegion.Region=Sales.Region
Target Table
Sales
Region Units
Asia
GLOBAL
Africa
Europe
Middle East
37
275
22
18
28
BI Row-Level Permissions
4 Data Modeling
99
This approach provides aggregated retrieval and flattens the group structure. Each user gets all rows that are permitted for any groups that the user belongs to. To enable everyone to see the global totals, the security associations table includes a row that pairs the PUBLIC group with global totals.
Content of a Security Associations Table
A security associations table is a type of table that documents the relationships between a user and some criterion on which you are making access distinctions. When access distinctions are based on each user’s place within an organizational hierarchy, the security associations table must contain a representation of the reporting relationships within the organization. If access distinctions are based on some other criterion (such as each user’s project assignments), then the security associations table should reflect that criterion.
Format of a Security Associations Table
BI row-level permissions do not require that the security associations table have a particular format. However, the format of a security associations table can affect filter performance. This topic describes a format that supports efficient hierarchy-based filtering. This format is useful for many common scenarios, because security policies are often hierarchical. For example, a typical business requirement is that a manager can see data for all of the employees that he or she manages either directly or indirectly.
The following figure depicts two ways to structure a security associations table that documents each user’s place in a simple organizational hierarchy. The sparse version of the table includes only direct reporting relationships; information about indirect relationships must be derived. The fully articulated (or robust) version explicitly includes indirect reporting relationships along with direct reporting relationships; this is advantageous for query performance.
Figure 8.6
Representations of an Organizational Hierarchy
Organization Hierarchy
CEO
Vice President1 Vice President2
Security Associations Table
(sparse)
Reporting Relationships
Manager
CEO
Employee
Vice President1
CEO
Vice President1
Vice President1
Manager1
Manager1
VicePresident2
Manager1
Manager2
Staff Person1
Staff Person2
StaffPerson1
Manager1
StaffPerson2
Manager2
Security Associations Table
(fully articulated)
Reporting Relationships
Manager Employee
CEO Vice President1
CEO
CEO
CEO
CEO
CEO
Vice President1
Vice President1
Vice President1
Vice President1
Manager1
Manager1
VicePresident2
Manager1
Manager2
Staff Person1
Staff Person2
Manager1
Manager2
Staff Person1
Staff Person2
Staff Person1
Staff Person2
100 Information Map Tasks
4 Chapter 8
The table that uses the fully articulated format explicitly includes not only the hierarchy’s immediate parent-child relationships, but also every other ancestor-descendant association (such as grandparent-child and great grandparent-child). This facilitates simpler queries by eliminating the need to traverse the hierarchy to find all of the descendants of any particular node.
Creation and Maintenance of a Security Associations Table
This topic contains a general discussion about creating and managing a security association table for use with dimensional target data. BI row-level security does not require that target data conform to a particular structure. The description in this topic is for dimensional data, because that is a frequently used structure for query and reporting.
A security associations table is usually created as a new object by traversing an existing sparse table and filling in the indirect relationships to create a fully articulated
(or robust) version of the table. If you do not have an existing sparse table, then you must create that object first.
Note:
If you want to enhance an existing sparse table rather than creating a new table, you should first review current uses of the sparse table to determine whether the additional rows will negatively affect those uses.
4
In most cases it is helpful to have an index on the column in the security associations table that is used for filtering. In some cases, factors such as the size of the security associations table or query optimization features in a particular data source might negate the need for this index.
The security associations table must be maintained as security relationships change.
This maintenance should be on a schedule that is appropriate for your environment.
Typically, this maintenance is accomplished by a batch process (such as a nightly ETL process against the existing tables). In some cases, updates might be entered directly by an administrator.
Information Map Tasks
Overview
The following figure depicts the row-level permission aspects of information map design.
Figure 8.7
Information Map Design for Row-Level Permissions
Information map without row-level permissions
Incorporate a security assocations table
Create one or more filters
Assign the filters as prefilters
Information map with row-level permissions
The following topics provide generic instructions for each of these four tasks.
How to Add a Security Associations Table to an Information Map
In order to make the security relationship information that you added to the data model available for filtering, you must incorporate that information in an information
BI Row-Level Permissions
4 Information Map Tasks
101
map. To enhance an existing information map to include a new security associations table:
1
2
In SAS Management Console, register the new security associations table in the metadata.
In SAS Information Map Studio:
a b c i
Add the table to your information map as a data source.
On the Relationships tab, define an inner join that connects an identifier column in the security associations table with a corresponding column in the target table (or in an intermediate dimension).
Make the security associations table a required table by performing these steps:
ii
Select Edit
I Properties I Information Map, and then select the
Required Tables
tab in the Information Map Properties dialog box.
In the Available tables list, select the table that you are using as a security associations table. Use the arrow button to move the table to the
Required tables
list. Click OK.
Note:
We recommend that you do not create data items from columns in the security associations table. Excluding these column references from the information map prevents their values from surfacing when reports are created in SAS Web Report
Studio.
4
How to Create an Identity-Driven Filter
To create a filter that is based on an identity-driven property, perform these steps in
SAS Information Map Studio:
1
2
3
Open the information map, save the information map, and select the Design tab.
Select Insert
I New Filter to open the New Filter dialog box.
Enter a name for the filter and select a character data item (or click Edit Data
Item
and use the expression builder to define a character item).
In the New Filter dialog box, from the Enter value(s) drop-down list, select
Derive identity values (for row-level permissions)
.
The examples column shows what your values are for each property.
3
The SAS.PersonName value corresponds to the Name field on the General tab of your user definition. This is not always the same as the value of the
Display Name
field.
3
3
The SAS.IdentityGroupName value is usually blank and isn’t often useful.
Although the SAS.IdentityGroups property displays only one value, this property actually returns a list of the groups and roles that you belong to.
3
The SAS.ExternalIdentity value is populated only in certain circumstances.
See “External Identities” on page 226.
4
Select the row for the identity-driven property that you want to use in the filter.
See “Identity–Driven Properties” on page 66.
Note:
Not all conditions support all identity-driven properties. Make sure that the selection in the Condition drop-down list is appropriate.
4
Note:
If you use the IdentityGroups property, set the condition to Is equal to or Is not equal to. For this property, these conditions are converted to an IN
(or, NOT IN) statement when the query executes.
4
5
Select the Hide from user check box at the bottom of the Definition tab. This prevents the filter from being surfaced (and potentially removed) when reports are created in SAS Web Report Studio.
102 Verification
4 Chapter 8
6
Click OK. The new filter is now available for use in the current information map.
How to Assign a Filter for Row-Level Permissions
To use a filter for security purposes, assign the filter as an authorization-based prefilter or a general prefilter.
To assign a filter as an authorization-based prefilter:
1
Open the information map, save the information map, and select Tools
I
Authorization
to open the Authorization dialog box.
2
3
In the Users and Groups list, select (or add) the identity that should be subject to the filter.
Make sure that the right user or group is selected. Add an explicit the Read permission.
grant of
4
5
6
7
8
Click Add Condition to open the Row-Level Permission Condition dialog box.
In the Selected filters list (the right-hand panel), select the table that you are using as a security associations table.
In the Available filters list, select the filter and then use the arrow button to move the filter to the Selected filters list. Click OK.
In the Authorization dialog box, click Close.
To make your changes take effect, save the information map.
To assign a filter as a general prefilter:
1
Open the information map, save the information map, and select Edit
I
Properties
I Information Map.
2
In the Information Map Properties dialog box, select the General Prefilters tab.
3
4
In the Selected filters list (the right-hand panel), select your security associations table.
In the Available filters list, select the filter and then use the arrow button to move the filter to the Selected filters list. Click OK.
Verification
In a high security configuration, final verification must be performed from within
SAS Web Report Studio. This testing requires that you log on to that application using different accounts.
If you are using server-side pooling, or if you have physical access to the data, you can do some preliminary testing to check your filter logic from within SAS Information
Map Studio. Before you test an information map from within SAS Information Map
Studio, you should save the information map to ensure that all settings are applied. To test a filter that is based on an identity-driven property, use different accounts to log on to SAS Information Map Studio. To test other filters, temporarily assign the filters to your identity.
Note:
If you are using server-side pooling, your results in SAS Information Map
Studio should be the same as your results in SAS Web Report Studio. See “Choices in
Workspace Server Pooling” on page 192.
4
BI Row-Level Permissions
4 Implementation and Testing
103
Example: Using BI Row-Level Permissions
Assumptions and Data Model
This example demonstrates how a company could use row-level permissions to manage access to employee data. The example includes these assumptions:
3
3
The target tables are registered in the metadata repository.
3
Except where otherwise noted, users have Read permission for the information maps that they are using.
The data model is a star schema that contains employee and customer data. The security associations table includes both direct and indirect reporting relationships.
3
The company has set up a high-security configuration of SAS Web Report Studio as specified in “Preliminary Tasks” on page 95.
In this example, the business requirement is to enable managers to see salary information for their employees. One way to meet this requirement is to use the
SAS.PersonName property. The following figure depicts this process for a requesting user who is a high-level manager in the organization.
Figure 8.8
Salary Example: Data Model
SAS Metadata Repository
PersonName: Harry Highpoint
Security Associations Table Definition
(partial)
SECURITY_ASSOC
EMPLOYEE_ID
PARENT_EMPLOYEE_NAME
Target Table Definition
(partial)
ORGANIZATION_DIM
EMPLOYEE_ID
SALARY
Each requesting user’s PersonName is used to filter the security associations table.
This yields a subset that includes only those rows with employees who report (directly or indirectly) to the requesting user. That subset is inner joined to the target table to limit retrieval of salary information.
Implementation and Testing
1
To implement the filtering for this example:
Create an information map that includes the necessary data and relationships.
a b
In SAS Information Map Studio, open a new information map.
Insert the target table and the security associations table as data sources. In this example, the target table (ORGANIZATION_DIM) contains salary data, and the security associations table (SECURITY_ASSOC) contains a representation of the company’s reporting relationships.
104 Implementation and Testing
4 Chapter 8
c
On the Design tab, add the data items that you need from the
ORGANIZATION_DIM table (insert the SALARY, EMPLOYEE_ID, and
EMPLOYEE_NAME columns).
Note:
It is a good practice to not create any data items from the
SECURITY_ASSOC table.
4
2 d e a b f d e c
On the Relationships tab, join the two tables on EMPLOYEE_ID.
Save the new information map to an appropriate folder.
Make SECURITY_ASSOC a required table:
i ii iii iv
Select Edit
I Properties I Information Map.
In the Information Map Properties dialog box, select the Required Tables tab.
In the Available tables list, select the SECURITY_ASSOC table.
Use the arrow button to move the table to the Required tables list, and then click OK.
Create a filter that subsets data by comparing each user’s SAS.PersonName value to the PARENT_EMPLOYEE_NAME values in the security associations table.
Select Insert
I New Filter to open the New Filter dialog box.
Enter a name such as byPersonName for the filter, and then click Edit Data
Item
.
In the Edit Expression dialog box, select Character from the Type drop-down list. On the Data Sources tab, navigate to Physical Data
I
SECURITY_ASSOC
I PARENT_EMPLOYEE_NAME, and then click Add to
Expression
.
Click Validate Expression, and then click OK twice.
In the New Filter dialog box, from the Enter value(s) drop-down list, select
Derive identity values (for row-level permissions)
. A table of identity-driven properties becomes available. See “Identity–Driven
Properties” on page 66.
Note:
Make sure that the value in the Condition drop-down list is Is
equal to
.
4
3
4 f g
In the table of properties, select the SAS.PersonName row.
Click OK. The byPersonName filter is now available for use in the information map.
Assign the filter as a general prefilter:
c d e a b
Select Edit
I Properties I Information Map.
In the Information Map Properties dialog box, select the General
Prefilters
tab.
In the Selected filters box, select the SECURITY_ASSOCIATIONS table.
In the Available filters box, select the byPersonName filter.
Click the right arrow button to assign the byPersonName filter to the
SECURITY_ASSOC table, and then click OK.
Save the information map.
Any administrators who have physical access to the data can test by logging on to
SAS Information Map Studio and running test queries. To verify that the filter is working as expected, log on using different accounts. For example:
3
3
3
For a user who is not included in the security associations table, no salaries should be retrieved.
For the president of the company, all salaries should be retrieved. Note that by default only 100 rows of data are returned when you test an information map.
For a mid-level manager, a subset of salaries should be retrieved.
BI Row-Level Permissions
4 Variation 2: Apply Different Filtering Logic to Different Groups
105
3
4
To run a test query from within SAS Information Map Studio:
1
Select Tools
I Run a Test Query from the main menu.
2
In the Test the Information Map dialog box, use the arrow button to add the
Salary
and Employee Name items to the Selected items box.
Click Run Test and then examine the data in the Results dialog box.
To test using another account, close the information map, and then select File
I
Connection Profile
from the main menu.
Note:
Because this is a high-security configuration, final verification must be performed from within SAS Web Report Studio. In a different configuration in which you use server-side pooling, your results in SAS Information Map Studio are the same as your results in SAS Web Report Studio. See “Choices in Workspace Server Pooling” on page 192.
4
Variation 1: Use External Identity Values for Filtering
This variation describes one way to work with target data that contains employee
IDs (instead of employee names). Modify the main implementation steps as follows:
3
Verify that users have the external identity values that you expect. If necessary, you can manually add external identity values to the metadata. See “External
Identities” on page 226.
3
3
Use the PARENT_EMPLOYEE_ID column instead of the
PARENT_EMPLOYEE_NAME column.
Use the SAS.ExternalIdentity property instead of the SAS.PersonName property.
Variation 2: Apply Different Filtering Logic to Different Groups
This variation addresses these additional business requirements:
3
Four people who work in a Human Resources department must be able to view salary information for all employees. You have created a user-defined group in the metadata repository for these users (the HR group).
3
Users who do not have individual metadata identities must not be able to see any of the data. These users have the access that has been defined for the PUBLIC group.
This table summarizes the strategy:
Table 8.3
Information Map Controls
Access Class (User Group)
All rows (Human Resources)
No rows (PUBLIC)
Some rows (SASUSERS)
Information Map
Grant Read, ReadMetadata
Deny
1
Read, ReadMetadata
Grant Read
2
, ReadMetadata
1 The information map in this example exists only for the purpose of obtaining salary information, so the "No rows" users do not need to be able to see or use this information map.
2 For each member of SASUSERS, this explicit grant is narrowed by the byPersonName filter that you created in the main example. Here, the filter is used as an authorization-based prefilter.
To set these permissions:
1
Prepare the information map by using either of these methods:
106 BI Row-Level Permissions, Identity-Driven Properties, and Missing Values
4 Chapter 8
3
3
Create a new information map for this variation by completing steps 1 and 2 in the main example.
Reuse the information map from the main example by saving that map with a different name and deassigning the filter that was assigned on the General
Prefilters
tab.
2
3
4
5
6
Open the information map and select Tools
I Authorization to open the
Authorization dialog box.
In the Users and Groups list, select PUBLIC. In the Effective Permissions list, add explicit denials for the Read and ReadMetadata permissions.
Click Add. In the Add Users and Groups dialog box, select the HR and SASUSERS groups and then click OK.
In the Authorization dialog box, give SASUSERS explicit and ReadMetadata permissions.
grants of the Read
To limit the SASUSERS grant of the Read permission, assign the byPersonName filter to that group.
a
Click Add Condition to open the Row-Level Permission Condition dialog box.
b c
Note:
The Add Condition button became available when you added the explicit grant of Read permission.
4
In the Selected filters list, select the SECURITY_ASSOC table.
In the Available filters list, select the byPersonName filter and then use the arrow button to move that filter to the Selected filters list.
7
8
Note:
Unlike a filter that you assign on the General Prefilters tab, this filter applies only to members of the SASUSERS group as evaluated according to the identity hierarchy and access control precedence rules.
4
d
Click OK to close the Row-Level Permission Condition dialog box.
In the Authorization dialog box, give the HR group explicit grants of the Read and
ReadMetadata permissions. Because you want this group to be able to view all salaries, do not constrain Read access by adding a permission condition.
In the Authorization dialog box, click Close. To make your changes take effect, save the information map.
With these access controls in place, retrieval is as follows:
3
Users who don’t have their own SAS identity (PUBLIC-only users) can’t see or use the information map.
3
3
3
Users who have their own SAS identity but aren’t listed in the security associations table can see the information map, but retrieve no rows.
Users who have their own SAS identity, are listed in the security associations table, and are not members of the HR group get only those rows that contain data for their own direct and indirect reports.
Users who are members of the HR group get all rows.
BI Row-Level Permissions, Identity-Driven Properties, and Missing
Values
If a connecting user doesn’t have a value for the identity-driven property that a query uses, the generated query uses an empty string as the substituted value for that identity. If the table against which the query filtering is performed includes empty string values in any rows, those rows are returned to the connecting identity.
BI Row-Level Permissions
4 BI Row-Level Permissions, Identity-Driven Properties, and Missing Values
107
CAUTION:
Returning data in a missing value situation is a new behavior in this release. In previous releases, a missing value generated an error and prevented any rows from being returned.
4
Here are some alternatives for addressing missing values:
3
To ensure that data is returned for only those identities who have a value for the property that you are using, make sure that there aren’t any empty string values in the target table’s security key column.
3
To identify a set of rows that should be returned for identities who don’t have a value for the property that you are using, specify an empty string value for those rows in the target table’s security key column.
Note:
If the target table is in a DBMS, the extra row must contain an empty
(blank) character string (not a NULL value).
4
3
To identify a situation in which retrieval is empty due to a missing value for the requesting user’s identity-driven property, include a mapping for the empty string value (’ ’)in your security associations table and one extra row in your target table.
In that row, use the security key that corresponds to the empty string value and include an appropriate error message. This enables the end user to distinguish between the following situations:
3 an empty result set that is caused by the target table not including any rows that match the user’s value for an identity-driven property
3 an empty result set that is caused by the user not having any value for the identity-driven property that a query is using
Note:
If the security associations table is in a DBMS, make sure that the missing value row in that table contains an empty (blank) character string, not a NULL value.
4
The following figure depicts an example:
Figure 8.9
Example: Error Handling for a Missing External Identity Value
SAS Metadata Repository
ExternalIdentity:
Filter:
Where ManagerID=
&SAS.ExternalIdentity;
Security Associations Table
ManagerID
5151
5151
‘ ‘
2345
Organization
Employee
Tara
Marcel
NoValue
Jacques
Inner join of subset:
Organization.Employee=Performance.Employee
Target Table
Performance
Employee
No ExternalIdentity Found NoValue
Tara
Marcel
Jacques good average excellent
108
C H A P T E R
9
OLAP Member-Level Permissions
About OLAP Member-Level Permissions
109
How to Assign an OLAP Permission Condition
110
Example: Using Member-Level Permissions
111
Introduction
111
Implementation Process
111
About OLAP Member-Level Permissions
OLAP member-level permissions enable you to limit access to SAS OLAP data by using filters. Each filter consists of an MDX expression that subsets the data in a dimension as appropriate for a particular user or group. The filters are stored in the metadata as permission conditions. This feature relies on the SAS OLAP Server for enforcement. At query time, the server performs the filtering to determine which dimension members should be returned to each requesting user. The server leverages its knowledge to accomplish the filtering efficiently. This also ensures that the filters are applied every time the data is accessed.
When you use OLAP member-level permissions, it is essential to understand these points:
3
With OLAP data, permission conditions can be specified only on dimension objects.
3
3
3
The SECURITY_SUBSET option can affect results. See the discussion of this option in the topic "Cube Security" in the SAS OLAP Server: User’s Guide.
The members that are returned by the MDX expression must all belong to the dimension on which the permission condition is defined. The returned set of members cannot be a union of members from other dimensions.
A permission condition that filters a non-default hierarchy must include at least one member of the default hierarchy. If a requesting user does not have access to any members in the default hierarchy, then the query fails with a permissions error.
See Also
“Fine-Grained Controls for Data” on page 65
SAS OLAP Server: MDX Guide
SAS OLAP Server: User’s Guide
109
110 How to Assign an OLAP Permission Condition
4 Chapter 9
How to Assign an OLAP Permission Condition
1
Access the Authorization tab of the dimension permission condition.
for which you are defining a
2
3
4
Note:
In SAS Management Console, you can access dimensions on the Plug-ins tab under Authorization Manager
I Resource Management I By Location I
<your application server>
I <your OLAP schema> I <your cube> I
Dimensions
. In SAS OLAP Cube Studio, navigate to the dimension on the
Inventory
tab.
4
Select (or add) the user or group whose access to measures you want to limit.
In the permissions list, add an explicit user or group.
Click the Add Authorization button.
grant of the Read permission for that
5
Note:
If the Edit Authorization button is displayed, a condition already exists for the selected user or group.
4
In the Add Authorization dialog box, select the Create an advanced MDX
expression
radio button and click Build Formula.
6
Use the Build Formula dialog box to create a filter that limits the current dimension as appropriate for the user or group that you selected on the
Authorization
tab. Identity-driven properties are available on the Data Sources tab under the Identity Values folder. See “Identity–Driven Properties” on page
66.
OLAP Member-Level Permissions
4 Implementation Process
111
Example: Using Member-Level Permissions
Introduction
This example demonstrates how you can use member-level permissions. These are the security goals in this example:
3 enable company executives to access data based on their areas of responsibility
3 prevent other employees from accessing data in the cube that is used to generate executive reports
The following figure depicts the relevant parts of a company’s organization structure and of the OLAP cube against which the company runs executive reports. Notice that the levels in the cube’s Geography dimension closely correspond to the depicted organizational structure.
Organization Structure
All
Level
Levels in the Geography Dimension
Continent
Level
Country
Level
City
Level
President
Africa
Vice President:
International
Vice President:
Americas
Director: Africa
Director:
Australia/Pacific
Director:
North America
Asia
All
Geography
Australia/
Pacific
Director: Asia
Director: Europe
Europe Germany
Manager:
Germany
Manager:
USA
North
America
USA
Implementation Process
1
Set these permissions on the cube:
3
Give the PUBLIC group explicit denials of the Read and ReadMetadata permissions for the entire cube. The data in the cube is used for executive reports only.
3
Give the company president explicit grants of the Read and
ReadMetadata permissions for the entire cube. This user sees all of the data.
112 Implementation Process
4 Chapter 9
3
Give the SAS System Services group an explicit grant of the
ReadMetadata permission. You must always preserve the SAS Trusted User’s access to cubes and schemas.
3
In most cases, some members of the information technology staff will also need access to the data for administrative purposes. Make sure that any such groups or users have explicit permissions.
grants of the Read and ReadMetadata
2
To assign the permission conditions:
a
Right-click the cube’s Geography dimension .
f b c d e g
Note:
In SAS Management Console, you can access the dimensions on the
Plug-ins
tab under Authorization Manager
I Resource Management I
By Location
I <your application server> I <your OLAP schema> I <your
cube>
I Dimensions. In SAS OLAP Cube Studio, navigate to the dimension on the Inventory tab.
4
On the Authorization tab, select (or add) the Vice President Americas user.
In the permissions list, add an explicit grant of the Read permission for the Vice President Americas user. This enables the Add Authorization button.
Click the Add Authorization button,
In the Add Authorization dialog box, select the Create an advanced MDX
expression
radio button and click Build Formula.
In the Build Formula dialog box, paste or build a filter for the Vice President
Americas user and click OK.
On the Authorization tab, click OK to save this permission condition and then return to step 2b to repeat the process for the next executive.
For example, this table contains MDX expressions that you could use to subset the data based on each executive’s area of responsibility.
Table 9.1
Example: MDX Expressions
User
Vice
President
Americas
MDX Expression
{[Geography].[All Geography], Descendants([Geography].[All
Geography].[North
America],[Geography].[Continent],SELF_AND_AFTER)}
Vice
President
International
Except({[Geography].Members}, {Descendants([Geography].[All
Geography].[North
America],[Geography].[Continent],SELF_AND_AFTER)})
Director
North
America
{[Geography].[All Geography],[Geography].[All Geography].[North
America],[Geography].[All Geography].[North America].Children}
{[Geography].[All Geography],[Geography].[All
Geography].[North America],descendants([Geography].[All
Geography].[North America])}
{[Geography].[All Geography].[North America], [Geography].[All
Geography].[North America].Children}
Notes
Use Except to exclude North
America.
Use .Children to include countries.
Alternative: use
Descendants to include countries and cities.
Alternative: exclude the All level.
OLAP Member-Level Permissions
4 Implementation Process
113
User
Director
Africa
Director
Asia
Director
Australia/
Pacific
Director
Europe
Manager
Germany
Manager
USA
MDX Expression
{[Geography].[All Geography].[Africa], [Geography].[All
Geography].[Africa].Children}
{[Geography].[All Geography].[Asia],[Geography].[All
Geography].[Asia].Children}
{[Geography].[All Geography].[Australia/Pacific], [Geography].[All
Geography]. [Australia/Pacific].Children}
Notes
{[Geography].[All Geography].[Europe], [Geography].[All
Geography].[Europe].Children}
{[Geography].[All Geography].[Europe].[Germany], descendants([Geography].[All Geography].[Europe].[Germany])}
{[Geography].[All Geography].[North America].[USA], descendants([Geography].[All Geography].[North
America].[USA])}
Exclude
Europe.*
Exclude North
America.*
* Because this expression excludes a parent level, you should also deny this user the
ReadMetadata permission for the level that you are hiding.
This is a requirement when
OLAP data is accessed through an information map.
114
C H A P T E R
10
Security Report Macros
Overview of Security Reporting
115
Authorization Data Sets
118
Additional Resources for Building Authorization Data Sets
120
Overview of Security Reporting
Security reporting creates a snapshot of metadata layer access control settings and uses that snapshot in these ways:
3 as a data source for reports about current settings
3 as a data point for comparing settings across time
The first task in security reporting is to extract, filter, and format authorization data for a specified set of identities, permissions, and objects. SAS provides macros that help you perform this task. For example, the following code uses the main security report macro, %MDSECDS, to generate authorization data sets for a specified folder and its contents:
/* connect to the metadata server */ options metaserver=machine-name metauser="sasadm@saspw" metapass="Pwd123";
/* run the main report macro against a target folder */
%mdsecds(folder="\Shared Data\New Stored Processes"); run;
The second task in security reporting is to build reports that run against the authorization data sets. For example, the following code prints some of the data from the preceding example:
/* print the WriteMetadata setting information */ proc print data=work.mdsecds_join noobs width=minimum; var objname publictype identityname WriteMetadata; run;
The output looks like this:
115
116 %MDSECDS
4 Chapter 10
ObjName
New Stored Processes
New Stored Processes
New Stored Processes
Shoe Sales Graphics
Shoe Sales Graphics
Shoe Sales Graphics
Shoe Sales by Region
Shoe Sales by Region
Shoe Sales by Region
Shoe Sales by Region
PublicType
Folder
Folder
Folder
StoredProcess
StoredProcess
StoredProcess
StoredProcess
StoredProcess
StoredProcess
StoredProcess identityname
PUBLIC
SAS System Services
SAS Administrators
PUBLIC
SAS System Services
SAS Administrators
PUBLIC
SAS System Services
SAS Administrators
SASUSERS
WriteMetadata
Denied Indirectly
Denied Indirectly
Granted by ACT
Denied Explicitly
Denied Indirectly
Granted Explicitly
Denied Indirectly
Granted Indirectly
Granted Indirectly
Granted Explicitly
Because the output is SAS data sets, you can create sophisticated reports by using
SAS reporting techniques such as these:
3
3 create an information map that uses an authorization data set as its data source and then use SAS Web Report Studio to create reports based on that information map.
write SAS ODS (output display system) code that builds an HTML report against the authorization data sets. For an example, see
SAS-installation-directory\SASFoundation\9.2\core\sample\secrpt.sas
(Windows) or SAS-installation-directory/SASFoundation/9.2/samples/base/
secrpt.sas
(UNIX).
%MDSECDS
Generates authorization data sets. This is the top-level macro (it calls the underlying macros and should be used on its own).
Used in:
Type:
Security reporting
Stand-alone
Requirement:
Connection to the metadata server
Syntax
%MDSECDS (OUTDATA=data-set, <FOLDER="path">,
<INCLUDESUBFOLDERS=YES | NO>, <MEMBERTYPES="list">,
<MEMBERFILTER="expression">, <PERMS="list">, <IDENTITYNAMES="list">,
<IDENTITYTYPES="list">);
OUTDATA
provides a base name for the output. By default, the base name is work.mdsecds.
See “Authorization Data Sets” on page 118.
The following options define the scope of the extraction:
FOLDER
identifies a starting point folder. By default, the starting point is the server root (the first node on the Folders tab in SAS Management Console). If you provide a path
(such as "\Products\SAS Intelligence Platform\Samples"), the starting point is the last folder in the path.
Note:
To avoid having to type a long pathname, copy the path from a child item’s
General
tab into your code.
4
Security Report Macros
4 %MDSECDS
117
INCLUDESUBFOLDERS
controls whether the entire subtree is included. By default, all objects in the entire subtree are included. If you specify NO, only the immediate contents of the starting point folder are included.
MEMBERTYPES
limits by object type. By default, all public types are included. If you provide a comma-delimited list of types, only those types are included.
You must provide the public type name in its TypeName format. For example, if you access the Advanced tab in the properties dialog box for the Information Map
(relational)
object type, you will see that its TypeName is
InformationMap.Relational
. All public types are displayed on the Folders tab in
SAS Management Console under System
I Types.
Note:
If you use this option, examine the output. The log doesn’t display errors or warnings for incorrectly specified types.
4
MEMBERFILTER
limits by metadata attribute value. By default, no filter is applied. If you provide an expression, only objects that meet the criteria are included. The format for the expression is @attribute-name comparison-operator ’value’ (for example, @objID
=’A5HDAJSI.B90006Y5’
or @Name =:’Salary’).
Comparison operators for character data include = (equals), =: (begins with), ?
(contains), and ne (not equals).
Metadata attributes are associated with an object’s metadata type (not public type). Here are two common attributes: objID is the object’s metadata ID, which is displayed on the object’s
Inheritance
tab.
Name
Note:
To access an object’s Inheritance tab, open the object’s properties dialog box, select the Authorization tab, and then click Advanced. This feature is available only to unrestricted users.
4 is the object’s name, which is displayed in the Name field on the object’s General tab.
To find additional attributes:
1
Determine the MetadataType of the object you are interested in. The type is displayed on the object’s Inheritance tab. For example, if you look at the
2
Inheritance
tab for your My Folder , you will see that the MetadataType for a folder is Tree. MetadataType is a low level, internal classification.
In the reference documentation for the metadata model, look up that
MetadataType to find the names of its attributes.
PERMS
specifies which permissions to include. By default, all permissions that are supported for each object type are included for objects of that type. If you provide a comma-delimited list of permissions, only those permissions are included. Even if the permissions in your user interface are translated, you must specify the
English-language permission names (for example, ReadMetadata).
IDENTITYNAMES
specifies which identities to include. By default, only the named participants (the identities that are listed on an object’s Authorization tab) are included. If you provide a comma-delimited list of identity names, only those identities are included.
List identities by their names, not their display names.
118 Authorization Data Sets
4 Chapter 10
If you use this option, you must also use the IDENTITYTYPES option.
IDENTITYTYPES
specifies whether names in the IDENTITYNAMES list correspond to users or to groups. For example, the first name listed in the IDENTITYNAMES parameter must match the first value in the IDENTITYTYPES list. Valid values in this list are
Person
and IdentityGroup.
Examples
This code extracts information about permissions on the objects in the Sales folder but doesn’t include objects in subfolders:
%mdsecds(folder="\Shared Data\Sales", includesubfolders=no);
This code extracts information about permissions on tables and schemas in the Sales folder and its subfolders:
%mdsecds(folder="\Shared Data\Sales", membertypes="Library,OLAPSchema");
This code extracts information that indicates which libraries a particular user (the
SAS Demo User) can see:
%mdsecds(identitynames="sasdemo", identitytypes="Person", membertypes="Library", perms="ReadMetadata");
This code extracts information that indicates which stored processes two users (the
SAS Demo User and Tara O’Toole) can see:
%mdsecds(identitynames="sasdemo,totoo", identitytypes="Person,Person", membertypes="StoredProcess", perms="ReadMetadata");
This code extracts information that indicates which reports one user and one group
(the SAS Demo User and PUBLIC) can modify:
%mdsecds(identitynames="sasdemo,PUBLIC", identitytypes="Person,IdentityGroup", membertypes="Report", perms="WriteMetadata");
This code extracts information that indicates who can view reports that include the word "Salary" in their names:
%mdsecds(membertypes="Report", perms="ReadMetadata", memberfilter="@Name ? ’Salary’");
This code extracts permission settings for an item that is referenced by its object ID:
%mdsecds(memberfilter="@objID = ’A5HDAJSI.B90006Y5’");
Authorization Data Sets
Table 10.1
work.mdsecds_join (the Primary Table for Reporting; Combines objs, permsw, pconds)
Column Name Column Contents
IdentityDispName The display name of this user or group (for example, SAS Demo User). If there is no display name, this column contains the same value as the IdentityName column.
IdentityName The name of this user or group (for example, sasdemo).
Security Report Macros
4 Authorization Data Sets
119
Column Name
IdentityType
Location
Column Contents
Person
, IdentityGroup, or Role.
A container path for this object (for example,
\Shared Data\Sales
). The path usually consists of folder names but can also include names of other containers.
The date when this object was created.
MetadataCreated
MetadataType The internal metadata type for this object.
MetadataUpdated The most recent date that this object was updated.
ObjId
ObjName
ObjUri
ParentObjId
Permissions
(permissions)
PublicType
The metadata ID for this object (for example, A5HDAJSI.B900066J).
The name of this object (for example, Shoe Sales by Region).
The uniform resource identifier for this object (for example, omsobj:PhysicalTable/
A5XT9KUX.B80000001
).
The metadata ID for this object’s immediate parent. See “Inheritance Paths” on page 53.
A list of the permissions to inspect for this object. If the list is blank, then all permissions that are applicable to this type of object are inspected.
A separate column for each permission. Each cell in these columns contains a value that indicates whether this permission is effectively granted or denied for this identity. The type of setting (explicit, ACT, or indirect) is also indicated. For example, Granted by ACT or Denied
Explicitly
or Granted Indirectly. See Table 4.1 on page 41.
The public metadata type for this object.
Table 10.2
work.mdsecds_objs (Contains Folder and Member Information)
Column Name
Desc
Location
MetadataCreated
MetadataType
MetadataUpdated
ObjId
ObjName
ObjUri
ParentObjId
Permissions
PublicType
Column Contents
Description information for this object. For most objects, this information comes from the
Description
field on the
General
tab in the object’s properties dialog box.
A container path for this object. The path usually consists of folder names but can also include names of other containers.
The date when this object was created.
The internal metadata type for this object.
The most recent date that this object was updated.
The metadata ID for this object.
The name of this object.
The uniform resource identifier for this object.
The metadata ID for this object’s immediate parent.
A list of the permissions to inspect for this object. If the list is blank, then all permissions that are applicable to this type of object are inspected.
The public metadata type for this object.
Table 10.3
work.mdsecds _pconds (Contains Permission Condition Expressions)
Column Name
Condition
IdentityName
Column Contents
The expression that limits this grant.
The name of this user or group.
120 Additional Resources for Building Authorization Data Sets
4 Chapter 10
Column Name
IdentityType
ObjUri
Permission
Column Contents
Person
, IdentityGroup, or Role.
The uniform resource identifier for this object.
The name of this permission (for example, Read).
Table 10.4
work.mdsecds_permsw (Contains Permissions Data Transformed to Wide Format)
Column Name
IdentityDispName
IdentityName
IdentityType
ObjName
ObjUri
(permissions)
Column Contents
The display name of this user or group (or the name if there is no display name).
The name of this user or group.
Person
, IdentityGroup, or Role.
The name of this object.
The uniform resource identifier for this object.
A separate column for each permission. Each cell in these columns contains a value that indicates whether this permission is effectively granted or denied for this identity. The type of setting (explicit, ACT, or indirect) is also indicated.
Table 10.5
work.mdsecds _permsl (Contains Permissions Data in Original Long Format)
Column Name
Authorization
Conditionflg
IdentityDispName
IdentityName
IdentityType
ObjName
ObjUri
Permission
Column Contents
A value that indicates where this permission is granted or denied for this identity. The type of setting (explicit, ACT, or indirect) is also indicated.
A value that indicates whether this permission setting is conditional. The value is either blank (no condition) or * (condition applies and is written to the pconds table).
The display name of this user or group (or the name if there is no display name).
The name of this user or group.
Person
, IdentityGroup, or Role.
The name of this object.
The uniform resource identifier for this object.
The name of this permission.
Additional Resources for Building Authorization Data Sets
You can choose to directly use the underlying report macros instead of using only
%MDSECDS (which is the standard approach to building authorization data sets).
However, the underlying macros don’t offer any unique inclusion or exclusion parameters. The following figure introduces the underlying macros. In the figure, arrow direction indicates input to and output from each underlying macro.
Security Report Macros
4 Additional Resources for Building Authorization Data Sets
121
Figure 10.1
Underlying Security Report Macros
Metadata Repository
Which folder?
Which objects?
1
%MDSEC
GO
work.mdsecds_
objs
Which permissions?
Which identities?
2
%MDSEC
GP
work.mdsecds_
permsl
work.mdsecds_
pconds
3
%MDSEC
TR
work.mdsecds_
permsw
4
%MDSEC
VW
work.mdsecds_
join
The numbers in the preceding figure correspond to these activities:
1
%MDSECGO extracts information for a specified set of objects. You specify one folder and indicate whether to include subdirectories. You can also provide a list of object types to include and filter the data set by attribute value.
Note:
The same level of control is provided by using %MDSECDS on its own.
4
2
For every object in a specified data set, %MDSECGP gets effective permission settings for a specified set of identities and permissions.
3
Note:
This is the point at which using the underlying macros creates an opportunity for you to define a subset of the objs data set.
4
%MDSECTR transforms the extracted data set from a long format (a separate row for each permission) to a wide format (all permissions in the same row).
4
%MDSECVW creates a joined view or data set that can be used for reporting.
The following table introduces a few utility macros that can be useful in security reporting:
122 Additional Resources for Building Authorization Data Sets
4 Chapter 10
Table 10.6
Utility Macros for Security Reporting
Utility Macro
%MDUTYPED
%MDUGFLDR
Description
Extracts information about top-level metadata objects or locates templates for a particular object type.
Returns the object ID for a specified folder.
%DEFINEOBJTAB_SQL Defines the table into which %MDSECGO inserts rows.
The underlying macros and utility macros are in
SAS-installation-directory\SASFoundation\9.2\core\sasmacro (Windows) or
SAS-installation-directory/SASFoundation/9.2/sasautos (UNIX).
P A R T
3
Authentication
Chapter
11
. . . . . . . . .
Authentication Model
125
Chapter
12
. . . . . . . . .
Authentication Mechanisms
143
Chapter
13
. . . . . . . . .
Authentication Tasks
161
Chapter
14
. . . . . . . . .
Server Configuration, Data Retrieval, and Risk
181
123
124
C H A P T E R
11
Authentication Model
Introduction to the Authentication Model
125
Authentication to the Metadata Server
126
How SAS Identity is Determined
126
Depictions of the Authentication Process
126
Example: Metadata Server on UNIX
128
Example: Metadata Server on Windows
129
Authentication to Data Servers and Processing Servers
130
Authentication Scenarios
131
Introduction and Template
131
Example: Windows and Shared Access to Oracle
133
Example: UNIX and Two Levels of Host Access
134
Example: Mixed Hosts and SAS Token Authentication
134
Mixed Providers
135
About Mixed Providers
135
Solution to Mixed Providers: Use SAS Token Authentication
136
Solution to Mixed Providers: Align Authentication
136
Solution to Mixed Providers: Store User IDs and Passwords
137
Credential Gaps
137
How Logins Are Used
139
About PUBLIC Access and Anonymous Access
140
Introduction to the Authentication Model
There is no single mechanism that is applicable for all authentication events throughout a typical deployment. Instead, each deployment uses some combination of authentication processes, trust relationships, and single sign-on technologies. This helps to balance a range of goals such as these:
3 preserve individual identity
3 minimize security exposures
3 provide a unified user experience
3 minimize set up and maintenance efforts
3 provide access to disparate systems within an environment
3 integrate into a wide variety of general computing environments
This chapter provides an in-depth understanding of authentication and security aspects of SAS server configuration. For basic information about authentication, see
“Facilitate Authentication” on page 8.
125
126 Authentication to the Metadata Server
4 Chapter 11
Authentication to the Metadata Server
How SAS Identity is Determined
When a user launches a SAS client, the following process occurs:
verification phase
ensures that the user is who he or she claims to be. For example, this credential-based host authentication method might be used:
1
2
3
4
5
The client prompts the user for an ID and password.
The user enters credentials that are known to the metadata server’s host.
The client sends the credentials to the metadata server.
The metadata server passes the credentials to its host for authentication.
If the host determines that the user has a valid account, the host returns the authenticated user ID to the metadata server.
SAS identity phase
resolves the authenticated user ID to a particular SAS identity. In this phase, SAS examines its copies of user IDs in an attempt to find one that matches the authenticated user ID. One of the following outcomes occurs:
3
A matching user ID is found, so a connection is established under the owning identity. The owning identity is the user or group whose definition includes a login with the matching user ID.
Note:
The metadata server’s integrity constraints ensure that there won’t be more than one owning identity. See “Unique Names and IDs” on page 33.
4
3
No matching user ID is found, so a connection is established under the generic
PUBLIC identity. In the metadata layer, the user is a PUBLIC-only user.
Note:
The matching process expects the SAS copy of the user ID to be qualified (if it is a Windows user ID). See “User ID Formats” on page 32.
4
Depictions of the Authentication Process
The following figures introduce authentication methods for the metadata server. For details about any of the following configurations, see Chapter 12, “Authentication
Mechanisms,” on page 143. In the following figures, notice these points:
3
3
Only the verification phase varies; the SAS identity phase is always the same.
With any approach, you need a well-formed user definition for each user who isn’t a PUBLIC-only identity.
Except where internal accounts are used, the process always involves two sets of identity information, one in an external provider and another in the metadata.
The following figure depicts the basic process.
Authentication Model
4 Depictions of the Authentication Process
127
Figure 11.1
Metadata Server: Host Authentication (Credential-Based)
3
ID & password
Authentication by Active Directory,
Local Security Authority, PAM,
UNIX password file structure, or other provider.
2
ID & password
Host
4
ID
1
ID & password
8
accept
Metadata
Server
6
ID
5
ID
Client
7
SAS identity
Metadata
Repository
The following figure depicts a special case where a metadata administrator named
Joe uses an internal account.
Figure 11.2
Metadata Server: Internal Authentication
1
joe@saspw
& password
4
accept
Client
2
joe@saspw
& password
Metadata
Server
login login login login login login
account
Joe account sastrust account sasadm
login
3
Joe
Metadata Repository
The following figure introduces alternate approaches that can help you use accounts that already exist in your environment or provide single sign-on (silent launch of clients) These approaches are documented in Chapter 12, “Authentication Mechanisms,” on page 143.
128 Example: Metadata Server on UNIX
4 Chapter 11
Figure 11.3
Alternate Configurations
Integrated Windows Authentication
Windows authentication, trusted authority
1
request for an authenticated token
2
authenticated
token
4
authenticated
token
3
authenticated token
8
accept
Desktop Client on Windows
5
ID
Metadata
Server on
Windows
7
SAS identity
Metadata
Repository
Web Authentication
6
ID
1
page request
2
logon prompt
3
ID & password
Web
Application
Server
5
ID
trusted connection
Metadata
Server
8...
4
Authentication
Provider
7
SAS identity
6
ID
Metadata
Repository
Direct Use of LDAP or Active Directory
Client
2
ID & password
LDAP or
Active Directory authentication
1
ID & password
6
accept
Metadata
Server
5
SAS identity
4
ID
3
ID
Metadata
Repository
Note:
This topic is about authentication of users. For information about how some servers connect to the metadata server, see “Trusted Peer Connections” on page 154 and
“Trusted User Connections” on page 155.
4
Example: Metadata Server on UNIX
The following annotated template shows how a UNIX site might provide access to the metadata server. Here are some points about this example:
Authentication Model
4 Example: Metadata Server on Windows
129
3
3
3
The UNIX computer that hosts the metadata server recognizes LDAP accounts.
This site can’t use Integrated Windows authentication (IWA) because the SAS implementation of IWA is available only if the metadata server is on Windows.
When users at this site launch SAS desktop clients, they provide the user ID and password for their LDAP accounts.
This site chose to not use Web authentication. When users at this site access a
SAS Web application, they provide the user ID and password for their LDAP accounts. Access from one SAS Web application to another is seamless.
Figure 11.4
Example: Metadata Server on UNIX
Web user
Desktop user
Site uses
Web authentication?
yes
Account: Known at the Web perimeter
Login: web | userID | (no password) no
Internal user ID?
yes Account: In the metadata server’s internal provider no
Metadata server
directly uses an LDAP provider?
yes
Account: In an LDAP provider such as Active Directory
Login: DefaultAuth | userID@authpd | (no password) no
Account: Known to the metadata server’s host (LDAP, Active Directory, or other)
Login: DefaultAuth | userID | (no password)
Note:
In the template, the internal account branch is shaded because internal accounts are intended only for metadata administrators and some service identities.
The direct LDAP branch is shaded because direct use of an LDAP provider (such as
Active Directory) is not a first choice mechanism.
4
Example: Metadata Server on Windows
The following annotated template shows how a Windows site might provide access to the metadata server. Here are some points about this example:
3
Integrated Windows authentication (IWA) provides silent launch from SAS desktop clients for each user who chooses to use this feature. Users who don’t select the
IWA setting in their connection profiles are instead authenticated using credential-based authentication.
3
Web applications can’t use the SAS implementation of IWA. To provide silent launch for these applications, this site configured Web authentication. Everyone who has authenticated at the site’s Web perimeter accesses SAS Web applications without interactively providing credentials. Unlike IWA, Web authentication doesn’t require (or allow) individual users to opt in or out.
3
Notice that the user’s login contains a qualified user ID. The user ID in any
Windows login must be properly qualified. Someone who has a missing or
130 Authentication to Data Servers and Processing Servers
4 Chapter 11 improperly specified user ID in his or her login has no individual SAS identity and is a PUBLIC-only identity.
3
The figure suggests that someone who uses both Web and desktop applications needs two logins, one in DefaultAuth and one in the web authentication domain. If the same user IDs are valid in both contexts, having a Web login is not a strict requirement (unless the Web applications must provide seamless access to a standard, unpooled workspace server).
Figure 11.5
Example: Metadata Server on Windows
Note:
In the template, the internal account branch is shaded because internal accounts are intended only for metadata administrators and some service identities.
The direct LDAP branch is shaded because direct use of an LDAP provider (such as
Active Directory) is not a first choice mechanism.
4
Authentication to Data Servers and Processing Servers
A registered user who has a connection to the metadata server accesses the OLAP server, stored process server, and pooled workspace server seamlessly by SAS token authentication. Authentication to following servers requires coordination: standard workspace server to provide seamless access, see “Coordinate the Workspace Server” on page 8.
third-party data server (for example, Oracle) to provide access, select an approach from the following table. For instructions, see
“How to Store Passwords for a Third-Party Server” on page 174.
Authentication Model
4 Introduction and Template
131
Table 11.1
Authentication to a Third-Party Data Server
Goal
Provide seamless access and preserve individual identity to the target server.
Provide seamless access.
Approach
Store individual user IDs and passwords in the metadata (each on the
Accounts
tab of a different user definition).
Provide seamless access with a few distinct access levels for resources in the target server.
Preserve individual identity.
Store the user ID and password for one shared account in the metadata (on the
Accounts
tab of a group definition).
Store a few shared user IDs and passwords in the metadata (each on the group definition).
1
Accounts
tab of a different
No configuration required. Users will be prompted for credentials for the target server.
2
1 For a hybrid approach, use a combination of personal and group logins.
2 Secondary prompting is supported for desktop applications and SAS Web Report Studio.
Note:
In general, requesting users can access only those servers for which they have the ReadMetadata permission. An exception is client-side pooling, in which access depends on membership in a puddle group.
4
Note:
This topic is about metadata-aware connections. Direct connections to a SAS server (for example, from the SAS Add-In for Microsoft Office to the OLAP server) can’t use SAS token authentication. Direct connections use client-supplied credentials or, in some cases, Integrated Windows authentication.
4
See Also
“SAS Token Authentication” on page 153
“Choices in Workspace Server Pooling” on page 192
Authentication Scenarios
Introduction and Template
The examples in this section show how different sites might annotate the following template to reflect their environment and choices. Not all deployments use all servers.
132 Introduction and Template
4 Chapter 11
Figure 11.6
Template for Authentication Scenarios
Metadata Server
Login: | | (no password)
Coordination is required
Workspace Server
host authentication
Offer IWA?
Offer client-side pooling?
Add logins?
SAS Token Authentication
an alternative
Pooled
Workspace
Server
Stored Process
Server
OLAP
Server
Third-Party Server (proprietary authentication)
Login:
| | password
Here are some details about the template:
3
To facilitate integration with your environment, SAS provides several authentication choices for the metadata server. See “Authentication to the
Metadata Server” on page 126.
Note:
Most users should have their own inbound login for the metadata server.
Exceptions are users who don’t need an individual identity and users who use a
SAS internal account.
4
Note:
The metadata server also accepts SAS token authentication connections from processing servers.
4
3
The workspace server usually uses some form host authentication. If you have mixed providers, you might configure the workspace server to use SAS token authentication (instead of using host authentication). See “Coordinate the
Workspace Server” on page 8.
Note:
When a user requests a standard workspace server, it is actually the spawner that performs the authentication (in accordance with the workspace server’s metadata settings) and then launches the server process. That detail is omitted in the general discussion.
4
3
Most other SAS servers use SAS token authentication for all metadata-aware requests. See “SAS Token Authentication” on page 153.
3
Some types of logical server can contain multiple servers with each server running under a different launch credential. See “Host Access to SAS Tables” on page 187.
3
The logical pooled workspace server provides server-side pooling. This is not the same as client-side pooling, which can be offered only by a specially configured standard workspace server. See “Choices in Workspace Server Pooling” on page
192.
3
The OLAP server doesn’t have credentials as part of its metadata definition because that server isn’t launched by the object spawner.
Authentication Model
4 Example: Windows and Shared Access to Oracle
133
3
In order to provide seamless access to a third-party server that uses its own proprietary user registry, you must store individual or group credentials in the metadata. See Table 11.1 on page 131.
Example: Windows and Shared Access to Oracle
The following annotated template shows how a Windows site might provide access to servers. This example also illustrates one way to incorporate a third-party server (an
Oracle server that maintains its own user registry and doesn’t accept Windows credentials).
Figure 11.7
Authentication Scenarios: Windows Example
Metadata Server
Login: | | (no password)
SAS Token Authentication
Coordination is required
Workspace Server
host authentication
Offer IWA?
Offer client-side pooling?
Add logins?
an alternative
Pooled
Workspace
Server
Stored Process
Server
OLAP
Server
Third-Party Server
(proprietary authentication)
Login:
OracleAuth SharedORA-id
Here are some points about this example:
3
This site can offer Integrated Windows authentication (IWA) for the metadata server because that server is on Windows.
3
Because the metadata server offers IWA and the workspace server is also on
Windows, this site configured the workspace server to also offer IWA. This is necessary in this scenario because when the initial logon is by IWA, there are no cached credentials that a client could reuse for credential-based host authentication to the workspace server.
3
If a user doesn’t opt in to IWA in their connection profile, the user provides credentials in the initial logon dialog box. Those credentials are added to the user’s in-memory credential cache (user context). When the user requests a workspace server, those credentials are reused even though the workspace server is configured for IWA.
3
This site chose to provide seamless shared access to Oracle by storing an Oracle user ID and password on the Accounts tab of a custom group, OracleUsers.
3
If this site also stores individual Oracle credentials for selected members of the OracleUsers group, those members would authenticate with their individual credentials. A personal OracleAuth login would have priority over the group OracleAuth login.
134 Example: UNIX and Two Levels of Host Access
4 Chapter 11
3
If this site doesn’t store any Oracle passwords, interactive (prompted) access to Oracle is available from SAS desktop applications and in SAS Web Report
Studio.
3
This site hasn’t modified the initial configuration in which all process instances of the stored process server and the pooled workspace server run under the same server launch credential (sassrv). Host layer access from these servers is undifferentiated.
Example: UNIX and Two Levels of Host Access
The following annotated template shows how a UNIX site might provide access to servers.
Figure 11.8
Authentication Scenarios: UNIX Example
Metadata Server
Coordination is required
Workspace Server
host authentication
Offer IWA?
Offer client-side pooling?
Add logins?
SAS Token Authentication
an alternative
Pooled
Workspace
Server
Stored Process
Server
OLAP
Server
Here are some points about this example:
3
This site can’t offer Integrated Windows authentication (IWA) because the metadata server isn’t on Windows.
3
This site chose to establish two levels of host access from the pooled workspace server. Notice that there are two servers under that logical server, each with a different launch credential. The site gave each credential different host layer access to SAS data sets. The ReadMetadata permission settings on each server determine who uses that server. See “Hiding Server Definitions” on page 88.
Note:
Other reasons for defining multiple servers below a logical server include using multiple computers or different start-up scripts.
4
Example: Mixed Hosts and SAS Token Authentication
The following annotated template shows how a site that has mixed providers might provide access to servers. This site chose the solution of configuring the workspace server to use SAS token authentication. See “Mixed Providers” on page 135.
Authentication Model
4 About Mixed Providers
135
Figure 11.9
Authentication Scenarios: Mixed Providers Example
Metadata Server
Coordination is required
Workspace Server
host authentication
Offer IWA?
Offer client-side pooling?
Add logins?
SAS Token Authentication
an alternative
Pooled
Workspace
Server
Stored Process
Server
OLAP
Server
A side effect of using SAS token authentication for the workspace server is that host access from the workspace server no longer occurs under the host identity of each requesting user. This site chose to establish two levels of host access from the logical workspace server.
Note:
The requesting user’s SAS identity is still preserved for metadata layer access control and logging purposes.
4
Mixed Providers
About Mixed Providers
If the credentials with which users initially log on aren’t also valid for the workspace server, access to the standard workspace server isn’t seamless. For example, if you use an Active Directory account in an initial logon to a metadata server on Windows, and you attempt to access a standard workspace server on UNIX, you might be prompted for a user ID and password that are valid for the UNIX host.
Note:
In general, Web applications and SAS Information Map Studio use the pooled workspace server, not the standard workspace server. So users who use only these applications might not be affected by a mixed provider situation. See “Choices in
Workspace Server Pooling” on page 192.
4
In a mixed providers situation, achieving seamless access to the standard workspace server requires a trade-off between configuration effort, maintenance effort, and degree of segregation for host access from that server to SAS data. The following table outlines the choices.
136 Solution to Mixed Providers: Use SAS Token Authentication
4 Chapter 11
Table 11.2
Choices for Seamless Access In a Mixed Provider Scenario
Priority Recommendation
Minimize administrative effort.
Provide a few levels of host access with minimal administrative effort.
Preserve each user’s identity.
The preferred approach is to convert the workspace server to use SAS token authentication.
You can instead store a single shared password for the workspace server’s host.
1
The preferred approach is to define a few servers that use SAS token authentication. Each server runs under a different account.
You can instead store a few shared passwords for the workspace server’s host.
1
The preferred approach is to align authentication so that both servers do use the same provider.
You can instead store individual passwords for the workspace server’s host.
1 The shared password is stored in a login on a group’s use that group’s logins.
Accounts
tab. Members of a group can
The following topics provide details about each approach.
Solution to Mixed Providers: Use SAS Token Authentication
If you configure the workspace server to use SAS token authentication, access is seamless because the workspace server’s host operating system is no longer used to validate users. Instead, users are validated by the metadata server through a single-use SAS identity token.
In a mixed providers situation, using SAS token authentication is preferable to using a group login for these reasons:
3
3
3
SAS token authentication enables the requesting user’s SAS identity to be used for metadata layer evaluations such as library pre-assignment and permissions and auditing.
SAS token authentication doesn’t give users direct access to the server launch credential.
SAS token authentication involves less transmission of reusable credentials (the client doesn’t retrieve credentials from the metadata and send those credentials to the workspace server).
See “How to Configure SAS Token Authentication” on page 161.
Solution to Mixed Providers: Align Authentication
If you can enable the metadata server and the standard workspace server to use the same provider, access is seamless through credential caching and reuse.
If the metadata server is on Windows and the workspace server is on UNIX, you might use PAM to extend the UNIX host authentication process to recognize Windows accounts. See “Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM)” on page 149. With this approach, the Windows credentials that users supply in their initial logon to the metadata server can be reused for authentication to the workspace server. User identity is preserved from the workspace server to the host, you don’t have to store user passwords in the metadata, and access is seamless. However, this approach has these limitations:
Authentication Model
4 Credential Gaps
137
3
Using PAM isn’t compatible with Integrated Windows authentication (IWA) for these reasons:
3
3
Even though the UNIX server now accepts Windows accounts, the UNIX server still can’t do IWA. The SAS implementation of IWA is only for servers on Windows.
Because this approach reuses cached Windows credentials to provide access to the workspace server, you can’t use IWA for the metadata server either.
When IWA is used to get to the metadata server, only a Windows token is passed so there are no available cached credentials. Instruct users to not select the Integrated Windows authentication option in their connection profiles. Consider adding the -nosspi option to the metadata server’s sasv9_usermods.cfg file.
3
Using PAM to resolve a mixed providers situation requires that you stored two logins for anyone who accesses the standard workspace server. One login contains the user’s ID in qualified format (for example, WIN\myID) and the other login contains the same ID in short format (for example, myID). Both logins can be in
DefaultAuth. Neither login has to include a password.
If the metadata server is on UNIX (or z/OS) and the workspace server is on Windows, an additional alternative is to make the metadata server itself recognize Windows accounts. See “Direct LDAP Authentication” on page 146.
Note:
Direct LDAP isn’t supported for the workspace server. The workspace server can use only some form of host authentication or SAS token authentication.
4
Solution to Mixed Providers: Store User IDs and Passwords
If you store user or group passwords for the workspace server’s host, access is seamless through credential retrieval. In this solution, you treat the workspace server as if it were a third-party server such as Oracle. See “How to Store Passwords for the
Workspace Server” on page 173.
Credential Gaps
A credential gap is a situation in which a user doesn’t seamlessly access the workspace server for any of these reasons:
3
3
Server configurations are incorrect, incomplete, or incompatible.
The user’s context doesn’t include credentials that are known to the workspace server’s host.
3
3
The user’s context doesn’t pair credentials that are known to the workspace server’s host with the workspace server’s authentication domain.
The workspace server is on Windows, using credential-based authentication and the user’s host account doesn’t have the Log on as a batch job privilege (see
“Windows Privileges” on page 36).
The usual symptom of a credential gap is a prompt for a user ID and password after a user makes a request that requires a workspace server (for example, querying relational data). A credential gap can be problematic for these reasons:
3
The prompts interrupt the user experience.
3
Users have to know credentials that are valid for the workspace server’s host and know that those are the correct credentials to provide.
138 Credential Gaps
4 Chapter 11
3
Not all middle-tier services and Web applications prompt for credentials (and, without a prompt, the user request fails).
You can use the questions in the following table to diagnose and troubleshoot a credential gap.
Table 11.3
Credential Gaps: Causes and Solutions
Is the user logging on with a user ID that ends in @saspw?
If so, tell the user that they get the prompt because they are using an internal account. When the user gets the additional prompt, they must enter a user ID and password that are known to the workspace server’s host.
1
See
“Add Administrators” on page 9.
Is the user logging on with a connection profile that contains a user ID that ends in @saspw?
If so, the user’s context doesn’t pair the credentials from the user’s initial logon with the DefaultAuth authentication domain. Tell the user to create a new connection profile with external credentials (and no value in the
Authentication domain
field) and try again. To ensure optimal credential reuse, users shouldn’t use the same connection profile for both internal and external accounts. See “Credential Management” on page 144.
Is the user using a connection profile that has a value other than DefaultAuth for the authentication domain?
If so, the user’s context doesn’t pair the credentials from the user’s initial logon with the DefaultAuth authentication domain. Tell the user to either clear this field or enter the value DefaultAuth and try again. See
“Credential Management” on page 144.
Is the user in SAS Enterprise Guide and accessing a workspace server that is set to prompt?
If so, verify the setting on the
Options
user to supply host credentials.
1 tab of the logical workspace server. If the setting is intentional, tell the
See “About the Workspace Server’s Options Tab” on page 177.
Do the metadata server and the workspace server accept different accounts?
If so, the credentials that are added to the user’s context from the user’s initial logon aren’t valid for the workspace server. For example, this can happen if the metadata server is on Windows and the workspace server is on UNIX. See “Mixed Providers” on page 135.
Is the workspace server assigned to the wrong authentication domain?
If so, credential reuse might be impaired. In most configurations, the workspace server should be in
DefaultAuth.
2
To verify (and, if necessary, correct) the workspace server’s authentication domain assignment, select the
Plug-ins
tab in SAS Management Console, navigate to the server , select its connection object
, right-click, and select
Properties
. The authentication domain assignment is on the
Options
tab. See
“Credential Management” on page 144.
Is the user using a Web application at a site that has configured Web authentication?
If so, the user’s initial logon doesn’t add a password to the user’s context. Make sure that the Web application uses some form of pooling. See “Choices in Workspace Server Pooling” on page 192. If the problem persists, the user is performing one of a few tasks that require a standard workspace server. Either restructure the activity
(for example, a stored process in an information map uses pooling but a stored process that is opened directly from SAS Web Report Studio does not) or see “Coordinate the Workspace Server” on page 8.
Is the user connecting to the metadata server with Integrated Windows authentication?
If so, the user’s initial logon doesn’t add a password to the user’s context. Configure the workspace server for
IWA. See “Integrated Windows Authentication” on page 148.
If the problem persists, make sure there is a logical pooled workspace server available to the user. See “Choices in Workspace Server Pooling” on page 192. Or, tell the user to deselect the IWA setting in his or her connection profile and try again. If this resolves the problem, the user must opt out of IWA when performing this task.
1 The host account must correspond to a metadata identity that has ReadMetadata permission for the server definition. On Windows, the host account must have the
Log on as a batch job
privilege.
2 Unless you resolved mixed providers by putting the workspace server in its own authentication domain.
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139
How Logins Are Used
Table 11.4
Summary of How Logins are Used
Purpose
To enable the metadata server to match an incoming user ID with a particular SAS identity (inbound use). See “How SAS Identity is Determined” on page 126.
To enable clients to seamlessly obtain user credentials for disparate systems (outbound use). See “Credential Management” on page 144.
To designate one account as the preferred account for user access to a particular library and to make that account ID and password available to users. If you assign a login to a library, all users who can see that login use that login to access that library. This is a specialized form of outbound use that is sometimes used for a DBMS library.
Login Properties
1
User ID
User ID, password, authentication domain
User ID, password, authentication domain
To designate one host account as the account under which a particular server runs and to make that account’s ID and password available to the spawner (service use). See
“Launch Credentials” on page 183.
User ID, password
1 Indicates which properties are involved. Every login should be assigned to an authentication domain.
The following figure depicts examples of login use.
Figure 11.10
Example: Use of Logins
Joe’s logins
Joe |
JoeOra | password
1
OracleAuth
ETL group’s logins
ETLOra | password
2
SASUSERS group’s logins
ServiceOra | password
3
SAS General Servers group’s logins
Metadata Server
Oracle DBMS
Oracle Libraries
Special Library default login: ServiceOra
sassrv | password
4
Stored Process Server multiuser credential: sassrv
Pooled Workspace Server launch credential: sassrv
Workspace Server
(standard using SAS token authentication) launch credential: sassrv
Here are some general points about the figure:
3
The workspace server (using host authentication) isn’t depicted because access to that server is not usually through stored credentials.
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4 Chapter 11
Note:
If you choose to store passwords for the workspace server, the relationships would be comparable to the depiction of the Oracle DBMS, OracleAuth authentication domain, and Oracle logins. For example, you might put the workspace server in WorkspaceAuth and create individual and group logins in that authentication domain. See “Mixed Providers” on page 135.
4
3
3
The OLAP server isn’t depicted because that server isn’t accessed using logins.
The gray shading for the depicted workspace server indicates that this is a specialized configuration. By default the workspace server uses some form of host authentication, not SAS token authentication.
The numbers in the figure correspond to these uses:
1
Joe’s first login is only for inbound use to determine his metadata identity. His password is available (cached in the user context, not stored in the metadata) but isn’t used to determine his identity. This login should be in DefaultAuth, but that relationship isn’t depicted because it isn’t used in determining his metadata identity.
2
3
Joe’s second login provides seamless access to Oracle using an individual account.
This login includes a password and must be in the Oracle server’s authentication domain. The ETL group’s login is a shared login for the Oracle server. Joe won’t use this login because his personal Oracle login has a higher priority. See “Identity
Precedence” on page 34.
The SASUSERS login is a designated default login for the Special Library. This login is visible to Joe (through his automatic membership in SASUSERS), so it is used when Joe accesses the Special Library. Assigning a login to a library overrides the usual login priority evaluation (which is based on identity precedence).
Note:
In this example, the ServiceOra login must be in the OracleAuth authentication domain. The list of available default logins for a library consists of only those logins that are in the associated server’s authentication domain. The gray shading for the Special Library indicates that this isn’t a mainstream use; most libraries don’t have a designated login.
4
Note:
In an alternate usage, the default library login is part of the user definition for a service identity that provides mediated access to the library.
4
4
The designated launch credential for each of the depicted processing servers is stored on the SAS General Servers group definition. In this example, the servers all use the same credential. Logins that contain designated launch credentials are usually in the DefaultAuth authentication domain, because these processing servers are usually in DefaultAuth. However, those logins are directly paired with each server, not looked up by authentication domain. Because the authentication domain assignment for these logins isn’t used, the figure doesn’t depict that assignment. See “Criteria for a Designated Launch Credential” on page 184.
About PUBLIC Access and Anonymous Access
In general, only users who can authenticate and who have a well-formed user definition should use a SAS deployment. However, in order to accommodate scenarios where more general access is desired, the following specialized configurations are supported:
3
PUBLIC access enables unregistered users to participate if they can authenticate to the metadata server (directly or through a trust mechanism). Unregistered users are referred to as PUBLIC-only users because their only SAS identity is that
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4 About PUBLIC Access and Anonymous Access
141
3 of the PUBLIC group. A PUBLIC-only user has the logins, permissions, and capabilities of the PUBLIC group. A PUBLIC-only user can’t belong to any other groups, or have any personal logins, or have any individual permission settings.
See “Provide PUBLIC Access (Optional)” on page 13.
Anonymous access enables unregistered users to participate without authenticating to the SAS environment. Anonymous access is an optional configuration that is available for only a few applications. Anonymous access is supported only with SAS authentication; anonymous access is not compatible with
Web authentication. Anonymous access is supported as follows:
3
3
For SAS BI Web Services and the SAS Stored Process Web Application, a user who connects through anonymous access uses the SAS Anonymous Web
User identity. This is a service identity that functions as a surrogate for users who connect without supplying credentials. For more information, see the SAS Intelligence Platform: Web Application Administration Guide.
For the SAS Information Delivery Portal (release 4.3 and later), a user who connects through anonymous access uses the Unchallenged Access User identity. This is a service identity that functions as a surrogate for users who connect without supplying credentials. For more information, see the documentation on unchallenged portal access in the SAS Intelligence
Platform: Web Application Administration Guide.
The following list highlights differences between PUBLIC access and anonymous access:
3
In PUBLIC access, each participating user must authenticate. In anonymous access, participating connections don’t require user authentication.
3
3
In PUBLIC access, participating users share the PUBLIC group identity. In anonymous access, participating connections share a designated service identity
(the surrogate identity is always a member of both the SASUSERS group and the
PUBLIC group).
You can choose to provide wide support for PUBLIC access. You can’t extend support for anonymous access beyond the specific applications that can be configured to use it.
CAUTION:
If you choose to offer PUBLIC or anonymous access, you risk users seeing more data and content than you might expect.
Carefully review and manage access control for the
PUBLIC group. If you offer anonymous access, carefully review and manage access for your surrogate service identity too.
4
142
C H A P T E R
12
Authentication Mechanisms
Introduction to Authentication Mechanisms
143
Credential Management
144
Direct LDAP Authentication
146
Host Authentication
147
Integrated Windows Authentication
148
Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM)
149
SAS Internal Authentication
150
SAS Token Authentication
153
Trusted Peer Connections
154
Trusted User Connections
155
Web Authentication
156
Summary for Single Sign-On
159
Summary by Server Type
159
Introduction to Authentication Mechanisms
This chapter describes the following technologies, features, and trust relationships:
3
3
Internal mechanisms unify the SAS realm and provide a degree of independence from your general computing environment. The internal mechanisms are SAS internal authentication and SAS token authentication.
External mechanisms integrate SAS into your computing environment. External mechanisms include direct LDAP authentication, host authentication
(credential-based), Integrated Windows authentication, and Web authentication.
3
Supporting features for credential-based authentication include the following:
3
3
Credential management provides single sign-on through reuse of cached credentials or retrieval of stored passwords.
Pluggable authentication modules (PAM) extend UNIX host authentication.
3
Trust relationships facilitate communication to the metadata server by permitting one privileged account to connect on behalf of other users (trusted user) or by accepting requests that use a proprietary protocol (trusted peer).
143
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Credential Management
Table 12.1
Credential Management
Summary
A supporting feature in which clients reuse cached credentials or retrieve stored credentials. Clients use authentication domain assignments to determine which credentials are valid for which servers. The target server validates the client-supplied credentials against its authentication provider.
Scope
Benefits
Limits
From clients that are already connected to the metadata server to third-party servers, the Scalable
Performance Data Server, and, in some cases, the workspace server.
Provides access to servers using individual or shared accounts.
3
3
Involves passing user IDs and passwords across the network.
Can involve maintaining SAS copies of external passwords.
Use
Always available
Credential management techniques populate an in-memory list of credentials for each connected user. Each list is called a user context and includes these entries:
3
If the user interactively provides credentials when launching a SAS client, those credentials are added to the list, with these exceptions:
3
If Web authentication is configured, the password from a user’s interactive logon to a Web client isn’t available to be added to the list.
3
If the user logs on with Integrated Windows authentication (IWA), the user’s password isn’t available to be added to the list.
3
3
3
If the user interactively provides credentials at any point in the session, those credentials are added to the list.
If the user’s Accounts tab has logins that include passwords, those credentials are added to the list.
If the user belongs to any groups whose Accounts tab has logins that include passwords, those credentials are added to the list.
Note:
Credentials from a user or group’s Accounts tab are not included in the initial list that is created when a user logs on. Instead, such credentials are added to the list dynamically (when and if they are needed in the course of the user’s session).
4
The following table depicts an example of the contents of a user context:
Table 12.2
Example: Contents of a User Context
User ID
myWinID
GroupDBMSid
Password
********
********
Authentication Domain
DefaultAuth
DBMSauth
Notice that each entry is assigned to an authentication domain. This enables pairing of credentials with the servers for which they are valid. The entries are created as follows:
3
The client creates the first entry by caching and inserting the user ID and password that a user submits in an initial logon. This makes the user’s
Authentication Mechanisms
4 Credential Management
145
DefaultAuth password available for reuse even though that password isn’t stored in the metadata. The client automatically assigns the first entry to the
DefaultAuth authentication domain except in these circumstances:
3
The user’s connection profile contains a user ID with an @saspw suffix.
Note:
Notice that this circumstance describes the user ID in the user’s connection profile, not the user ID that the user supplies in the logon dialog box.
4
3
3
The Authentication domain field in the user’s connection profile contains a value other than DefaultAuth (and isn’t empty).
The user is accessing a Web client at a site that has configured Web authentication (or has specified a different authentication domain in the Web configuration for some other reason).
3
The client creates the second entry by retrieving information from the metadata
(in the preceding example, from the Accounts tab of a group that the user belongs to). Such logins are for outbound use, so they must include a password and an appropriate authentication domain assignment. See “How Logins Are Used” on page 139.
When a user requests access to a server that requires credential-based authentication, the client completes these steps:
1
Examine the server’s metadata to determine which authentication domain the server belongs to. This information is on the Options tab of each of the server’s
2
connection objects in SAS Management Console.
Examine the user’s context to determine whether it includes any credentials that are assigned to the target server’s authentication domain. The process is as follows:
3
3
3
3
If the context includes a cached entry for the target authentication domain, that entry is used.
If the user context contains a retrieved entry for that authentication domain, that entry is used. If there is more than one retrieved entry for an authentication domain, the entry that is closest to the user is used. See
“Identity Precedence” on page 34.
If there is an identity precedence tie among retrieved entries (for example, if a user is a direct member of two groups and both groups have logins in the relevant authentication domain), the same login is used consistently, but you can’t control which of the two logins is used.
If the user context contains no entries in the target authentication domain, desktop clients will prompt the user for credentials. Web applications can’t prompt.
Note:
SAS Web Report Studio has an interactive password management feature. See the SAS Intelligence Platform: Web Application Administration
Guide.
4
3
Present the credentials to the target server for authentication against its provider.
Here are some additional tips:
3
3
Because the credentials that are added to a user context from an initial logon are not likely to be valid for a third-party DBMS, you usually have to store credentials for such servers. See “How to Store Passwords for a Third-Party Server” on page
174.
Authentication domains have no effect on an initial logon. Authentication domains affect access to secondary servers that perform credential-based authentication.
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3
To prevent attempts to reuse internal credentials for the workspace server (which doesn’t accept internal credentials), users who have an internal account should use a dedicated connection profile for that account. In their internal connection profiles, users should leave the Authentication domain field blank (or specify an arbitrary value such as InternalAuth).
Direct LDAP Authentication
Table 12.3
Direct Use of LDAP Authentication
Summary
The metadata server validates some users against an LDAP provider such as Active Directory.
Scope
3
3
Primarily used for connections to the metadata server.
Can also be used for direct connections from a data provider to the OLAP server.
Benefits
Limits
Enables users to use their Windows accounts to authenticate to a metadata server that runs on UNIX.
3
3
3
Not an alternative to storing user IDs in the metadata (that requirement applies to all configurations).
Not supported for workspace servers or stored process servers.
If you are using external accounts for sasadm and sastrust, requires manual updates to those user IDs in configuration files.
3
Can involve appending a special suffix to user IDs that are stored in the metadata.
Use
Optional
1 Direct LDAP enables the metadata server to recognize accounts that aren’t known to its host; direct LDAP doesn’t modify the host’s behavior.
The following figure contrasts back-end use and direct use.
Figure 12.1
Two Ways to Use an LDAP Authentication Provider
Back-End Use
LDAP or
Active Directory authentication
3
ID & password
2
ID & password
Host
4
ID
1
ID & password
8
accept
Metadata
Server
6
ID
5
ID
Client
7
SAS identity
Direct Use
2
ID & password
LDAP or
Active Directory authentication
Metadata
Server
3
ID
4
ID
5
SAS identity
Authentication Mechanisms
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147
Many hosts use an LDAP provider as a back-end authentication mechanism. From the perspective of the SAS server, this is host authentication, so no direct LDAP configuration is needed. For example:
3
3
Active Directory is the standard back-end authentication provider on Windows.
Some UNIX hosts recognize LDAP accounts (or can be configured to do so). See
“Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM)” on page 149.
See “How to Configure Direct LDAP Authentication” on page 167.
Host Authentication
Table 12.4
Host Authentication (Credential-Based)
Summary
A client supplies an external user ID and password to a SAS server. The SAS server passes the credentials to its host for authentication.
1
Scope
3
3
3
Primarily used for direct connections to the metadata server and the OLAP server.
Not used for metadata-aware connections to the OLAP server or the stored process server.
Sometimes used for connections to the workspace server.
Benefits
Limits
No configuration is required. Can enable users to log on to SAS applications with the same credentials that they use in your general computing environment.
3
On a workspace server on Windows, requires that users have the
Log on as a batch job
privilege. See “Windows Privileges” on page 36.
3
Involves passing user IDs and passwords across the network.
Use
Always available
1 Another form of host authentication, Integrated Windows authentication (IWA), is documented separately.
The following figure shows one example of how this mechanism works:
Figure 12.2
Host Authentication (credential-based)
3
ID & password
Authentication by Active Directory,
Local Security Authority, PAM,
UNIX password file structure, or other provider.
2
ID & password
Host
4
ID
5
ID
1
ID & password
6
accept
Target
Server
Client
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4 Chapter 12
The numbers in the figure correspond to these actions:
1
The client obtains the user’s ID and password (interactively or through credential management). The client sends those credentials to the target server.
2
The server passes the credentials to its host for authentication.
3
The host passes the credentials to its authentication provider.
4
After verifying that the user ID and password correspond to a valid account, the host’s authentication provider returns the user’s ID to the host.
5
The host returns the user’s ID to the SAS server.
6
The server accepts the client connection.
Integrated Windows Authentication
Table 12.5
Integrated Windows Authentication (IWA)
Summary
A Microsoft technology generates and validates Windows identity tokens. This has the effect of causing participating SAS servers to accept users who are authenticated to their Windows desktop. The SAS implementation of IWA supports only desktop clients and servers on Windows.
1
Scope
3
3
Primarily used for connections to the metadata server and the workspace server.
Also supported for direct connections to an OLAP server (for example, from a data provider).
Benefits
Limits
3 Bypasses the initial logon prompt. Accommodates logon mechanisms that are not password-based
(such as smart cards or biometrics).
3
No user credentials are transmitted. Users don’t need the
Log on as a batch job
privilege.
3
3
Clients and servers must be in the same Windows domain or in domains that trust each other.
2
If you use IWA for a workspace server that accesses Windows network resources, the Kerberos protocol must be used and the object spawner account must have the
trusted for delegation
Windows privilege.
3
The SAS implementation of IWA is not supported for Web applications (or analytics platform clients such as SAS Enterprise Miner).
3 If you use IWA for the metadata server, there are no cached credentials from an initial logon. For this reason, if the workspace server is also on Windows, it is a good idea to configure IWA for that server also.
3 If your SAS servers use DNS aliases, you must manually register those aliases in order to support
Kerberos-based IWA connections. See the discussion of custom SPNs in Table 13.6 on page 172.
Use
Optional
1 If you configure Web authentication, Web applications might use IWA. This occurs if your Web environment offers IWA. This isn’t part of the SAS implementation of IWA, which is for desktop applications only.
2 The SAS implementation of IWA doesn’t support servers on hosts other than Windows. Configuring a server on UNIX to accept Active Directory accounts (by using PAM or configuring direct LDAP) doesn’t mitigate this requirement.
The following figure is an abstraction of how this mechanism works.
Authentication Mechanisms
4 Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM)
149
Figure 12.3
Integrated Windows Authentication
Windows authentication, trusted authority
1
request for an authenticated token
2
authenticated token
4
authenticated token
3
authenticated token
6
accept
Desktop Client on Windows
5
accept
Target Server on Windows
The numbers in the figure correspond to these actions:
1
The client asks Windows for a token that represents the user who is currently logged on to the client computer. This step is initiated when a user launches a desktop client or makes a request for a workspace server.
Note:
The token represents the client who is running the SAS application. If you use the Windows runas command to launch a SAS application, the token represents the host account that you chose to use.
4
4
5
6
2
3
Windows provides the token to the client.
The client sends the Windows token to the target server. Notice that only the token is sent; the user’s password isn’t available to the target server.
The target server sends the token back to Windows for verification.
Windows tells the target server that the token is valid.
The target server accepts the connection from the client. The user’s ID is provided to the target server in domain-qualified format (for example, WIN\joe).
Note:
If the target server is the metadata server, the SAS identity phase follows.
See “How SAS Identity is Determined” on page 126.
4
See Also
“How to Configure Integrated Windows Authentication” on page 169
Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM)
Table 12.6
PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules)
Summary
A supporting feature that extends UNIX host authentication to recognize an additional provider such as
Active Directory. When a SAS server asks its UNIX host to validate a user’s credentials, the host sends the user’s ID and password to the configured additional provider for verification.
1
Scope
Affects all SAS servers that run on the UNIX host and rely on the host operating system to authenticate users. Typically, the metadata server and the workspace server use host authentication.
Benefits
Can be used to enable users to use their Windows accounts to authenticate to a metadata server or workspace server that run on UNIX.
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Limits
3 Not an alternative to storing user IDs in the metadata (that requirement applies to all configurations).
3
You can’t use Integrated Windows authentication with this method. The SAS implementation of
IWA is only for servers that run on Windows.
Use
Optional
1 PAM extends the host’s authentication process to recognize an additional provider; PAM doesn’t modify the metadata server’s behavior.
This mechanism is useful if both the metadata server and the workspace server are on UNIX and you want users to use Windows accounts to access these servers.
This mechanism can also be useful if one of these servers is on Windows, the other is on UNIX, and you want to avoid credential prompts for the workspace server. However, if you use PAM to resolve a mixed provider situation, users who access the workspace server must have two logins. One login should include the user’s ID in its qualified form. The other login should include the same ID in short (unqualified) form. Both logins should be in the DefaultAuth authentication domain. Neither login should include a password. For example, a user’s logins might look like this:
DefaultAuth | WIN\joe | (no password)
DefaultAuth | joe | (no password)
For configuration instructions, see the Configuration Guide for SAS 9.2 Foundation
for UNIX Environments at support.sas.com/installcenter.
SAS Internal Authentication
Table 12.7
Internal Authentication
Summary
Participating SAS servers validate incoming user IDs that have a special suffix (@saspw) against a list of accounts that exist only in the metadata.
Scope
3
3
Primarily used for connections to the metadata server.
Also supported for direct connections to the OLAP server.
1
Benefits
3
3
Minimizes the need to create external accounts for service identities.
Facilitates intermittent use of an administrative role by enabling a user to have a second metadata identity without having a second external account. See “Add Administrators” on page 9.
3
Provides independence from the rest of your computing environment. For example, internal accounts don’t have to follow your general password change requirements, can’t be used to access resources beyond the SAS metadata, and aren’t affected by changes in machine names or in your authentication configurations.
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151
Limits
3 Internal accounts aren’t intended for regular users (they are intended for only metadata administrators and some service identities).
3
3
3
3
Someone who has only an internal account can’t seamlessly access the workspace server. See
“Credential Gaps” on page 137.
An internal account can’t participate in Integrated Windows authentication or Web authentication.
You can’t use an internal account to delete, unregister, add, or initialize a foundation repository.
You can’t run a server under an internal account. For example, the SAS General Server User
(sassrv) must be a host account.
Use
Always available
1 This isn’t a common use. In the SQL procedure, a connection to the OLAP server can be made using an internal account.
Internal accounts exist only in the metadata and are created in the User Manager plug-in in SAS Management Console. The following displays depict the General tab and Accounts tab for an administrator named Joe. Notice that Joe’s internal user ID is
Joe@saspw. The user ID for an internal account is always in the format name@saspw.
The name comes from the Name field on the user’s General tab.
The following figure depicts the internal authentication process:
Figure 12.4
Internal Authentication
1
joe@saspw
& password
2
joe@saspw
& password
4
accept
Client
Metadata
Server
login login login login login login
account
Joe account sastrust account sasadm
login
3
Joe
Metadata Repository
The numbers in the preceding figure correspond to these actions:
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1
2
3
At a logon prompt, Joe enters his internal credentials. The client sends those credentials to the metadata server for verification.
The metadata server recognizes that the ID is for an internal account (because the
ID has the @saspw suffix), so the metadata server checks the credentials against its list of internal accounts.
After validating the ID and password, the metadata server accepts the client connection. The connection is under the identity of the SAS user who owns the account.
Note:
Joe can have logins in addition to his internal account, but he doesn’t need a login to establish his SAS identity.
4
Here are some tips for working with internal accounts:
3
3
There are two distinct expiration settings. Don’t confuse the account expiration date with the password expiration period.
If repeated attempts to log on with an internal account fail, make sure you are including the @saspw suffix in the user ID. Another cause of failure is the account is locked. See “How to Unlock an Internal Account” on page 29.
3
3
If you have both an internal account and an external account, use a dedicated connection profile for your internal account. In that profile, leave the
Authentication domain
field blank. This ensures optimal credential reuse.
If you don’t have user administration capabilities, you can’t see internal accounts, unless you are viewing your own definition and you happen to have an internal account.
Because internal accounts exist only in the metadata, they don’t automatically follow the policies of other authentication providers. Here are the initial policies for internal accounts:
3
3
Accounts don’t expire and aren’t suspended due to inactivity.
Passwords must be at least six characters, don’t have to include numbers or mixed case, and don’t expire.
3
3
3
The five most recent passwords can’t be reused.
After three failed attempts to log on, an account is locked for one hour. An administrator can unlock the account by accessing the Accounts tab in the user’s definition in SAS Management Console.
A forced password change occurs on first use and after a password is reset. This policy applies only to accounts with passwords that periodically expire. By initial policy, passwords don’t expire, so forced password changes don’t occur.
You can set all of these policies globally (at the server-level). You can also selectively override many of these policies on a per-account basis. See “How to Change Internal
Account Policies” on page 163.
See Also
“How to Configure SAS Internal Authentication” on page 162
“Authentication to the Metadata Server” on page 126
Authentication Mechanisms
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153
SAS Token Authentication
Table 12.8
SAS Token Authentication
Summary
The metadata server generates and validates a single-use identity token for each authentication event.
This has the effect of causing participating SAS servers to accept users who are connected to the metadata server.
Scope
3 Primarily used for metadata-aware connections to the stored process server, the server-side pooled workspace server. the OLAP server, the content server, and (in a specialized configuration) the standard workspace server.
3 Also used by launched servers to connect back to the metadata server (for example, from the workspace server to the metadata server for library pre-assignment).
Benefits
Limits
Use
3
3
Preserves client identity for metadata layer access control and auditing purposes.
No individual external accounts are required, no user passwords are stored in the metadata, and no reusable credentials are transmitted.
3
On the workspace server, reduces granularity of host access. See “Host Access to SAS Tables” on page 187.
3 Supported only for metadata-aware connections (in which the client learns about the target server by reading the server’s metadata definition).
Optional for the workspace server, otherwise mandatory within its scope
The following figure is an abstraction of how this mechanism works.
Figure 12.5
SAS Token Authentication
Metadata Server
(generates identity tokens)
1
request for an identity token
2
identity token
4
identity token
Client that already has a connection to the metadata server
3
identity token
6
accept
5
accept
Target
Server
The numbers in the figure correspond to these actions:
1
Over the user’s existing connection to the metadata server, the client requests an identity token for the target server. This step is initiated by a user request that requires access to the target server (for example, by a request in SAS Enterprise
Guide for a cube that is associated with the OLAP server).
2
3
The metadata server generates the token and sends it to the client.
The client provides the token to the target server.
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4
5
6
The target server sends the token to the metadata server for validation.
The metadata server validates the token and returns an acceptance message and a representation of the user to the target server.
The target server accepts the connection.
For instructions, see “How to Configure SAS Token Authentication” on page 161.
Trusted Peer Connections
Table 12.9
Trusted Peer
Summary
The metadata server accepts peer SAS sessions and servers that connect using a proprietary protocol
(trusting that those connecting identities have already been properly authenticated).
Scope
Benefits
From any SAS session or SAS IOM server process to the metadata server. The scope is configurable.
Limits
Use
Enables a SAS/CONNECT server to access the metadata server. Facilitates connections to the metadata server during batch processing.
1
It is important to minimize availability of this feature.
Optional
2
1 In a Windows environment, it is safer to instead use Integrated Windows authentication to support connections back to the metadata server during batch processing.
2 If you use your operating system scheduler to run metadata backup jobs, make sure that trusted peer connections from the host account that runs those jobs are allowed.
In the initial configuration, the metadata server’s start command includes
TRUSTSASPEER=trustedPeers.xml. The contents of the file trustedPeers.xml (which is located in your equivalent of SAS/Config/Lev1/SASMeta/MetadataServer/) make all user IDs and machines eligible to connect to the metadata server using the trusted peer protocol.
For greater security, we recommend that you target this mechanism so the metadata server does not accept every connection that uses the proprietary protocol. You can use either or both of these constraints:
3
3 accept only specified user IDs accept only connections that originate from specified machines
You define the constraints in these sections in trustedPeers.xml:
TrustedSASPeerClients
lists eligible client types. SAS and java are the valid values. It is recommended that you reject connections from Java clients. Typically, there is only one entry between the TrustedSASPeerClients tags:
<client name="SAS"/>
TrustedSASPeerUsers
lists eligible user IDs. To represent all users, use an asterisk (*). To represent all users in a Windows domain, use the format *@domain. For Windows accounts, provide domain-qualified (or machine-qualified) IDs. For example, you might insert these three entries between the TrustedSASPeerUsers tags:
<user name="*@winXP"/>
<user name="tara"/>
Authentication Mechanisms
4 Trusted User Connections
155
<user name="batchjobID"/>
TrustedSASPeerMachines
lists eligible points of origin. Identify machines by IP address. You can use asterisks (*) as wildcards. For example, you might insert these three entries between the TrustedSASPeerMachines tags:
<machine ip="1.2.3.4"/>
<machine ip="A:B:C:D:E:F:1.2.3.4"/>
<machine ip="*.*.8.9"/>
Note:
Only connections that meet all specified criteria are accepted. If any of the sections are empty, no trusted peer connections are allowed.
4
Note:
An additional constraint, TrustedSASDomains, is supported for backwards compatibility but will be deprecated in a future release.
4
Trusted User Connections
Table 12.10
Trusted User
Summary
The metadata server allows a privileged account to act on behalf of other users (trusting that those users have already been properly authenticated).
Scope
Benefits
To the metadata server from the object spawner, the OLAP server, the table server, SAS Web applications (if Web authentication is used), and batch report processes.
Supports the optional Web authentication configuration. Enables the OLAP server and the object spawner to impersonate each requesting user on connections to the metadata server. Enables batch reporting processes to connect to the metadata server under their identities.
Limits
Use
It is important to protect this privileged account.
Required
In a standard configuration, the file trustedUsers.txt (which is located in your equivalent of SAS/Config/Lev1/SASMeta/MetadataServer/) lists one account
(sastrust@saspw) that serves as the trusted user for the entire deployment.
Note:
The trusted user is a privileged service identity that acts on behalf of other users. Do not add regular users to this file.
4
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4 Chapter 12
Web Authentication
Table 12.11
Web Authentication
Summary
The metadata server accepts users who are authenticated at the Web perimeter.
Scope
Benefits
From SAS Web applications to the metadata server.
3
3
Facilitates single sign-on from and across the Web realm.
Enables SAS Web applications to use whatever authentication scheme you have set up in your
Web environment. This can facilitate integration with J2EE servlet containers, products such as
SiteMinder or Tivoli Access Manager/WebSEAL, and Web servers.
3 Can reduce the number of user accounts that you have to create in the metadata server’s authentication provider, because users who use only Web applications no longer need accounts with the metadata server’s provider.
Limits
3
3
3
When you use Web authentication to access the metadata server, there are no cached credentials from an initial logon. This prevents authentication from Web applications to the workspace server through reuse of credentials.
1
Prevents users from logging on to a SAS Web application with a SAS internal account.
Not compatible with anonymous access. See “About PUBLIC Access and Anonymous Access” on page 140.
Use
Optional
1 This isn’t an issue when Web applications use any kind of pooled workspace server.
The following figure depicts the high-level choice in authentication method for SAS
Web applications:
3
3
SAS authentication (any form of authentication in which the metadata server is responsible for requesting verification)
Web authentication (any form of authentication in which verification occurs in the
Web realm and the metadata server trusts that verification)
Authentication Mechanisms
4 Web Authentication
157
Figure 12.6
Examples of SAS Authentication and Web Authentication
SAS Authentication
1
page request
2
logon prompt
3
ID & password
Web
Application
Server
4
ID & password
Metadata
Server
5
ID
6
8...
7
SAS identity
Metadata
Repository
Authentication
Provider
Web Authentication
1
page request
2
logon prompt
3
ID & password
Web
Application
Server
4
Authentication
Provider
5
ID
trusted connection
Metadata
Server
8...
7
SAS identity
6
ID
Metadata
Repository
The preceding figures are simplified in order to highlight the differences between the two configurations. The following figure includes additional detail about Web authentication.
158 Web Authentication
4 Chapter 12
Figure 12.7
Web Authentication: A Closer Look
Web Application Server
SAS BI Dashboard
1
page request
2
logon prompt
3
ID & password
SAS Information Delivery Portal
SAS Web Report Studio
JAAS Login Module Chain
Third-Party
Login Module
SAS Trusted
Login Module
6
4
Authentication
Provider
7
8
trusted connection
9...
Metadata
Server
5
trusted connection
ID
SAS identity
Metadata
Repository
In the preceding figure, a user who is not already authenticated at the Web perimeter makes a request to access SAS Web Report Studio. The numbers in the figure correspond to these activities:
1
In a Web browser, the user makes the request.
2
3
A SAS component within the Web application server (the Logon Manager application) prompts the user for credentials. This occurs because, in this example, the user has not already been authenticated at the Web perimeter.
The user supplies credentials to the Web container.
4
5
The Web container’s Java Authentication and Authorization Service (JAAS) login module chain directs the container to verify the credentials against its designated authentication provider. JAAS then passes the authenticated ID to the SAS trusted login module.
The SAS trusted login module uses a trusted user connection to authenticate to the metadata server and retrieve the user’s SAS identity.
6
7
8
Note:
This is actually a two phase process in which the module first asks the metadata server for a one-time-use password for the user and then establishes a connection to the metadata server under the user’s ID and the generated one-time-use password. The figure omits these details.
4
The metadata server looks up the user’s ID in the metadata repository. As usual, this step doesn’t involve password validation and isn’t affected by authentication domain assignments. Only the user’s ID is being matched (the authentication domain assignment in a login affects only credential reuse).
The user’s authenticated ID and SAS identity is passed to the SAS Logon Manager and then to the SAS Authentication Service.
The authentication service passes the user’s identity information to another SAS component (Remote Services), which runs in its own Java virtual machine (JVM), outside of the Web application server.
Remote Services initiates a second trusted user connection to the metadata server.
The purpose of this connection is to obtain additional information for the user’s context.
Authentication Mechanisms
4 Summary by Server Type
159
Note:
As in step five, the trusted user connection is actually a two phase process.
4
9
The additional user context information is returned.
See “How to Configure Web Authentication” on page 166.
Summary for Single Sign-On
There is no individual mechanism that provides end-to-end single sign-on (SSO). The following authentication processes are transparent:
3
Integrated Windows authentication (IWA) is based on previous authentication to your desktop and provides silent launch for SAS desktop applications (and, sometimes, silent access to the workspace server).
3
3
3
Web authentication is based on previous authentication to your Web realm and provides silent launch for SAS Web applications.
SAS token authentication requires a connection to the metadata server and provides silent access to most SAS servers.
Credential reuse and retrieval requires a connection to the metadata server and can provide silent access to any server.
Some configurations can interfere with SSO to back-end servers. This table summarizes the considerations:
Table 12.12
SSO Considerations for Selected Authentication Mechanisms
Feature
Front-end
SSO
Back-end
SSO
Notes
Internal authentication
SAS token authentication
An internal account can’t participate in IWA or Web authentication.
Facilitates SSO to most SAS servers.
IWA
Web authentication
Direct LDAP authentication
PAM
Facilitates silent launch of desktop applications. If not fully configured, prevents SSO to a workspace server on Windows.
1
Facilitates silent launch of Web applications. Prevents SSO to a standard (non-pooled) workspace server.
1
Not compatible with silent launch. Prevents SSO to a workspace server.
1
Can help unify authentication.
Credential
Management
Facilitates SSO to third-party servers and (in some configurations) workspace servers.
1 Unless the server is configured for SAS token authentication or accessed using stored credentials.
Summary by Server Type
This table provides a high-level review of support for different authentication mechanisms. In the table, the following symbols indicate the extent to which each server can be accessed using each feature:
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4 Chapter 12
Supported
Supported for only direct connections (not metadata aware connections)
Intended for only administrators and some service identities
Used only for certain server-to-server communications
Not supported
Table 12.13
Summary: How Servers Can be Accessed
Mechanism
Metadata Workspace
Server Type
OLAP Stored Process or
Pooled Workspace
Client-
Pooled
Workspace
Host authentication (credentials)
IWA
Web authentication
Direct LDAP authentication
Internal authentication
SAS token authentication
Trusted user
Trusted peer
1 For the client-pooled workspace server, user access depends on membership in a puddle group.
C H A P T E R
13
Authentication Tasks
How to Configure SAS Token Authentication
161
How to Configure SAS Internal Authentication
162
How to Change Internal Account Policies
163
Server-Level Policies
163
Per-Account Policies
165
How to Configure Web Authentication
166
Overview of Configuring Web Authentication
166
Vendor-Specific Instructions for Web Authentication
166
Logins for Users Who Participate in Web Authentication
166
How to Configure Direct LDAP Authentication
167
How to Configure Integrated Windows Authentication
169
How to Force Use of Kerberos
172
How to Store Passwords for the Workspace Server
173
How to Store Passwords for a Third-Party Server
174
How to Reduce Exposure of the SASTRUST Password
176
About the Workspace Server’s Options Tab
177
How to Configure SAS Token Authentication
For metadata-aware connections to the stored process server, the pooled workspace server, and the OLAP server, SAS token authentication is always used and no configuration is involved. See “SAS Token Authentication” on page 153.
To configure the standard workspace server to use SAS token authentication:
Note:
This is not a universally necessary task. Configuring the standard workspace server to use SAS token authentication is one of several solutions to a mixed provider situation. See “Mixed Providers” on page 135.
4
1
Log on to SAS Management Console as someone who has user administration capabilities (for example, sasadm@saspw).
2
On the Plug-ins tab, expand Server Manager and the application server
3
(for example, SASApp). Right-click the logical server
Logical Workspace Server
) and select Properties.
(for example, SASApp -
On the Options tab, select SAS token authentication. Click OK to save this setting.
4
5
Expand the logical server
Properties
.
, select the server , right-click, and select
On the Options tab, from the Launch Credentials drop-down list, select a login and click OK. The most basic choice is the SAS Spawned Servers account (the
161
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4 Chapter 13
6 sassrv
login). If you want to use another account, see “Criteria for a Designated
Launch Credential” on page 184.
To make the changes take effect, refresh the spawner’s metadata.
a b c
Expand the object spawner
Connect
.
, right-click the computer , and select
Right-click the computer again and select Refresh Spawner. In the message box, click Yes.
Right-click the computer a third time and select Disconnect.
7
To validate the configuration, select the logical workspace server and select Validate.
, right-click,
Metadata layer access from the server (for example, library pre-assignment, PROC
OLAP code, and metadata LIBNAME engine use) will still be based on each requesting user’s identity. However, all host access from the server will now be under the designated launch credential. See “Example: Multiple Levels of Host Access” on page
190.
How to Configure SAS Internal Authentication
Note:
There are no server configuration activities for SAS internal authentication.
The metadata server always accepts valid internal account credentials. Internal accounts aren’t intended for regular users. See “SAS Internal Authentication” on page
150.
4
To create and use an internal account:
1
Log on to SAS Management Console as someone who has user administration capabilities (for example, sasadm@saspw).
2
3
4
On the Plug-ins tab, select User Manager. Make sure you are in the foundation repository.
Right-click User Manager and select New
I User. On the General tab, enter a short word such as test in the Name field.
On the Accounts tab, click Create Internal Account. In the New Internal
Account dialog box:
a b
Notice that the user ID is constructed from the name that you entered on the
General
tab and an @saspw suffix.
Enter and confirm a simple initial password such as 123456.
Note:
These instructions assume that the default server-level policies for internal accounts are in place.
4
5
6 c d
Select the Set a custom password expiration period check box and the
expires every
radio button. Leave the password expiration period at the default number of days.
Click OK to save the new internal account.
Notice that the new account appears at the bottom of the Accounts tab. Click OK to save the new user.
To log on to SAS Management Console as the new internal user:
a b
From the main menu, select File
I Connection Profile. In the informational message box, click Yes.
In the Connection Profile dialog box, select Create a new connection
profile
and click OK.
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4 Server-Level Policies
163 c d
In the Connection Profile wizard, name the profile internal, provide the machine name and port of the metadata server, and enter the internal credentials (for example, test@saspw and 123456). Click Finish.
In the Change Password dialog box, enter the original password again, enter and confirm a new password (such as 223456), and click OK.
7
Note:
You are forced to change the password because this is your first use of the account. This happens only for accounts that have a password expiration period (which you set in step 4c), and can also be affected by server-level policies.
4
f e
In the message box, click OK. In the connection profile, enter the new password and click Finish.
If necessary, provide your internal credentials once again to log on.
Notice that you have the permissions and capabilities of the SASUSERS and
PUBLIC groups (because you didn’t make any additional group or role assignments for the test user in step 4).
Note:
To clean up, log back on as someone who has user administration capabilities.
In User Manager, delete the user that you created for this exercise. To delete the test user’s home directory and MyFolder, select the Folders tab, navigate to SAS Folders
I
Users
, right-click the test folder, and select Delete.
4
See Also
“How to Unlock an Internal Account” on page 29
“How to Change Internal Account Policies” on page 163
“How to Create a Dual User” on page 29
How to Change Internal Account Policies
Server-Level Policies
Here are the initial server-level policies for internal accounts:
3
Accounts don’t expire and aren’t suspended due to inactivity.
3
3
Passwords must be at least six characters, don’t have to include numbers or mixed case, and don’t expire.
The five most recent passwords can’t be reused.
3
After three failed attempts to log on, an account is locked for one hour. An administrator can unlock the account by accessing the Accounts tab in the user’s definition in SAS Management Console.
3
A forced password change occurs on first use and after a password is reset. This policy applies only to accounts with passwords that periodically expire. By initial policy, passwords don’t expire, so forced password changes don’t occur.
To change these settings for all internal accounts (except those that have an overriding per-account setting), edit the metadata server’s omaconfig.xml file and restart that server. Here is the syntax:
Note:
The following option names are case-sensitive.
4
Note:
A value of T has aliases (1 or Y). A value of F has aliases (0 or N).
4
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4 Chapter 13
ChangeDelayInMinutes="number" specifies the number of minutes that must elapse between password changes.
Applies only when you are resetting your own password.
Range:
0–1440
Default:
0
DigitRequired="T | F" specifies whether passwords must include at least one digit. To enforce this requirement, specify T.
Default:
F
ExpirationDays="number" specifies the number of days after password is set that the password expires. A value of 0 prevents passwords from expiring.
Range:
0–32767
Default:
0
ExpirePasswordOnReset="T | F" specifies whether a forced password change occurs on first use and after an administrative password reset. To disable this requirement, specify F.
Default:
T
Exceptions:
This option affects only accounts with passwords that expire and doesn’t apply when you reset your own password.
MinLength="number-of-characters" specifies the minimum length for passwords.
Range:
1–32
Default:
6
MixedCase="T | F" specifies whether passwords must include at least one upper case letter and at least one lower case letter. To enforce this requirement, specify T.
Default:
F
NumPriorPasswords="number" specifies the number of passwords that are maintained in each account’s password history. A user can’t reuse a password that is in the user’s account history.
Range:
0–5
Default:
5
InactiveDaysToSuspension="number" specifies the number of days after which an unused account is suspended. A value of 0 prevents suspensions due to inactivity.
Range:
0–32767
Default:
0
LockoutDurationInMinutes="number" specifies the number of minutes for which an account is locked following excessive login failures.
Range:
1–2
31
Default:
60
NumFailuresForLockout="number" specifies the number of consecutive unsuccessful logon attempts that cause an account to be locked. We recommend that you do not specify 0, because doing so can make your system vulnerable to password guessing attacks.
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4 Per-Account Policies
165
Range:
0–100
Default:
3
Per-Account Policies
4
5
To override server-level policies on a per-account basis:
1
2
Log on to SAS Management Console as someone who has user administration capabilities.
On the Plug-ins tab, select User Manager (in the foundation repository).
3
In the display pane, clear the Show Groups and Show Roles check boxes.
Right-click the user definition of the user whose SAS internal account policies you want to change. Select Properties.
At the bottom of the user’s Accounts tab, click Update.
Make changes in the Custom Settings box. Not all server-level settings can be modified on a per-account basis.
Note:
There are two distinct expiration settings. Don’t confuse the account expiration date with the password expiration period.
4
Note:
To minimize administrative maintenance effort for any predefined or service identities that have internal accounts, don’t add expiration dates to these accounts or expiration periods to these passwords.
4
The following table maps server-level policies to corresponding account-level policies. Not all policies can be set at both levels.
Table 13.1
Internal Account Policy Mapping
Server-Level Policy
ExpirationDays
LockoutDurationinMinutes
NumFailuresForLockout
NumPriorPasswords
Related Account Level Setting
Set a custom password expiration period.
Exempt from account lockout policy.
Exempt from password reuse policy.
For example, if you want to force a particular user to change his or her internal password after you create (or reset) the user’s internal account, but you don’t otherwise want the password to expire, set per-account settings as depicted in the following display.
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By using the maximum password expiration period, 32767 days (approximately 89 years) you force a password change on first use but don’t require any further password updates in a plausible time frame.
See Also
“SAS Internal Authentication” on page 150
“How to Configure SAS Internal Authentication” on page 162
How to Configure Web Authentication
Overview of Configuring Web Authentication
Note:
Before you configure Web authentication, verify that this is an appropriate choice in your environment. See “Web Authentication” on page 156.
4
Configuring Web authentication consists of the following high-level tasks:
1
2
Make configuration changes to SAS components (for example, edit the SAS login.config file to reference the web domain, add security information to the SAS
Logon Manager application, and adjust the classpath for the Remote Services application).
Make configuration changes to your Web environment (for example, add login modules and make SAS JAR files available).
3
4
Rebuild and redeploy the SAS Web applications. Update and restart the Web application server.
Verify or adjust user information in the SAS metadata so that each user who participates in Web authentication has an appropriate login in his or her metadata definition.
Vendor-Specific Instructions for Web Authentication
Many of the implementation details for Web authentication differ by product. For this reason, instructions for setting up Web authentication in JBoss, WebSphere, and
WebLogic are available in separate documents from support.sas.com/
thirdpartysupport
.
Logins for Users Who Participate in Web Authentication
If you choose to configure Web authentication, make sure that user metadata definitions include logins as explained in this topic.
Someone who uses only Web applications should have a login in the web authentication domain. For example: web | joe | (no password)
Someone who uses both Web and desktop applications might need two logins. One login contains the user’s authenticated ID after logging on to a desktop application, and the other login contains the user’s authenticated ID after logging on to a Web application. For example:
Authentication Tasks
4 How to Configure Direct LDAP Authentication
167
DefaultAuth web
| WIN\joe
| joe
| (no password)
| (no password)
In the preceding example, two logins are needed because the format of the authenticated user ID differs in each context as follows:
3
When Joe logs on to a desktop application (as joe), SAS obtains his user ID in down-level format (WIN\joe), and that string is matched to the user ID in Joe’s
DefaultAuth login.
3
When Joe logs on to a Web application (as joe), SAS obtains his user ID in short format (joe), and that string is matched to the user ID in Joe’s web login.
However, if the authenticated user ID is identical in both contexts, the web login is not needed. If SAS obtains both authenticated user IDs as joe, the web login is not needed. In the following example, the metadata server is not authenticating against
Windows accounts and the web login is not needed. When Joe logs on to a Web application, the presence of his DefaultAuth login (which contains the correct user ID) is sufficient for the metadata server to successfully determine his metadata identity.
DefaultAuth web
| joe | (no password)
| joe | (no password)
Note:
If your Web environment uses Integrated Windows authentication, you must pay careful attention to the format in which SAS obtains user IDs from the Web realm.
If you find that users of Web applications have only the PUBLIC identity, it is likely that the user ID in each web login is not in the same format as the user ID that SAS obtains from the Web realm.
4
Note:
This isn’t a comprehensive discussion of logins; some users might have additional logins for other purposes.
4
See Also
“How Logins Are Used” on page 139
“Add Regular Users” on page 10
“Authentication to the Metadata Server” on page 126
“User ID Formats” on page 32
How to Configure Direct LDAP Authentication
Note:
This is not a universally necessary task. Before you use these instructions, make sure that this is an appropriate choice in your environment. See “Direct LDAP
Authentication” on page 146.
4
To make a metadata server on UNIX directly recognize Active Directory accounts, locate the sasv9_usermods.cfg file that is in your equivalent of SAS/Config/Lev1/
SASMeta/MetadataServer
and add lines such as these:
/* Environment variables that describe your AD server */
-set AD_HOST myhost
/* System options that make AD the primary authentication provider */
-authpd ADIR:company.com -primpd company.com
You can reference only one Active Directory server. You might choose to use a Windows domain name (for example, ADIR:MyWinDomain instead of ADIR:company.com).
The preceding settings cause these results:
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Table 13.2
Example: User ID Formats if -authpd ADIR:company.com -primpd company.com
How a User Logs On Where the Metadata Server
Sends the Credentials
user-ID or user-ID@company.com
To Active Directory
WinDomain\user-ID
To Active Directory
user-ID@saspw
user-ID@host
user-ID@anything-else
To its internal provider
To its host
To its host
How the User ID Must Be Stored in SAS
Management Console
1
user-ID@company.com
WinDomain\user-ID or user-ID@WinDomain
No login for an internal account
user-ID user-ID@anything-else
1 If the ID isn’t stored in the correct format, the user can log on but has only the PUBLIC identity. Put the SAS copy of each user’s ID in a login on that user’s
Accounts
tab. Assign each login to DefaultAuth.
Or, to make a metadata server on UNIX or Windows directly recognize some other
LDAP provider, use lines such as these:
/* Environment variables that describe your LDAP server */
-set LDAP_HOST myhost
-set LDAP_BASE "ou=emp, o=us"
/* System options that make LDAP the primary authentication provider */
-authpd LDAP:company.com -primpd company.com
You can reference only one LDAP server.
The preceding settings cause these results:
Table 13.3
Example: User ID Formats if -authpd LDAP:company.com -primpd company.com
How a User Logs On Where the Metadata Server
Sends the Credentials
user-ID or user-ID@company.com
To LDAP
user-ID@saspw To its internal provider
user-ID@host To its host
user-ID@anything-else
To its host
How the User ID Must Be Stored in
SAS Management Console
1
user-ID@company.com
2
No login for an internal account
user-ID user-ID@anything-else
1 If the ID isn’t stored in the correct format, the user can log on but has only the PUBLIC identity. Put the SAS copy of each user’s ID in a login on that user’s
Accounts
tab. Assign each login to DefaultAuth.
2 When you use the LDAP version of -authpd, you must append the @primpd-value suffix in the SAS copy of each user ID that is authenticated by your LDAP provider.
To make the changes take effect, restart the metadata server. After you complete the configuration, verify that access to the workspace server isn’t compromised. If access fails, see “Mixed Providers” on page 135.
Table 13.4
Reference: Environment Variables
AD_HOST
AD_PORT
LDAP_HOST
LDAP_PORT
The host name of the machine where Active Directory is running.
The port number for Active Directory. The default is 389.
The host name of the machine where LDAP is running.
The port number for LDAP. The default is 389.
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4 How to Configure Integrated Windows Authentication
169
LDAP_BASE
LDAP_IDATTR
LDAP_PRIV_DN*
The base DN to use. For example: o=People, dc=orion, dc=com.
(Optional) an alternative LDAP attribute that the SAS server can use to find your DN. The default is uid.
The privileged DN that is allowed to search for users. For example, cn=useradmin.
LDAP_PRIV_PW* The password for LDAP_PRIV_DN. You can use the PWENCODE procedure to provide an encoded password.
* Set this variable only if users connect with a user ID instead of a DN, and the LDAP server does not allow anonymous binds.
Table 13.5
Reference: System Options
AUTHPD
PRIMPD
Use this option to register and name your Active Directory provider or other LDAP provider. For complete syntax, see the AUTHPROVIDERDOMAIN SAS system option.
Use this option to designate your Active Directory server or other LDAP provider as the primary authentication provider for the metadata server. The metadata server directly uses its primary provider when the submitted user ID has an @your-primpd suffix or no @ suffix at all. Using this option enables users to log on using their usual user IDs (no special suffix is required at log on time). For complete syntax, see the PRIMARYPROVIDERDOMAIN SAS system option.
Here are some additional details:
3
On UNIX, an alternate location for specifying the environment variables is in the
MetadataServer.sh shell script. For example:
AD_HOST=myhost export AD_HOST
3
3
On z/OS, a TKMVSENV file is used to make a list of pseudo environment variables available. A TKMVSENV PDS is created at installation. To define the environment variables, create a member in the PDS that specifies the necessary variables, and then reference this PDS member in the TKMVSENV DD statement in your started task.
Don’t move inbound logins (logins that provide access to the metadata server) out of the DefaultAuth authentication domain. Doing so can interfere with credential reuse. See “Credential Management” on page 144.
How to Configure Integrated Windows Authentication
Note:
This is not a universally necessary task. Before you use these instructions, verify that this is an appropriate choice in your environment. See “Integrated Windows
Authentication” on page 148.
4
Configuration of Integrated Windows authentication (IWA) can involve three distinct locations:
3
Client participation in IWA is determined by a setting in each connection profile.
If IWA isn’t selected by a client, it isn’t used for that client.
3
Server participation in IWA is affected by invocation commands. For example, the metadata server can’t use IWA if that server’s start command includes -nosspi.
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3
For the workspace server, participation in IWA also requires certain settings in that server’s metadata definition.
To configure IWA:
1
In a Java desktop application such as SAS Management Console, edit your connection profile. In the Connection Information panel, select the Use
Integrated Windows authentication
check box. Click Advanced and verify that the advanced IWA settings in your profile are as depicted in the following display.
Click Finish and then click OK. If you are now logged on to SAS Management
Console, IWA to the metadata server is working. If the connection fails, verify that the metadata server’s startup command includes -sspi (this is the standard setting).
Note:
If you don’t have a well-formed user definition that includes your Windows account ID, the status bar in SAS Management Console indicates that you are a
PUBLIC-only user. In order to log back on as an administrator, you must edit your connection profile again or create a new profile.
4
2
If the workspace server is on Windows, complete these steps:
a b
Log on to SAS Management Console as someone who has user administration capabilities (for example, sasadm@saspw).
On the Plug-ins tab, expand Server Manager and the application server
c
(for example, SASApp). Right-click the logical server (for example,
SASApp - Logical Workspace Server
) and select Properties.
On the Options tab, define settings as follows:
i ii iii iv
Select the Host radio button. IWA is a form of host authentication.
Select the Negotiate security package.
Leave the Service principal name field empty. In a standard configuration, servers register a default SPN and clients know how to construct that value. Entering a value here or on the client side interferes with this default process.
If the workspace server doesn’t require access to network resources (such as UNC pathnames), leave the default value of Kerberos,NTLM in the security package list. Or, if you want to ensure that the workspace server can access network resources, force that server to use only Kerberos. See
“How to Force Use of Kerberos” on page 172.
Here is an example of IWA settings:
Authentication Tasks
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171
3
Note:
If a user accesses the workspace server seamlessly but the spawner log indicates that credential-based authentication occurred (instead of IWA), the user’s context includes credentials for the workspace server’s host. This can happen if the user didn’t use IWA to get to the metadata server or if the user’s DefaultAuth login includes a password. Even when IWA is properly configured, any available credentials are used.
4
Tell users that they can select the IWA check box when they log on to desktop applications such as SAS Information Map Studio, SAS Data Integration Studio,
SAS OLAP Cube Studio, SAS Management Console, and SAS Enterprise Guide.
In general, users shouldn’t make changes to the advanced settings that are depicted in step 1.
IWA requires agreement between client and server about which security protocol to use when exchanging authentication packets. The following table provides details:
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Table 13.6
Integrated Windows Authentication Settings
Server
Setting
Negotiate security package
Associated Requirements
3 The client must select the Negotiate security package. To verify client-side settings, click
Advanced
in the connection profile.
3
3
3
The server must have a security package list. By default, servers have a security package list that offers the Kerberos and NTLM protocols.
At least one of the protocols in the server’s security package list must be offered by the client.
At least one of the protocols that are offered by both parties must actually be supported by both parties.
3
The Kerberos protocol can be used only if the client knows the server’s SPN, as explained in the following row.
Kerberos security package
NTLM security package
3
3
3
The client must select the Kerberos security package.
Both client and server must actually support the Kerberos protocol.
The client must know the server’s service principal name (SPN). In a standard configuration, this is transparent. SAS servers run as services under the Local System account and automatically register their SPN as
SAS/
machine-name:port. Clients can construct the default SPN (because they know the format, machine name, and port) so you don’t have to explicitly provide the SPN anywhere.
If you need to use a custom SPN:
1
In Windows, use the
setspn
command. For example: setspn -A sas/customValue myServer
This code registers
sas/customValue
as the SPN for all servers that run as services under the
Local System account on a machine that is named
myServer
. You must be a Windows domain administrator in order to use the
setspn
command.
2
Update all client-side connection profiles and the logical workspace server definition (if applicable) to include
sas/customValue
in the SPN field.
3
3
The client must select the NTLM security package.
Both client and server must actually support the NTLM protocol.
Note:
If your SAS servers use DNS aliases, you must manually register those aliases (as custom SPNs) in order to support Kerberos-based IWA connections.
4
How to Force Use of Kerberos
If you choose to use the SAS implementation of Integrated Windows authentication
(IWA), and you need to ensure that the Kerberos protocol is always used, complete the following instructions. These instructions assume that you have already completed the steps in “How to Configure Integrated Windows Authentication” on page 169.
Note:
You can’t use local accounts with this configuration, because local accounts can’t use Kerberos.
4
1
Specify -secpackagelist "Kerberos" in your equivalent of the following locations:
Authentication Tasks
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3
3
3
SAS\Config\Lev1\SASMeta\MetadataServer\sasv9_usermods.cfg
(for the metadata server)
SAS\Config\Lev1\SASApp\OLAPServer\sasv9_usermods.cfg
(if you need to support direct IWA connections to an OLAP server on Windows)
SAS\Config\Lev1\ObjectSpawner\ObjectSpawner.bat
(if the object spawner is on Windows). If the spawner runs as a service, complete these steps:
a b
From the Windows Start menu, select Programs
I SAS I SAS
Configuration
I <Level> I Object Spawner – Stop.
From the object spawner’s configuration directory, type:
ObjectSpawner.bat -remove
c d
Add the -secpackagelist "Kerberos" setting to the Set CMD_OPTIONS= line of ObjectSpawner.bat. Also, make sure that the -sspi setting is present.
To reinstall the spawner service, type:
ObjectSpawner.bat -install
2
If the workspace server is on Windows, make sure that its metadata definition includes only Kerberos in the Security package list field. This setting is located in SAS Management Console, on the Plug-ins tab under Server Manager.
The setting is on the Options tab of the logical workspace server definition.
Note:
If the workspace server accesses network resources (such as UNC pathnames), you must also mark the account under which the spawner runs as
trusted for delegation
. See “Windows Privileges” on page 36.
4
3
Restart the metadata server.
In general, it is not necessary to also change the default IWA setting in client-side connection profiles. If a server accepts only Kerberos, then clients with the default setting of Negotiate (and both Kerberos and NTLM in the security package list) use
Kerberos. However, in some circumstances, the client’s Windows system chooses to initiate communication using NTLM and is unable to comply with the server requirement by switching to Kerberos. For example, if the client and server are on the same machine, the client chooses NTLM. In these circumstances, you must adjust the client-side settings to specify only Kerberos.
Note:
In their 4.2 and earlier releases, SAS Enterprise Guide and the SAS Add-In for Microsoft Office don’t expose the advanced IWA settings.
4
Note:
If your SAS servers use DNS aliases, you must manually register those aliases in order to support Kerberos-based IWA connections. See the discussion of custom SPNs in Table 13.6 on page 172.
4
How to Store Passwords for the Workspace Server
Note:
This is not a universally necessary task. This is one of several solutions to a mixed provider situation. See “Mixed Providers” on page 135.
4
1
Log on to SAS Management Console as someone who has user administration capabilities (for example, sasadm@saspw).
2
On the Plug-ins tab, expand Server Manager, the application server example, SASApp) and the logical server
Workspace Server
).
(for
(for example, SASApp - Logical
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3
(Optional) Right-click the logical server, select Properties, and select the
Options tab. Make sure that the Authentication service is set to use Host with Username/Password. Click OK to close the dialog box and return to Server
Manager.
Below the logical server
Workspace Server
).
, select the server (for example, SASApp -
4
5
In the display panel, right-click the server’s connection object
Properties
.
and select
On the Options tab, notice the value in the Authentication domain drop-down list. If the value is something other than DefaultAuth, proceed to step 6.
Otherwise, complete these steps:
6 a b c
Next to the Authentication domain drop-down list, click New.
In the New Authentication Domain dialog box, enter a name such as
UNIXAuth
or WorkspaceAuth (you can use any name that is meaningful to you). Click OK.
On the Options tab, make sure the new authentication domain is selected in the Authentication domain drop-down list. Click OK.
Create a SAS copy of credentials that are known to the workspace server’s host operating system. In most cases, you will store shared credentials on a group’s
Accounts
. You can also store a unique set of individual credentials on each user’s
Accounts
tab. Each login must be assigned to the workspace server’s authentication domain. Each login must include both a user ID and a password.
For example, for a workspace server on UNIX:
UNIXAuth | myID | mypassword
For example, for a workspace server on Windows:
WINAuth | Win\myID | myWINpassword
If you store credentials for a workspace server that runs on Windows, give users the Log on as a batch job privilege. See “Windows Privileges” on page 36.
Note:
If you don’t store the passwords, users are prompted for such credentials when they make a request that requires access to the workspace server. Only desktop applications and SAS Web Report Studio provide such secondary logon prompts.
4
Note:
Do not instead leave the workspace server in DefaultAuth and move inbound logins to some other authentication domain. Failure to follow this recommendation won’t affect the initial logon process, but it will interfere with access to the workspace server. By default, all clients insert the credentials that a user submits at the logon prompt into that user’s context as a DefaultAuth entry. This cached DefaultAuth entry has priority over any DefaultAuth credentials that are retrieved from logins in the metadata.
4
See Also
“Credential Management” on page 144
“How Logins Are Used” on page 139
How to Store Passwords for a Third-Party Server
Note:
This is not a universally necessary task. Use these instructions to provide seamless access to a third-party server that uses a proprietary authentication provider
Authentication Tasks
4 How to Store Passwords for a Third-Party Server
175
(for example, Oracle). These instructions associate the database logins with a user or group, not directly with a database library.
4
1
Verify that the third-party server is registered in the metadata and is in its own authentication domain.
a
Select the third-party server’s definition under Server Manager on the
Plug-ins
tab in SAS Management Console.
2 b
In the display panel, right-click the server’s connection object and select
Properties
. The server’s authentication domain assignment is on the
Options
tab.
In the server’s authentication provider, identify or create accounts. Use any of the following approaches (here, Oracle is used as an example):
3
Create an individual Oracle account for each user. This provides the greatest accountability, but can also necessitate storing many Oracle user IDs and passwords in the metadata.
3
3
Create one Oracle account that all users will share. This greatly reduces the need to store Oracle user IDs and passwords, but also results in a loss of individual accountability.
Create a few Oracle accounts, each of which will be shared by several users.
This middle-of-the-road approach enables you to make some access distinctions in Oracle and store only a few Oracle user IDs and passwords in the metadata.
3
In the metadata, store the user IDs and passwords for each account as follows
(here, Oracle is used as an example):
3
If you created individual accounts on the Oracle server, add an Oracle login to each user definition.
3
If you created one shared account on the Oracle server, identify or create a group that contains the users who will access the Oracle server. Give that group a login that includes the user ID and password for the Oracle shared account.
Note:
If you want to provide access for all registered users, give the login to the SASUSERS group.
4
Note:
If you want to provide access for all users (including users who do not have an individual SAS identity), give the login to the PUBLIC group.
4
3
If you created several shared accounts on the Oracle server, identify or create a user group in the metadata for each shared account. Give each group a login for the Oracle server, and assign each user who connects to Oracle to one of the groups.
Assign these logins to the third-party server’s authentication domain. Store both an ID and a password in each login.
For example, for an Oracle server:
OracleAuth | myORAid | myORApassword
Note:
If you don’t store the passwords, users of desktop applications are prompted for such credentials when they make a request that requires access to the server.
SAS Web Report Studio has an interactive password management feature. Other
Web applications don’t support interactive logons to secondary servers.
4
See Also
“Credential Management” on page 144
“How Logins Are Used” on page 139
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4 Chapter 13
How to Reduce Exposure of the SASTRUST Password
Note:
This is not a universally necessary task. This is an optional configuration that can reduce the exposure of a privileged service account. Consider using these instructions if the standard protections (host protection of configuration files and encryption of the sastrust password in those files) is not sufficient for your environment.
On hosts other than Windows, these instructions might not provide a clear security benefit.
4
In the standard configuration, the OLAP server and the object spawner read the sastrust ID and password from their configuration files during initialization. These components use the sastrust credentials to connect to the metadata server and read the metadata that they use to perform their tasks. For example:
3
3
The spawner uses the SAS Trusted User identity to read metadata about the servers that it launches.
The OLAP server uses the SAS Trusted User to discover schemas and cubes and to impersonate each requesting user.
The primary reason to remove the sastrust credential from configuration files is to enhance security in a Windows environment. For sites that don’t use Integrated
Windows authentication, removing the sastrust credentials makes sense only if you prefer the exposure of using the trusted peer protocol to the exposure of storing the credentials in two host-protected files.
Note:
Another reason might be to avoid having to update the sastrust password in the configuration file. However, maintenance isn’t usually a concern because sastrust is usually an internal account with a password that doesn’t expire.
4
To remove the sastrust credentials from configuration files:
1
Locate the sasv9_meta.cfg file that is in your equivalent of SAS/Config/Lev1/.
Make a backup copy of the file. In the original file, delete your version of these lines:
-metauser "sastrust@saspw"
-metapass "{sas002}3CD4EA1E35CA49324AOC4D63"
2
Locate the file metadataConfig.xml file that is in your equivalent of SAS/Config/
Lev1/ObjectSpawner
. Make a backup copy of the file. In the original file, delete your version of this entry:
<Login Name="Metadata Login" UserId="sastrust@saspw"
Password="{sas002}3CD4EA1E35CA49324AOC4D63"/>
3
Determine which account (or accounts) are used for the connections and, on
Windows, what format you should use for the account ID in the following steps.
For example:
3
On UNIX, the spawner and the OLAP server run under a designated account that is identified during installation.
3
On Windows, if these components run under the local system account, use the format system@machine-name (if you are using trusted peer) or
machine-name$@Windows-domain (if you are using IWA). Otherwise, use the usual Windows qualified format (such as user-ID@Windows-domain).
4
To enable the spawner and the OLAP server to read the same metadata that sastrust reads, add a login such as this to the SAS Trusted User’s Accounts tab in SAS Management Console:
DefaultAuth | connecting-account-ID | (no password)
Authentication Tasks
4 About the Workspace Server’s Options Tab
177
If the components use different accounts, add one login for each account. For example:
DefaultAuth | myMachine$@myWinDomain | (no password)
DefaultAuth | invoker | (no password)
5
You can ignore any messages about multiple logins within an authentication domain.
To make the connecting accounts trusted users, add their account IDs to your equivalent of the SAS/Config/Lev1/SASMeta/MetadataServer/
trustedUsers.txt
file. Use the same format for the user ID that you used in step
3. For example, the updated contents might look like this: sastrust@saspw myMachine$@myWinDomain invoker
6
Note:
The OLAP server uses its trusted user status to impersonate clients for metadata access control evaluations. The spawner uses its trusted user status to determine which servers each requesting user is permitted to use.
4
Restart the metadata server. Verify that the spawner and the OLAP server can still contact the metadata server. In the metadata server log, you should see a separate connection from each component. The connections will be either IWA
(Integrated Windows authentication) or trusted peer.
Note:
In most configurations, IWA happens if the metadata server and the connecting component are on Windows and trusted peer happens on other hosts. If you expect IWA but instead see trusted peer, make sure the metadata server has
-sspi in its invocation command. If you expect trusted peer but the connection fails, make sure the metadata server has the trustsaspeer object server parameter specified.
4
See Also
“Integrated Windows Authentication” on page 148
“Trusted Peer Connections” on page 154
“Trusted User Connections” on page 155
“Passwords That Are Managed By the SAS Deployment Manager” on page 215
About the Workspace Server’s Options Tab
The following figure depicts the Options tab for a logical workspace server .
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4 Chapter 13
Figure 13.1
The Options Tab for a Logical Workspace Server
This setting specifies standard access control enforcement for the ReadMetadata permission on server definitions.
This setting specifies that credentialbased host authentication is always used.
These settings specify that IWA is used for clients that select IWA
(unless credentials are available).
With this setting, you must also select a launch credential on the Options tab of the server .
This setting is similar to Host with Username/Password, but it prevents SAS Enterprise Guide and the SAS Add-In for
Microsoft Office from silently storing passwords in metadata (and forces those applications to prompt users).
Here are some additional details about this tab:
3
Because these settings are in the metadata, they can affect only metadata-aware connections.
3
The Host with Username/Password setting can cause SAS Enterprise Guide and the SAS Add-In for Microsoft Office to silently store user passwords in metadata.
The storage occurs only if the workspace server is in its own authentication domain (for example, ServerAuth) and users interactively provide credentials when they access that server. If both of these circumstances apply to your deployment, consider selecting Prompt instead of Host with Username/Password.
3
3
The Host with Username/Password setting doesn’t eliminate prompting for credentials. With this setting, all desktop applications prompt users to interactively supply credentials in any circumstance where credentials are needed and are not otherwise available.
The Prompt setting is the same as the Host with Username/Password setting, except that it has the following additional effects in SAS Enterprise Guide and the
SAS Add-In for Microsoft Office:
3
3 prevents silent storage of user passwords in metadata increases interactive prompts for user credentials, preventing single sign-on from those applications to the workspace server
3
3
3
If a workspace server is converted to client-side pooling, this tab is disabled and might not accurately depict settings that apply if the server is accessed as a standard workspace server. To avoid confusion, don’t use the same workspace server for both client-side pooling and standard use. Instead, if you choose to set up client-side pooling, use a dedicated workspace server (inside a separate application server).
Configuring a workspace server to use SAS token authentication can be useful in a multi-host environment. See “Mixed Providers” on page 135.
Don’t turn off enforcement of the requirement for ReadMetadata permission. This setting is provided only in case a site needs it for backwards compatibility.
Authentication Tasks
4 About the Workspace Server’s Options Tab
179
3
Choosing one of the Integrated Windows authentication (IWA) packages doesn’t guarantee that IWA will always be used and doesn’t turn off credential-based host authentication. For example:
3
Users who don’t choose IWA in their client-side connection profiles don’t use
IWA. The client-side profile setting affects whether the initial connection to the metadata server uses IWA. In a session in which that initial connection doesn’t use IWA, IWA can’t be used to launch a workspace server.
3
If a user’s stored login includes a password for the workspace server’s authentication domain, those credentials are added to the user’s context and credential-based host authentication occurs, even if IWA is chosen by both server and client.
Note:
This information is provided to assist in troubleshooting when you expect IWA to occur but it does not. In most cases, a user’s login doesn’t have to include a password. When you view a user’s logins (on the Accounts tab of his or her user definition), the password field always displays eight asterisks, regardless of whether a password is stored.
4
3
Changes that you make on this tab take effect after you refresh the object spawner.
See Also
“Integrated Windows Authentication” on page 148
“SAS Token Authentication” on page 153
180
C H A P T E R
14
Server Configuration, Data
Retrieval, and Risk
About This Chapter
181
Identity Passing
182
About Identity Passing
182
How SAS Servers Preserve Identity
182
Launch Credentials
183
About Launch Credentials
183
Criteria for a Designated Launch Credential
184
How to Create and Designate a New Launch Credential
186
Who Can Launch a Standard Workspace Server?
187
Host Access to SAS Tables
187
Direct Access Versus Mediated Access
187
Managing the Risks of Mediated Host Access
189
Example: Multiple Levels of Host Access
190
Choices in Workspace Server Pooling
192
About Workspace Server Pooling
192
Benefits and Risks of Server-Side Pooling
192
Which Requests Are Eligible to Use Pooling?
194
Which Eligible Requests Actually Use Pooling?
194
Modifying the Initial Pooling Configuration
195
About This Chapter
This chapter explains how SAS servers retrieve SAS data for requesting users. For higher security environments, especially sites that need to provide secure access to SAS tables (data sets), this is essential information.
The central point of the chapter is that different servers retrieve SAS files from the operating system under different host identities. If you understand the underlying factors and relationships, you can make informed choices about data retrieval and risk.
The discussion is organized as follows:
3
“Identity Passing” on page 182 introduces the concept of preservation of user identity and outlines the behavior of each type of server.
3
“Launch Credentials” on page 183 explains how a server’s host identity is specified and how you can assign a different account to a server.
3
“Host Access to SAS Tables” on page 187 explains the risk of direct access that bypasses metadata controls and the concept of mediated access.
3
“Choices in Workspace Server Pooling” on page 192 describes benefits and risks of server configurations that are used when relational information maps are processed.
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182 Identity Passing
4 Chapter 14
Identity Passing
About Identity Passing
When a request is passed from one system to another, it is often preferable that the requesting user identity is passed along with the request. This provides individualized access control evaluations and individual accountability in the receiving system. Here are a few examples:
3
3
3
When a stored process server is launched, it has to use some SAS identity to contact the metadata server in order to discover any pre-assigned libraries.
When a user opens a SAS folder that contains cubes, the OLAP server has to use some SAS identity to contact the metadata server to determine which cubes to show to that user.
When a workspace server fetches SAS data from the operating system, it has to use some host identity to authenticate to the operating system and request the
SAS data set files.
In each example, the identity that is used affects the outcome (for example, which libraries are available, which cubes are visible, or which data files are returned).
How SAS Servers Preserve Identity
The following table provides details about how SAS servers preserve identity.
Table 14.1
Preservation of User Identity
Server
OLAP server
Stored process server
Workspace server (using any form of host authentication)
Workspace server (using SAS token authentication)
SAS Identity for Metadata Layer
Evaluations
The SAS Trusted User. However, user identity is preserved because this privileged service identity impersonates each requesting user.
1
Each requesting user’s SAS identity.
The exception is for library pre-assignment, which happens under the server identity.
2
The SAS identity of the server. This is the same as the SAS identity of the requesting user or group.
Each requesting user’s SAS identity.
Host Identity for Host Layer
Evaluations
The server’s host identity. This affects drilling to detail if the underlying data is in SAS tables.
The server’s host identity (the multi-user credential).
The server’s host identity (the host identity of the requesting user or group).
3
The server’s host identity (the launch credential).
Server Configuration, Data Retrieval, and Risk
4 About Launch Credentials
183
Server
Pooled workspace server
SAS Identity for Metadata Layer
Evaluations
Each requesting user’s SAS identity.
Host Identity for Host Layer
Evaluations
The server’s host identity (the launch credential).
The server’s host identity (the puddle login).
Client-pooled workspace server The SAS identity of the server.
However, SAS Web Report Studio pre-processes requests based on each requesting user’s SAS identity.
1 Except for retrieval of DBMS credentials, which happens under the SAS Trusted User’s identity. This affects drilling to detail if the underlying data is in a third-party DBMS.
2 The requesting user isn’t known at the time that library pre-assignment happens (during server initialization).
3 Each server process instance is launched on-demand and runs under the host identity of the requesting user (or group, if authentication is via stored group logins).
Note:
You can directly specify which identity to use on a connection to the metadata server (for example, with METAUSER and METAPASS). You can directly specify which identity to use on a connection to a host (for example, by providing explicit credentials in your code).
4
In the preceding table, notice that although metadata layer evaluations are almost always individualized (for example, Does Joe have metadata layer permission to see this
stored process?), physical layer evaluations are often generalized (for example, Does the
sassrv account have host layer permissions for this data? ).
In particular, requests from metadata-aware clients for SAS data often aren’t evaluated under the host identity of each requesting user. The host doesn’t know the user’s SAS identity, so the host can’t evaluate the user’s operating system permissions.
Instead, the host checks the permissions of the service account that is fetching the SAS data on behalf of the requesting user. These service accounts are referred to as launch credentials.
Launch Credentials
About Launch Credentials
Workspace servers and stored process servers use different process instances (SAS sessions) for different requests. Each process instance is launched by a spawner under a host account as follows:
3
For the stored process server, the pooled workspace server, and a standard workspace server that uses SAS token authentication, the spawner launches process instances under a designated service account. That account is called a launch credential (or, sometimes, a multi-user credential) and is specified as part of the server’s metadata definition. For example, in the initial configuration, the
SAS Spawned Servers account (sassrv) is the only designated launch credential.
3
For a standard workspace server that uses host authentication, the spawner launches a new process instance on-demand for each requesting user. The server’s metadata definition doesn’t include a designated launch credential. Instead, each requesting user’s personal host account is used to launch that user’s process instances. Or, if the server is accessed using group logins, a group account might
184 Criteria for a Designated Launch Credential
4 Chapter 14 be used. As a result, only users who can authenticate to the workspace server’s host can get a workspace server.
The following figure depicts a deployment where the sassrv account is the launch credential for all servers that run under a designated account. The last server in the figure is shaded because it depicts a specialized configuration and can’t coexist within an application server that includes another standard workspace server.
Figure 14.1
Example: Launch Credentials for Processing Servers
Spawner sassrv sassrv <user> sassrv
Pooled
Workspace
Server
Stored
Process
Server
Workspace
Server
(standard)
Workspace Server
(standard using SAS token authentication)
Note:
If you use client-side pooling, the puddle login is comparable to the launch credential.
4
Criteria for a Designated Launch Credential
The Launch credentials (or Multiuser credentials) setting is available on the
Options
tab for a standard workspace server that uses SAS token authentication, the stored process server, and the pooled workspace server.
Display 14.1
Choosing a Launch Credential
Note:
In the preceding display, the values within parentheses indicate the authentication domain of the credential. These values aren’t part of the service account
ID. For example, the selected account ID is WIN\sassrv, not WIN\sassrv
(DefaultAuth)
.
4
You should carefully select each server’s launch credential for these reasons:
3
Not all of the choices are viable without additional configuration.
3
Each server retrieves SAS data from the operating system under the host identity of its designated launch credential. Anyone who can use a particular server can potentially access all of the data that is available to that server’s launch credential.
The following list explains the choices in the launch credential list:
(None)
Server Configuration, Data Retrieval, and Risk
4 Criteria for a Designated Launch Credential
185
prevents proper functioning of the server. If the Multiuser credentials or
Launch credentials
drop-down list is present and enabled on the Options tab for a server , that server is not functional when (None) is selected.
Use spawner identity
can introduce the following complications:
3
On Windows, using the spawner’s host identity as a launch credential causes launched processes to run with restricted access. For example, even if the spawner runs under the local system account, the host identity of the launched process isn’t a member of Windows groups such as Administrators and Power Users. The downgrade is necessary in order to avoid security exposures. The downgrade can interfere with legitimate operation of the server.
3
Note:
In the initial configuration, a spawner on Windows runs as a service under the local system account. You can reconfigure the spawner to run under some other account.
4
In the standard configuration, the spawner’s SAS identity (PUBLIC) can’t launch a pooled workspace server or a stored process server. As a
PUBLIC-only identity, the spawner lacks the necessary grant of the
ReadMetadata permission on the server definition.
Note:
One solution is to create an individual SAS identity for the spawner account. For example, create a user definition named SPAWNER and store the user ID of the spawner account as a login on the Accounts tab of that user definition. In the initial configuration, all registered users (SASUSERS) have ReadMetadata permission for server definitions. If you narrow access, you might have to add a grant of ReadMetadata permission on the server’s
Authorization
tab for the SPAWNER user.
4
Note:
Ensure that the server’s launch credential has any necessary host access to the SAS Web Report Studio query cache library (wrstemp) and distribution library (wrsdist). See the SAS Intelligence Platform: Web Application
Administration Guide.
4
A listed login (for example, WIN\sassrv) or a login that you access by selecting More
logins
is the standard choice. In order to successfully function as a launch credential, a login must meet all of the following criteria:
3
The login that must be visible to the spawner. All of the logins on the
Accounts
tab of the SAS General Servers group are visible to the spawner.
Note:
The SAS Trusted User is a member of the SAS General Servers group.
The spawner uses the SAS Trusted User to gather the metadata information needed to launch servers.
4
3
The login must include the user ID and password for an account that is known to server’s host. It doesn’t matter which authentication domain the login is in.
Note:
If the server is on Windows, the user ID in the login must be in a qualified format (for example, WIN\serviceID).
4
3
The login must be owned by a SAS identity that has the ReadMetadata permission for the server definition. In the standard configuration, this requirement is met because the SAS General Servers group, like all other registered identities, has ReadMetadata permission for all server definitions.
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3
3
However, if you choose to limit ReadMetadata permission on a server definition, you must preserve access for the SAS General Servers group.
The login must reference an account that has host layer access to any SAS data that it retrieves.
If the server is on Windows, the login must reference an account that has the
Log on as a batch job
privilege.
Note:
The login should reference a service account. This login shouldn’t correspond to a real person.
4
Note:
Ensure that the server’s launch credential has any necessary host access to the SAS Web Report Studio query cache and distribution libraries. See the SAS
Intelligence Platform: Web Application Administration Guide.
4
The preceding discussion assumes that your deployment uses the standard predefined metadata groups and users. You can choose to configure variations (for example, create a group other than the SAS General Servers group to hold logins for launch credentials). In general, such variations aren’t recommended because they unnecessarily increase complexity and reduce consistency.
How to Create and Designate a New Launch Credential
1
Identify or create the host account.
3
3
If the server will retrieve SAS data, make sure the host account has appropriate access to those files.
If the server is on Windows, assign the Log on as a batch job privilege to the account.
2
3
Log on to SAS Management Console as someone who has user administration capabilities (for example, sasadm@saspw). Other users can’t add logins to a group definition or see logins that they don’t own.
In User Manager, create a login on the Accounts tab of the SAS General Servers group. This login must include both a user ID and a password.
Note:
If the server is on Windows, the user ID in the login must be in a qualified format (for example, WIN\serviceID).
4
Note:
You can ignore any warnings about having multiple logins in the same authentication domain. These logins are directly associated with servers. These logins aren’t looked up by authentication domain.
4
Note:
You can’t reuse a login that already exists on the Accounts tab for some other user or group. The metadata server’s integrity constraints prevent you from assigning the same user ID to two different SAS identities.
4
Note:
You can use the same login as a launch credential for more than one server.
4
Note:
Users should not be members of the SAS General Servers group. This group is for service identities only. Users don’t retrieve these credentials, so users shouldn’t have access to these logins. In a standard configuration, these logins are available only to the privileged service identity that the spawner uses to read all server metadata (the SAS Trusted User).
4
4
In Server Manager, on the server’s Options tab, select the login as the server’s launch credential (or multiuser credential).
Note:
The launch credential is designated at the level of the server component
, not at the level of the logical server .
4
Server Configuration, Data Retrieval, and Risk
4 Direct Access Versus Mediated Access
187
Note:
To locate a login that isn’t displayed in the drop-down list, select the More
logins
entry. Although all logins are displayed in the secondary dialog box, any login that isn’t visible to the SAS Trusted User isn’t a viable choice.
4
5
To make the changes take effect, re-initialize the spawner.
6 a b
Expand the object spawner
Connect
.
c
Validate the server.
, right-click the computer , and select
Right-click the computer again and select Refresh Spawner. In the message box, click Yes.
Right-click the computer a third time and select Disconnect.
Who Can Launch a Standard Workspace Server?
In order to launch a standard workspace server that uses any form of host authentication, a user must have access to an individual or group account that meets all of the following criteria:
3
The account must be known to the workspace server’s host. An internal account
(such as sasadm@saspw) doesn’t meet this requirement.
3
3
The account must have host layer access to any SAS data that it retrieves.
If the server is on Windows, and the user doesn’t connect through Integrated
Windows authentication, the account must have the Log on as a batch job privilege.
3
If the user supplies credentials interactively (for example, at a secondary logon prompt), the account must correspond to a SAS identity that has the
ReadMetadata permission for the workspace server definition. In the initial configuration, all registered users meet this requirement, but a PUBLIC-only identity (someone who doesn’t have a well-formed user definition) doesn’t meet this requirement.
Note:
If the Use Server Access Security check box on the Options tab of the logical server is cleared, this requirement doesn’t apply.
4
Host Access to SAS Tables
Direct Access Versus Mediated Access
A SAS table (data set) is stored as a file in a host operating system. In general, a
SAS table can be directly accessed and read by anyone who has the necessary host operating system permissions to that file. You can use the SAS metadata authorization layer to further constrain access. However, those additional constraints apply only when the user requests that data in a metadata-aware context.
As a simple example, assume that you have registered a library and several tables in the metadata. In SAS Management Console, you deny userA the ReadMetadata permission for a table named Salary. This prevents userA from seeing the Salary table in metadata-aware applications. However, if userA has host access to the physical file that contains the table data, userA can open that file in Base SAS and examine all of the data. When the table is accessed directly, the metadata layer denial of
188 Direct Access Versus Mediated Access
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ReadMetadata permission isn’t applied. In the following figure, the first image illustrates the issue and introduces the concept of mediated access.
Figure 14.2
Host Access to SAS Data
A user who has host access to SAS data can bypass metadata layer controls.
To prevent bypass, limit host access and provide only mediated access.
Metadata Layer Controls Metadata Layer Controls
Mediation
Privileged
Service Account
SAS Data
Host
Layer
Controls
SAS Data
With mediated access, a workspace server or stored process server retrieves SAS data from the host operating system using a service account called a launch credential.
The server uses one account to retrieve data on behalf of each requesting user.
Mediation is an integral part of a standard configuration as follows:
3
Host access from the stored process server and the pooled workspace server is always mediated.
3
Host access from the standard workspace server is mediated if the server is configured to use SAS token authentication or if the server is providing client-side pooling.
Mediation offers the following advantages:
3
Mediation makes pooling of workspace servers possible. For Web applications, in particular SAS Web Report Studio, some form of pooling (client-side or server-side) is strongly recommended for performance reasons. Both forms of pooling always result in mediated host access to SAS data.
3
Mediation facilitates partial access to a SAS table through metadata layer controls
(for example, row-level or column-level access). Host layer controls are at the file level. Such controls can grant or deny access to only an entire table.
3
Mediation helps you avoid creating end-user accounts on back-end servers that host SAS data.
Server Configuration, Data Retrieval, and Risk
4 Managing the Risks of Mediated Host Access
189
CAUTION:
Along with its advantages, mediation introduces some risk.
If your deployment includes sensitive data in SAS tables, it is essential to review existing host layer controls and to understand the effects of mediated access.
4
Managing the Risks of Mediated Host Access
The risks of mediated host access are as follows:
3
Someone might obtain the service account ID and password and use those credentials to directly access the data.
3
Someone might misuse the server in order to access data in a manner that circumvents metadata layer controls.
The following table describes techniques for reducing risk. Keep in mind that there is no absolute security and that you must balance security goals against other considerations.
Table 14.2
Alternatives for Reducing Mediation Risks
Modification
Use a different launch credential for each server. For example, configure the server-side pooled workspace server with its own dedicated launch credential.
Risk Reduction
Diversification reduces exposure for each launch credential.
Notes
Recommended if you have sensitive data in
SAS tables. See “Launch
Credentials” on page
183.
Recommended if you have server-side pooling.
Limit the availability of SAS
Information Map Studio by installing that application only where it is needed.
Limit the SAS folder locations from which relational information maps can be used.
1
Reduces opportunity to misuse that application.
Reduces opportunity to use a rogue information map, but affects only SAS Web
Report Studio and SAS Web Report Viewer.
See the wrs.map.accessibility.check
property in the SAS
Intelligence Platform:
Web Application
Administration Guide.
See “Choices in
Workspace Server
Pooling” on page 192.
Set up client-side pooling using a protected, dedicated service account as the puddle login.
Delete the server-side pooled workspace server (and, for performance reasons, set up client-side pooling for SAS Web
Report Studio).
Set up a restricted deployment of SAS
Web Report Studio with client-side pooling.
Reduces opportunity to misuse the server by creating a rogue application. A client-pooled workspace server can be used from only designated Web applications.
Eliminates opportunity to misuse that server
(in SAS Information Map Studio or in a rogue application).
Fully isolates the restricted client-side pool
(with a dedicated pool administrator as well as a dedicated puddle login).
1
See “Choices in
Workspace Server
Pooling” on page 192.
See Chapter 8, “BI
Row-Level Permissions,” on page 93.
1 This measure is necessary in order to make row-level permissions that are defined in information maps fully secure.
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Example: Multiple Levels of Host Access
The preceding figure depicts a simple case where there is only one level of host access. You can establish multiple levels of host access by setting up multiple servers, each with its own launch credential. This can involve a trade off of granularity (how
many different levels of access will I establish?) against administrative effort (how much
server metadata will I create and manage?).
For example, the following instructions show how you can physically isolate sensitive data that is accessed through a logical workspace server that uses SAS token authentication.
1
In the operating system that hosts the SAS data:
a b
Establish a separate file system directory for each level of access. This enables you to avoid setting host permissions on individual files. For example, to separate HR tables, you might create an HR directory.
Create or identify one service account for each level of access. For example, to provide physical protection for HR data, you might add an hrsrv account.
c
Note:
For servers on Windows, each launch account must have the Log on
as a batch job
privilege. See “Windows Privileges” on page 36.
4
Set operating system permissions so that each account has appropriate access to your SAS data. For example, deny the general use account (sassrv) physical access to the HR data and grant the HR account (hrsrv) physical access to all data (including the HR data).
2
Note:
If you want certain IT staff to be able to access the data directly using their own accounts, preserve that access.
4
In SAS Management Console’s User Manager, select the SAS General Servers group, right-click, and select the Accounts tab. For each service account that you created in step 1, click New and enter the service account credentials as an additional login for the SAS General Servers group. Include a password in each of these logins. For example, you might enter the HR login as:
DefaultAuth | WIN\hrsrv | password
Note:
Each of these logins will be directly associated with a particular server, instead of being looked up by authentication domain. For this reason, it doesn’t matter which authentication domain you use. You can ignore any warnings about the SAS General Servers group having multiple logins in the same authentication domain.
4
Note:
Users should not be members of the SAS General Servers group. This group is for service identities only. Users don’t retrieve these credentials, so users shouldn’t have access to these logins. In a standard configuration, these logins are available only to the privileged service identity (the SAS Trusted User) that the spawner uses to read all server metadata.
4
3
In Server Manager, select the logical workspace server , right-click, and select Properties. On the Options tab, verify that the Use server access
security
check box and the SAS token authentication radio button are selected. Click Cancel.
4
Select the logical workspace server again, right-click, and select Add Server. Set up one additional server for each level of access. All of the servers can use the same port. For example, you might add a server named Human Resources.
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191
5
Beneath the logical workspace server, complete these steps for each server that you added:
a
Select the server, right-click, select Properties, and select the Options tab.
In the Launch credentials drop-down list, select one of the service accounts
(use a different account for each server). For example, for the Human
Resources server you would first select More logins and then search for and select the login that references the hrsrv account.
b
Note:
In order to see this login in the list, you need user administration capabilities.
4
On the Authorization tab, use the ReadMetadata permission to control who can use that server.
Note:
Be sure to preserve necessary service access. See “Hiding Server
Definitions” on page 88.
4
6
7
Under Server Manager, select the object spawner , right-click, and select
Properties
. On the object spawner’s Servers tab, add the new servers to the
Selected Servers
list.
To make the changes take effect:
a b c
Expand the object spawner
Connect
.
, right-click the computer , and select
Right-click the computer again and select Refresh Spawner. In the message box, click Yes.
Right-click the computer a third time and select Disconnect.
8
To validate, expand the logical workspace server each connection object and select a server in the display area, right-click and select Test
Connection
. Test the connections for every other sibling server added under the logical workspace server.
that you
. On
If you want to also enable power users to access data using their own accounts, set up a separate application server for those users. In that application server, add a logical workspace server that uses some form of host authentication. Even though regular users wouldn’t be able to authenticate (because they wouldn’t have host accounts for the workspace server machine), it is a good practice to limit ReadMetadata access to the additional application server.
You can use a similar approach to set up multiple levels of host access for a stored process server or a server-pooled workspace server. For multiple levels of host access from a client-pooled workspace server, set up multiple puddles. Always ensure that the server’s host identity meets all of the requirements that are documented in “Launch
Credentials” on page 183.
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Choices in Workspace Server Pooling
About Workspace Server Pooling
The primary purpose of pooling is to enhance performance by avoiding the time penalty that is associated with launching all workspace servers on demand. In pooling, a set of workspace servers are made available to process certain types of query requests. In general, pooling is used when a relational information map is queried, processed, opened, or used indirectly (through a report).
The initial configuration in a new deployment conforms to the following general recommendations:
3
Use server-side pooling. The initial configuration includes a logical pooled workspace server.
3
Use client-side pooling only if you have security requirements that aren’t met by server-side pooling. The initial configuration doesn’t include client-side pooling.
Benefits and Risks of Server-Side Pooling
Server-side pooling offers the following benefits:
3
With server side-pooling, the spawner can request user-specific metadata layer access evaluations, such as whether a user has permission to use a particular server. This isn’t possible in client-side pooling because use of the pool administrator prevents the spawner from knowing who the requesting user is.
3
3
With server-side pooling, you can track each request to a specific server instance.
This level of auditing isn’t possible in client-side pooling because use of the pool administrator prevents the spawner from knowing who the requesting user is.
With server-side pooling, testing of an information map in SAS Information Map
Studio more closely approximates results in SAS Web Report Studio, because both requests can use the same server.
3
3
With server-side pooling, allocation of server processes is managed across clients, using the spawner’s load-balancing capabilities. Client-side pooling uses round-robin assignments on a per-application basis.
A side effect of pooling is that the launched workspace servers run under a designated service account. This side-effect is beneficial in avoiding credential gaps that can occur when a desktop application requests a workspace server from a middle-tier service. This benefit is not provided by client-side pooling, because client-side pooling is supported only for Web applications.
Server-side pooling introduces the following risks:
3
Someone might write a rogue application that bypasses metadata layer access controls. This risk originates from the following difference in server control:
3
In client-side pooling, the server is controlled by a designated Web application. Only that application can request a pooled workspace server, because only that application can provide the pool administrator’s credentials. No other application can use (or exploit) the server.
3
In server-side pooling, there is no pool administrator or alternate form of application-based gatekeeping. Anyone who can use the server legitimately
(from a SAS application) can also exploit that server by writing a rogue
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4 Benefits and Risks of Server-Side Pooling
193
application that uses the server to fetch SAS tables. The security issue is that retrieval from such an application bypasses metadata-layer controls that apply when the same data is accessed in a legitimate manner. For example, a request in SAS Web Report Studio might be filtered by a metadata layer permission condition that enables the user to see only certain rows in a data set.
Note:
This exposure is also applicable to other SAS processing servers that provide mediated access (standard workspace servers that use SAS token authentication, stored process servers). This exposure occurs in client-side pooling if a user obtains the pool administrator’s credentials.
4
Note:
To avoid a similar exposure, nobody is allowed to assign a stored process to a server-side pooled workspace server.
4
3
Someone might exploit the server-side pooled workspace server from within SAS
Information Map Studio. In general, only information map creators who have host access to the target data use this application. If someone else has SAS Information
Map Studio, that person could bypass metadata layer controls when querying a relational information map from within that application.
Note:
This is never a risk with client-side pooling, because client-side pooling isn’t available for desktop applications such as SAS Information Map Studio.
4
The following table summarizes the trade-offs. For completeness, the table includes a column for a standard workspace server that uses SAS token authentication and a column for a standard workspace server that uses either form of host authentication
(credential-based or Integrated Windows authentication).
Table 14.3
Summary: Comparison of Workspace Server Configurations
Advantage Pooled
Server-
Side
Client-
Side
Not Pooled
SAS
Token
Host
Performance and Compatibility:
Improves performance of Web applications.
Compatible with spawner-based load balancing.
Compatible with Web authentication.
Accommodates batch generation of scheduled reports.
1
Fully compatible with Integrated Windows authentication.
2
Security:
The SAS identity of the requesting user (or group) is used for metadata layer evaluations.
Server access security is supported.
The server is controlled by designated client applications.
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Advantage Pooled
Server-
Side
Client-
Side
Not Pooled
SAS
Token
Host
The user (or group) host identity is passed to the host layer.
The user (or group) host identity is passed to SQL Server.
3
1 Credentials for the workspace server are available to the batch generation process.
2 Accommodates requests through SAS Intelligent Query Services for a workspace server (for example, opening an information map after logging on to SAS Enterprise Guide using Integrated Windows authentication).
3 If the workspace server’s host authentication is by IWA and any additional configuration requirements are met.
Which Requests Are Eligible to Use Pooling?
Only requests that are handled by a particular query services software component are eligible to use pooling. That software component is primarily used to query, process, open, or otherwise interact with a relational information map.
Note:
In SAS Enterprise Guide and the SAS Add-In for Microsoft Office, not all such requests are eligible. If the libraries that an information map references can be assigned within an existing SAS session, a request to open that information map is not eligible to use pooling. To ensure that such requests are eligible, limit physical (host operating system) access to the directories that are referenced by that information map’s libraries. Deny access to users and grant access to the host identity under which a pooled server runs.
4
Note:
Similar requests that don’t involve a relational information map aren’t eligible, because those requests aren’t handled by the query services component. For example, requests to open a report that directly contains a stored process or open a report that contains OLAP data are not eligible.
4
Note:
A few specialized low-level tasks (such as dynamically building a list of prompt values) are eligible, because the query services component is used for those tasks.
4
Not all requests that can use pooling actually do so. See the following topic.
Which Eligible Requests Actually Use Pooling?
Use of pooling for eligible requests is constrained as follows: client-side pooling can be used for eligible requests in only specially configured Web applications. For example, if SAS Web Report Studio’s configuration includes a pool administrator, that application uses client-side pooling to process information maps.
server-side pooling can be used for eligible requests in any application. For example, server-side pooling can be used to process information maps from SAS Web Report Studio,
SAS Information Map Studio, SAS Enterprise Guide, and the SAS Add-In for
Microsoft Office. However, eligible requests don’t use server-side pooling in the following circumstances:
3
If a Web application has a configured pool administrator, requests from that application don’t use server-side pooling.
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4 Modifying the Initial Pooling Configuration
195
3
If there is no logical pooled workspace server under a particular application server , requests for resources that are assigned to that application server can’t use server-side pooling.
3
If a user doesn’t have the ReadMetadata permission for the logical pooled workspace server pooling.
, requests made by that user can’t use server-side
Note:
If you chose to limit ReadMetadata permission permission for the server, be sure to preserve necessary access for service identities.
4
Note:
If the Use Server Access Security check box on the logical server’s
Options
tab is cleared, users don’t need ReadMetadata permission. This check box should always be selected.
4
The following figure summarizes the decision sequence that determines what type of server processes an eligible request. Most of the determinative factors can be controlled by an administrator.
Figure 14.3
Use of Pooling (Applies to Only Eligible Requests)
Standard Standard
Did the eligible request originate in a desktop application?
Yes
Is there a logical pooled workspace server?
No
Yes
No No
Does the originating
Web application have a pool administrator?
Yes
Is client-side pooling fully configured?
Does the requesting user have RM for the logical pooled server?
Yes
No
No
Yes
Is the requesting user in a puddle group?
Yes
No
Standard
Server-side
Pooling
Request is denied
Client-side
Pooling
In the preceding figure, the bold (green) text and arrows mark the decision path in a new deployment with the default configuration. In such a deployment, there are two logical workspace servers within the general-use application server (for example,
SASapp
):
3 a server-side pooled workspace server (the Logical Pooled Workspace Server) that is visible to all registered users.
3 a standard workspace server (the Logical Workspace Server) that is not converted to client-side pooling. There is no configured pool administrator, so client-side pooling is not attempted.
Modifying the Initial Pooling Configuration
If you are concerned about the risk that server-side pooling introduces, and that concern outweighs the advantages of server-side pooling, consider these options:
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3
3
For a high security implementation of BI row-level permissions, you must use client-side pooling in a separate deployment of SAS Web Report Studio. You can continue to use server-side pooling in the original deployment.
To prevent only Web applications from using server-side pooling, configure those applications to use client-side pooling.
Note:
In order to get the security benefit, you must set up client-side pooling correctly. For example, don’t use the general SAS Spawned Servers credential
(sassrv) as the puddle login.
4
3
To enable information map creators to run queries under their own host identities
(instead of under the launch credential of the server-side pooled workspace server), hide that server definition from those users. Someone who can’t see the logical pooled workspace server uses the standard workspace server instead.
Note:
This is appropriate only if you have an information map creator who shouldn’t be able to access all data that is available to the pooled workspace server. This doesn’t eliminate the risk of unauthorized use of SAS Information
Map Studio by someone who legitimately uses the server-side pooled workspace server from other applications.
4
3
To completely eliminate use of server-side pooling, delete the logical pooled workspace server. For performance reasons, we recommend that you also configure client-side pooling for SAS Web Report Studio.
See Also
Chapter 8, “BI Row-Level Permissions,” on page 93
"Configuring Client-side Pooling" in the SAS Intelligence Platform: Application
Server Administration Guide
“Hiding Server Definitions” on page 88
P A R T
4
Encryption
Chapter
15
. . . . . . . . .
Encryption Model
199
Chapter
16
. . . . . . . . .
Encryption Tasks
203
197
198
C H A P T E R
15
Encryption Model
Encryption Strength and Coverage
199
Two Classes of Encryption Strength
199
Two Contexts for Encryption Coverage
199
Default Settings for On-Disk Encryption
199
Default Settings for Over-the-Wire Encryption
200
About SAS/SECURE
201
What Does SAS/SECURE Provide?
201
How Are SAS/SECURE Features Surfaced?
201
Licensing and Availability of SAS/SECURE
202
Encryption Strength and Coverage
Two Classes of Encryption Strength
SAS offers two classes of encryption strength:
3
If you don’t have SAS/SECURE, you can use only the SASProprietary algorithm.
SASProprietary encoding uses 32-bit keys and is appropriate for preventing accidental exposure of information. SASProprietary is licensed with Base SAS software and is available in all deployments.
3
If you have SAS/SECURE, you can use an industry-standard encryption algorithm such as AES. SAS/SECURE is an add-on product that is licensed separately and offers maximum protection.
Two Contexts for Encryption Coverage
SAS provides encryption in two contexts:
3
On-disk encryption protects data at rest. The emphasis is on protection of passwords, both in configuration files and in the metadata repository.
3
Over-the-wire encryption protects data while in transit. The emphasis is on protection of credentials, but you can also choose to protect all traffic in transit.
Default Settings for On-Disk Encryption
On-disk encryption protects data at rest. The following table describes initial support:
199
200 Default Settings for Over-the-Wire Encryption
4 Chapter 15
Table 15.1
On-Disk Encryption and Encoding
Content and Context
Password on disk in the metadata
Password on disk in a configuration file
Most other metadata on disk
SAS data sets on disk
Algorithm
AES
1
Configuration
Controlled by the STOREPASSWORDS option in the metadata server’s omaconfig.xml file.
SASProprietary If you have SAS/SECURE, you can upgrade to
AES. See “Password Updates for Service
Accounts” on page 14.
None Not configurable.
None To apply encryption, use the ENCRYPT= data set option.
2
1 If you don’t have SAS/SECURE, SASProprietary is used.
2 The ENCRYPT= data set option uses a proprietary encryption algorithm that is not the same as the SASProprietary algorithm. See the SAS Language Reference: Dictionary.
Note:
Configuration files and metadata repository data sets should also be host protected.
4
Default Settings for Over-the-Wire Encryption
Over-the-wire encryption protects data while in transit. The following table describes initial support:
Table 15.2
Over-the-Wire Encryption and Encoding
Content and Context
Password in transit when a user logs on to a SAS desktop application
Password in transit when a user connects directly to the OLAP server
(for example, from a SAS data provider)
Password in transit when a user connects to the metadata server from a
Base SAS session
Password in transit when a client retrieves a stored password from the metadata
Password in transit when a client sends a password to the metadata for storage
Algorithm
AES
1
AES
1
Configuration
NETENCRALG option in the metadata server’s invocation command.
NETENCRALG option in the server’s invocation command.
AES
1
NETENCRALG option in the server’s invocation command. Can be affected by the METAENCRYPTALG option in the client session.
SASProprietary RETURNPASSWORDS option in the metadata server’s omaconfig.xml file.
If you have SAS/SECURE, you can upgrade to AES. See “How to Increase
Encryption Strength for Outbound
Passwords in Transit” on page 206.
SASProprietary Not configurable.
Encryption Model
4 How Are SAS/SECURE Features Surfaced?
201
Content and Context
Other data in transit to and from SAS servers
Data (including passwords) in transit between a Web browser and a Web application server
Algorithm
None
None
Configuration
CEL object server parameter.
See the SAS Intelligence Platform: Web
Application Administration Guide.
1 If you don’t have SAS/SECURE, SASProprietary is used.
About SAS/SECURE
What Does SAS/SECURE Provide?
SAS/SECURE makes industry-standard encryption algorithms available for use in the SAS Intelligence Platform as follows:
3
SAS/SECURE enables you to provide stronger protection for data in transit than is provided by SASProprietary encoding. This affects communications among SAS servers and between SAS servers and SAS desktop clients. Here are the supported algorithms by host:
3
3
On UNIX and z/OS, SAS/SECURE supports AES (Advanced Encryption
Standard), AES predecessors (DES and TDES), and the RC4 and RC2 algorithms.
On Windows, SAS/SECURE supports algorithms that are included in the
Microsoft Cryptographic API.
3
SAS/SECURE enables you to provide stronger protection for stored passwords than is provided by SASProprietary encoding. This affects both passwords that are stored in the metadata and passwords that are included in configuration files. The only supported industry-standard algorithm for stored passwords is AES (SAS003).
CAUTION:
Passwords that are stored in SAS003 format become unusable and inaccessible if
SAS/SECURE is unavailable.
If SAS/SECURE is installed, the default format for stored passwords is SAS003. It is important to keep your SAS/SECURE license current. If you choose to discontinue use of SAS/SECURE, you must revert all stored passwords to SAS002 format before uninstalling the software. To revert passwords, set STOREPASSWORDS="SAS002", restart the metadata server, and use SAS Management Console to re-enter passwords in any logins that need to include passwords.
4
Note:
In the SAS Intelligence Platform, SAS/SECURE provides only encryption features. Other security features (such as metadata authorization, single sign-on, and use of SSL by SAS applications that run in a third-party Web application server) are not related to SAS/SECURE.
4
How Are SAS/SECURE Features Surfaced?
SAS/SECURE isn’t an interactive software product (like SAS Management Console) or a product that has its own SAS language elements (like SAS/ACCESS). In the SAS
Intelligence Platform, SAS/SECURE features are surfaced as follows:
202 Licensing and Availability of SAS/SECURE
4 Chapter 15
3
3
In server invocation commands, the -netencralg option support values other than
SASProprietary only if you have SAS/SECURE.
In SAS Management Console, server encryption algorithm values other than
SASProprietary are supported only if you have SAS/SECURE.
Note:
All algorithms are listed regardless of whether you have SAS/SECURE. Do not select a value other than SASProprietary unless you have licensed SAS/
SECURE. Use the same algorithm and level on all servers.
4
3
3
In the PWENCODE procedure, the METHOD option supports the SAS003 value
(AES) only if you have SAS/SECURE.
In the RETURNPASSWORDS and STOREPASSWORDS options in the metadata server’s omaconfig.xml file, the SAS003 value (AES) is supported only if you have
SAS/SECURE.
Licensing and Availability of SAS/SECURE
Licensing and availability for SAS/SECURE is as follows:
3
Although SAS/SECURE is automatically included in all deployment plan files that include Base SAS, SAS/SECURE is not licensed as part of Base SAS. SAS/
SECURE requires a separate license on each SAS server machine. Client-side licenses are not needed.
3
3
Availability of SAS/SECURE is subject to import and export restrictions. Some countries have import restrictions on products that contain encryption. The U.S.
has export restrictions on products that contain encryption.
SAS/SECURE is not supported on VMS.
See Also:
Chapter 16, “Encryption Tasks,” on page 203
Encryption in SAS
C H A P T E R
16
Encryption Tasks
How to Change Over-the-Wire Encryption Settings for SAS Servers
203
Automatic Configuration
203
Instructions for Post-Installation Changes
203
Details About NETENCRALG and CEL
204
How to Increase Encryption Strength for Passwords at Rest
205
How to Increase Encryption Strength for Outbound Passwords in Transit
206
About Outbound Passwords and Over-the-Wire Encryption
206
Upgrade to RETURNPASSWORDS=SAS003
206
RETURNPASSWORDS=SAS003 and Compatibility
206
Accommodating Connections That Can’t Use SAS003 Passwords
207
How to Change Over-the-Wire Encryption Settings for SAS Servers
Automatic Configuration
When you install the metadata server, you select an encryption level (which traffic content is encrypted) and an encryption algorithm (how that traffic is encrypted). The settings that you select for the metadata server are applied to all SAS servers. SAS clients usually don’t specify encryption settings; they simply conform to the requirements of the servers.
CAUTION:
In the SAS Deployment Wizard, all algorithms are listed regardless of whether you have
SAS/SECURE. Do not select a value other than SASProprietary unless you have licensed
SAS/SECURE on all SAS server machines.
4
Instructions for Post-Installation Changes
If you need to change over-the-wire encryption settings after installation is complete, use the following instructions.
1
Update server configuration files as follows:
a
In the operating system that hosts the metadata server, navigate to your equivalent of SAS/Config/Lev1/SASMeta/MetadataServer/.
3
To change the algorithm, add the NETENCRALG setting that you need to the sasv9_usermods.cfg file.
203
204 Details About NETENCRALG and CEL
4 Chapter 16
3
To change the encryption level, copy the entire OBJECTSERVERPARMS line from the sasv9.cfg file into the sasv9_usermods.cfg file. Then edit the
CEL value in the usermods version of the file.
For example, to encrypt all traffic with AES, add these lines:
-netencralg "AES"
-objectserverparms "cel=everything {other-parameters}"
On z/OS, exclude the initial hyphens and add equal signs as follows: netencralg="AES" objectserverparms="cel=everything {other-parameters}"
b
Note:
Do not specify a NETENCRALG value other than SASProprietary unless you have licensed SAS/SECURE on all SAS server machines.
4
(Optional) If your deployment offers direct connections from clients to the OLAP server, make the same updates to that server’s configuration file.
Note:
The OLAP server’s configuration files are in your equivalent of SAS/
Config/Lev1/SASApp/OLAPServer/
.
4
2
Update server metadata definitions as follows:
a
In SAS Management Console, under Server Manager, select the metadata server’s definition .
Note:
To get to the server definition, you must expand the application server node and the logical server node .
4
b c d
Right-click the first connection object , and select Properties.
In the Connection dialog box, select the Options tab and click Advanced
Options
. Adjust the settings as necessary.
In the Advanced Options dialog box, select the Encryption tab.
Note:
All algorithms are listed regardless of whether you have SAS/
SECURE. Do not select a value other than SASProprietary unless you have licensed SAS/SECURE on all SAS server machines.
4
3
Repeat the preceding steps for each server that is launched by the object spawner (the stored process server, the workspace server, and the pooled workspace server).
Stop, restart, and validate the servers.
Details About NETENCRALG and CEL
On direct connections, encryption is governed by the server’s invocation command.
Here are details and some examples:
Note:
On z/OS, the following syntax examples are slightly different. See step 1a in the preceding topic.
4
NETENCRALG (network encryption algorithm) is a SAS system option. The NETENCRALG setting that is defined for the metadata server during installation is in the metadata server’s sasv9.cfg file.
3
If you accept the default encryption settings during installation, the configuration file includes this line:
Encryption Tasks
4 How to Increase Encryption Strength for Passwords at Rest
205
-netencralg "SASProprietary"
3
If you have licensed SAS/SECURE and selected the AES algorithm during installation, the setting in the metadata server’s sasv9.cfg file is as follows:
-netencralg "AES"
3
3
If a different NETENCRALG setting has been added to the metadata server’s sasv9_usermods.cfg file, that setting has priority.
Other supported values for NETENCRALG are DES, TripleDES, RC4, and
RC2. However, if you haven’t licensed SAS/SECURE, only SASProprietary is supported.
CEL (client encryption level) is a parameter in the OBJECTSERVERPARMS SAS system option. The CEL setting that is defined for the metadata server during installation is in the metadata server’s sasv9.cfg file.
3
If you accept the default encryption settings during installation, the configuration file includes this line:
-objectserverparms "cel=credentials {other-parameters}"
3
If, during installation, you selected the option to encrypt all traffic, the setting in the metadata server’s sasv9.cfg file is as follows:
-objectserverparms "cel=everything {other-parameters}"
3
If a different CEL setting has been added to the metadata server’s sasv9_usermods.cfg file, that setting has priority.
It isn’t necessary to specify encryption settings in the invocation command for every component for the following reasons:
3
Encryption algorithm and level are negotiated between each pair of communicating components. For example, when the OLAP server and object spawner initialize, they contact the metadata server and conform to the metadata server’s encryption settings. The same negotiation occurs when a client application contacts a server.
3
For spawned servers (the stored process server, the pooled workspace server, and the workspace server), encryption is determined by metadata settings, not by a server invocation command.
How to Increase Encryption Strength for Passwords at Rest
For passwords in configuration files, use the SAS Deployment Manager’s password update utility and supply AES-encrypted passwords. See “Password Updates for
Service Accounts” on page 14.
For passwords in the metadata, AES encryption is used by default if you have SAS/
SECURE (so no configuration activity is necessary in order to maximize protection).
Note:
If the metadata server’s omaconfig.xml file specifies
STOREPASSWORDS="SAS002", passwords in metadata are stored in SASProprietary format (even if you have SAS/SECURE). The metadata server’s omaconfig.xml file is located in your equivalent of SAS/Config/Lev1/SASMeta/MetadataServer/.
4
CAUTION:
Passwords that are stored in SAS003 format become unusable and inaccessible if SAS/
SECURE is unavailable.
If SAS/SECURE is installed, the default format for stored passwords is SAS003. It is important to keep your SAS/SECURE license current. If you choose to discontinue use of SAS/SECURE, you must revert all stored passwords
206 How to Increase Encryption Strength for Outbound Passwords in Transit
4 Chapter 16 to SAS002 format before uninstalling the software. To revert passwords, set
STOREPASSWORDS="SAS002", restart the metadata server, and use SAS
Management Console to re-enter passwords in any logins that need to include passwords.
4
How to Increase Encryption Strength for Outbound Passwords in Transit
About Outbound Passwords and Over-the-Wire Encryption
A password is outbound when a client retrieves the password from the metadata in order to provide seamless access to a server such as Oracle. The password is outbound from the perspective of the metadata server. Connections to third-party servers often use outbound passwords. Most other connections don’t use outbound passwords.
In the initial configuration, outbound passwords are transmitted in SAS002 format
(SASProprietary encryption). If you have licensed SAS/SECURE, you can choose to increase the encryption strength for outbound passwords to SAS003 (AES encryption).
Upgrade to RETURNPASSWORDS=SAS003
To increase encryption strength for outbound passwords (if you have SAS/SECURE):
1
2
Edit the metadata server’s omaconfig.xml file to change the initial setting,
RETURNPASSWORDS="SAS002", to the more secure setting,
RETURNPASSWORDS="SAS003". The metadata server’s omaconfig.xml file is located in your equivalent of SAS/Config/Lev1/SASMeta/MetadataServer/.
Restart the metadata server.
3
Verify that server connections continue to function as expected. If you encounter problems, either review the following topics or revert to
RETURNPASSWORDS="SAS002".
RETURNPASSWORDS=SAS003 and Compatibility
Almost all connections are compatible with SAS003 passwords, because almost all connections involve a SAS server and SAS servers can decode SAS003 passwords. For example, connections from SAS Information Map Studio to an Oracle server go through a workspace server. The workspace server decodes the outbound Oracle password.
However, a few specialized connections run directly from a Java client or .NET client to a third-party server. These clients can’t decode SAS003 passwords. This is a deliberate limitation that reduces security exposures. Of course, a third-party server can’t decode SAS003 passwords either. As a result, such connections fail if they attempt to use a password that is in SAS003 format. Here are some specific types of connections that can’t use a SAS003 password (the list isn’t exhaustive):
3
Connections from a Java client or .NET client to an ESRI server.
Note:
The ESRI server uses host authentication. If possible, avoid the use of outbound passwords by locating this server on a machine that recognizes the accounts with which users log on to SAS applications. This facilitates use of cached credentials to access the ESRI server.
4
Encryption Tasks
4 Accommodating Connections That Can’t Use SAS003 Passwords
207
3
3
Connections from a Java client or .NET client to a non-standard WebDAV server.
A non-standard WebDAV server is any server other than the SAS Content Server or Xythos.
Certain connections within the following solutions:
3
3
3
3
SAS Profitability Management
SAS Activity-Based Management
SAS Merchandise Intelligence
SAS Model Manager (in some configurations)
Accommodating Connections That Can’t Use SAS003 Passwords
If you have SAS/SECURE but your deployment requires connections that are incompatible with SAS003 passwords, choose either of the following approaches:
3
Simply preserve the initial setting of RETURNPASSWORDS="SAS002".
Note:
With the default settings for sites that have SAS/SECURE
(STOREPASSWORDS="SAS003" and RETURNPASSWORDS="SAS002"), outbound passwords are stored in SAS003 format and downgraded to SAS002 format before they are transmitted.
4
3
Set RETURNPASSWORDS="SAS003", but also selectively force the outbound passwords for the problematic connections to be transmitted in SAS002 format. To force a particular password to be transmitted in SAS002 format, store that password in that format. A password that is stored in SAS002 format is transmitted in that format even if RETURNPASSWORDS="SAS003", because the metadata server doesn’t upgrade the encryption strength of a stored password when the password is transmitted.
To use this approach:
1
2
In the metadata server’s omaconfig.xml file, set
STOREPASSWORDS="SAS002". Restart the metadata server.
In SAS Management Console, under User Manager, locate and select the login that contains the outbound password. The login is on the Accounts tab of a user or group definition.
3
Click Edit. In the Login Properties dialog box, enter and confirm the password. Click OK to close the Login Properties dialog box. Click OK again to close the user or group properties dialog box.
Note:
This stores the password in the metadata in SAS002 format.
4
4
5
6
Repeat steps 2 and 3 for any other problematic outbound passwords.
In the metadata server’s omaconfig.xml file, set
STOREPASSWORDS="SAS003" and RETURNPASSWORDS="SAS003".
Restart the metadata server.
Verify that server connections continue to function as expected.
Note:
If you update the SAS002 passwords, you must repeat the process so that the new password is stored in SAS002 format.
4
208
P A R T
5
Appendixes
Appendix
1
. . . . . . . . .
Checklists
211
Appendix
2
. . . . . . . . .
User Import Macros
221
Appendix
3
. . . . . . . . .
Recommended Reading
243
209
210
A P P E N D I X
1
Checklists
Checklist For a More Secure Deployment
211
Introduction
211
General Measures
211
Metadata Layer Measures
212
Enhanced Protections for Passwords
213
Distribution of Selected Privileges
213
Permission Patterns of Selected ACTs
214
Passwords That Are Managed By the SAS Deployment Manager
215
About This Topic
215
Managed Passwords in the SAS Metadata Repository
215
Managed Passwords in the SAS Configuration Directories
216
Additional Managed Passwords in the Web Environment
217
Who’s Who in the SAS Metadata
219
Checklist For a More Secure Deployment
Introduction
You can use this appendix to verify that security issues are being addressed as appropriate for your environment and goals. Not all measures are relevant in all deployments. It is a good practice to review your security configuration on a periodic basis.
General Measures
3
Make sure that the configuration directories are protected by appropriate operating system permissions. See the table "Recommended and Default
Operating System Protections" in the chapter "What to Do Next: Administration
Tasks” in the SAS Intelligence Platform: System Administration Guide.
3
If your deployment includes sensitive data, review host access to SAS data and evaluate the workspace server pooling configuration. See Chapter 14, “Server
Configuration, Data Retrieval, and Risk,” on page 181.
3
If your deployment includes sensitive data, make sure that the SAS Web Report
Studio query cache library (wrstemp) is protected by appropriate operating system permissions. See "Manage Host Access to the Query Cache Directory" in the
211
212 Metadata Layer Measures
4 Appendix 1
3
3
3
3
3
3 chapter "Configuring SAS Web Report Studio" in the SAS Intelligence Platform:
Web Application Administration Guide.
If your deployment includes sensitive data, make sure that the SAS Web Report
Studio distribution library (wrsdist) is protected by appropriate operating system permissions. See "Verifying Permissions for the Distribution Library" in the chapter "Pre-generated Reports From SAS Web Report Studio" in the SAS
Intelligence Platform: Web Application Administration Guide.
On Windows, minimize availability of the privilege Log on as batch job. See
“Windows Privileges” on page 36.
For industry-standard encryption, license SAS/SECURE. See “About SAS/
SECURE” on page 201.
If your deployment includes the SAS Anonymous Web user, determine whether it is necessary and appropriate to keep that identity in place. See “About PUBLIC
Access and Anonymous Access” on page 140.
Consider tracking changes to server logging levels. See "Audit Server Logging
Changes” in the chapter "Administering Logging for SAS Servers” in the SAS
Intelligence Platform: System Administration Guide.
Consider limiting the scope of trusted peer connections. See “Trusted Peer
Connections” on page 154.
Metadata Layer Measures
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Limit the WriteMetadata permission on servers. See Chapter 7, “Permissions on
Servers,” on page 85.
Limit the WriteMetadata permission on ACTs. In general, only the SAS
Administrators group has a grant of the WriteMetadata permission on the
Authorization
tab of an ACT.
Limit the WriteMetadata permission on custom folders. To reduce the chance of inadvertent or deliberate changes to a custom folder, grant WriteMemberMetadata
(instead of WriteMetadata) to users who should contribute only content. See
“Using WriteMetadata and WriteMemberMetadata Permissions” on page 45.
Review the WriteMetadata permission on OLAP schemas and libraries. To prevent someone from adding cubes to an OLAP schema or tables to a library, set denials of the WriteMetadata permission on the schema or library. Remember to preserve access for administrators as appropriate.
Review the permission pattern of each of your ACTs. See “Permission Patterns of
Selected ACTs” on page 214.
Review who has privileged user status from metadata memberships. See
“Distribution of Selected Privileges” on page 213.
Review who has privileged user status from the adminUsers.txt file. See
“Distribution of Selected Privileges” on page 213.
Consider reducing WriteMetadata access to the user definitions for any unrestricted users. This prevents restricted user administrators from updating an unrestricted user’s definition and then logging on as that unrestricted user. To add this protection, access the Authorization tab of each unrestricted user and add an explicit denial of the WriteMetadata permission for PUBLIC.
Consider tracking changes to metadata layer permissions and ACTs. See Chapter
10, “Security Report Macros,” on page 115.
Consider limiting the locations from which SAS Web Report Studio uses information maps. See "Limiting the Availability of Relational Information Maps"
Checklists
4 Distribution of Selected Privileges
213
in the chapter "Managing SAS Web Report Studio Content and Users" in the SAS
Intelligence Platform: Web Application Administration Guide.
Enhanced Protections for Passwords
3
3
3
3
3
If you have SAS/SECURE, upgrade encryption strength for passwords in configuration files (from SASProprietary to AES). See “Password Updates for
Service Accounts” on page 14.
If you have SAS/SECURE, upgrade encryption strength for outbound passwords in transit (from SASProprietary to AES). See “How to Increase Encryption Strength for Outbound Passwords in Transit” on page 206.
Consider preventing users from saving their passwords in their desktop connection profiles by setting SASSEC_LOCAL_PW_SAVE="N" (or ="0" or ="F") in the metadata server’s omaconfig.xml file.
Consider strengthening password policies for internal accounts. See “How to
Change Internal Account Policies” on page 163.
Consider removing the SAS Trusted User’s password from some configuration files.
See “How to Reduce Exposure of the SASTRUST Password” on page 176.
Distribution of Selected Privileges
Table A1.1
Members of Selected Privileged Groups and Roles
Group or Role Usual Members (As Listed On the Members Tab)
SAS General Servers
SAS System Services
SAS Trusted User (no others)
SAS Trusted User (no others)
SAS Administrators
Metadata Server: Unrestricted
Metadata Server: User Administration
SAS Administrator and other administrators
SAS Administrator and possibly other administrators
SAS Administrators
Table A1.2
User IDs in Configuration Files That Convey Privileged Status
File
1 adminUsers.txt
trustedUsers.txt
Usual Listed User IDs
Only *sasadm@saspw (or one *alternateID)
Only sastrust@saspw (or one alternateID)
1 These files are located in your equivalent of
SAS/Config/Lev1/SASMeta/MetadataServer/
.
214 Permission Patterns of Selected ACTs
4 Appendix 1
Permission Patterns of Selected ACTs
The following tables document the permission patterns of selected ACTs. Each row documents the entire pattern for a particular ACT. Each ACT’s pattern consists of only the explicit settings on that ACT’s Permission Pattern tab. Don’t confuse an
ACT’s Permission Pattern tab with its Authorization tab.
The predefined ACTs in the following table are used in the initial configuration and should not be modified.
Table A1.3
Permission Patterns for Selected Predefined ACTs
ACT Name Denials
PUBLIC
Default ACT
Private User Folder ACT
SAS Administrators Settings -
All permissions
RM, WM, CM
Grants
SAS Administrators
RM, WM, CM, A
RM, WM, CM
RM, WM, CM, A -
SASUSERS
-
RM, WM. CM
1 The SAS System Services group, which usually has the SAS Trusted User as its only member.
SSS
1
RM, WM
RM
RM
The example baseline ACTs in the following table are used in Chapter 7, “Permissions on Servers,” on page 85 and Chapter 6, “Permissions on Folders,” on page 71.
Table A1.4
Permission Patterns for Example Baseline ACTs
ACT Name
HideServer
Hide
Protect
Denials
PUBLIC
RM
RM
WM, WMM, CM, W, A
Grants
SAS Administrators
RM
RM
WM, WMM, CM, W, A, RM -
SSS
1
RM
RM
LimitData R -
1 The SAS System Services group, which usually has the SAS Trusted User as its only member.
2 The SAS General Servers group, which usually has the SAS Trusted User as its only member.
A
The preceding tables use these abbreviations: the Administer permission
CM
R the CheckInMetadata permission the Read permission
RM
W
WM
WMM the ReadMetadata permission the Write permission the WriteMetadata permission the WriteMemberMetadata permission
-
-
SGS
2
-
RM
Checklists
4 Managed Passwords in the SAS Metadata Repository
215
Passwords That Are Managed By the SAS Deployment Manager
About This Topic
This topic is provided for reference and to assist with troubleshooting. This topic does not provide comprehensive, step-by-step instructions for updating managed passwords. The recommended method for updating the passwords that are documented in this topic is to use the password update tool. See “Password Updates for Service
Accounts” on page 14.
CAUTION:
You should directly edit passwords in configuration files only as a last resort.
Before you directly edit any configuration file, review the configuration file precedence information in the appendix "Configuration Files" in the SAS Intelligence Platform:
System Administration Guide.
4
This topic lists only the locations in which the SAS Deployment Manager directly updates passwords. Some passwords are propagated when the utility rebuilds and redeploys the Web applications as part of the automated password update process. This topic doesn’t include any additional managed passwords that are introduced by SAS solutions (the administrative documentation for each solution documents any managed passwords that are specific to that solution).
Except where otherwise specified, passwords in configuration files should be in a SAS encoded or encrypted format (the password string should begin with {SAS002} or
{SAS003}). However, you should not supply encoded or encrypted password values in
SAS Management Console.
Managed Passwords in the SAS Metadata Repository
The SAS Deployment Manager updates passwords in the following metadata locations:
3
The passwords for the SAS Administrator and the SAS Trusted User are in the user service definition. To access these settings in SAS Management Console:
1
On the Plug-ins tab, select Foundation Services Manager
I Remote
Services
I Core. Right-click User Service and select Properties.
2
On the Service Configuration tab, click the Configuration button.
3
3
3
On the Users tab, select a user ID and click Edit. The Edit User dialog box contains the Password and Confirm Password fields.
The password for the SAS Trusted User is in the content mapping. To access this setting in SAS Management Console:
1
2
On the Folders tab, right-click the SAS Folders node and select
Properties
.
On the Content Mapping tab, if the WebDAV location radio button is selected, the Password and Confirm Password fields are enabled. In the standard configuration, the SAS Trusted User’s credentials are used here.
The password for the SAS Server Invoker is in the SAS Server Invoker (sassrv) login. To access this setting in SAS Management Console:
1
On the Plug-ins tab, select User Manager.
216 Managed Passwords in the SAS Configuration Directories
4 Appendix 1
2
3
In the display area, right-click the SAS General Servers group and select
Properties
.
On the Accounts tab, select the login and click Edit. The Login Properties dialog box contains the Password and Confirm Password fields.
Note:
The SAS General Servers group often has multiple logins. The SAS
Deployment Manager can update only those logins that were designated as server launch credentials through the installation processes. Because these passwords are stored only in the metadata, you can choose to maintain them interactively in SAS Management Console (instead of with the SAS
Deployment Manager).
4
3
3
3
The password for the SAS Anonymous Web User is in the SAS Anonymous Web
User’s login (if this identity exists and has an external account). To access the login in SAS Management Console:
1
2
On the Plug-ins tab, select User Manager.
In the display area, right-click the SAS Anonymous Web User and select
Properties
. Not all deployments include this identity.
3
On the Accounts tab, if there is an entry in the logins table, click Edit. The
Login Properties dialog box contains the Password and Confirm Password fields. Usually this identity has an internal account and no logins.
If you use a SAS internal account for any of these identities, that account’s password is stored as part of that identity’s user definition. To access an internal account password in SAS Management Console:
1
2
3
On the Plug-ins tab, select User Manager.
In the display area, right-click the user who owns the internal account and select Properties.
At the bottom of the Accounts tab, click Update. The Internal Account
Properties dialog box contains the New Password and Confirm Password fields.
If you are using a standard configuration of scheduling with Platform Suite for
SAS (with SAS Web Report Studio), the password for the LSF user is in a login on the LSF Services group. To access this setting in SAS Management Console:
1
On the Plug-ins tab, select User Manager.
2
3
In the display area, right-click the LSFServices group and select
Properties
.
On the Accounts tab, select the login that is in the authentication domain name LSFServicesAuthWRS, and click Edit. The Login Properties dialog box contains the Password and Confirm Password fields.
Note:
The SAS Deployment Manager can update this login only if it was created through the installation processes.
4
Managed Passwords in the SAS Configuration Directories
The SAS Deployment Manager updates passwords in the following SAS configuration files. Not all deployments include all components. In a multi-machine deployment, not all directories exist on all machines. If you complete the instructions in “How to Reduce
Exposure of the SASTRUST Password” on page 176, the first two rows in the table are no longer applicable.
Note:
The table uses default names, generic casing, and generic path formats. It omits the initial part of the path (your equivalent of SAS/Config/Lev1/).
4
Checklists
4 Additional Managed Passwords in the Web Environment
217
Table A1.5
Passwords in Configuration Files
Configuration File That Contains a Password sasv9_meta.cfg
ObjectSpawner/metadataConfig.xml
ConnectSpawner/metadataConfig.xml
Web/Applications/RemoteServices/jps.properties
Web/Common/login.config
Web/Common/SASDomain/weblogicLogin.config
SASMeta/MetadataServer/metaparms.sas
1
Account: Location of Password
SAS Trusted User: metapass
SAS Trusted User: Password in the Login entry
SAS Trusted User: Password in the Login entry
SAS Trusted User: omr_password
SAS Trusted User: trustedpw
SAS Trusted User: trustedpw
SAS Administrator: OMAAPW
1 This supports functions (such as pause, resume, backup, restore, and status) that are implemented as an execution of a SAS session with the METAOPERATE or METADATA procedure, or the OMABACKUP macro.
Additional Managed Passwords in the Web Environment
The SAS Deployment Manager updates passwords in the following additional locations:
3
The SAS Trusted User’s password is in the JAAS configuration as follows:
3
For JBoss, the password is in the login-config.xml file (for example, at
\jboss-4.2.0.GA\server\SASServer1\conf\login-config.xml
).
3
For WebLogic, the password is in the weblogicLogin.config file in the SAS configuration directory (for example, at SAS/BIServer/Lev1/Web/Common/
SASDomain/weblogicLogin.config
).
3
For WebSphere, the SAS Deployment Manager rebuilds the following JAAS
Login Modules with the updated password:
3
SAS Content Server (SCS):
com.sas.services.security.login.OMILoginModule
3
Platform Foundation Services (PFS):
com.sas.services.security.login.OMILoginModule
3
Platform Foundation Services (PFS):
com.sas.services.security.login.TrustedLoginModule
To access these settings in the WebSphere administration console, navigate to the modules under Security
I Secure administration, applications and
infrastructure
I Java Authentication and Authorization Service I
Application logins
I <PFS | SCS> I JAAS login modules I <module> I
custom properties
I trustedpw.
3
The SAS Trusted User’s password might be in a JDBC data source definition as follows:
3
3
3
For JBoss, the password would be in the SharedServices-ds.xml file (for example, at
\jboss-4.2.0.GA\server\SASServer1\deploy\SharedServices-ds.xml
).
For WebLogic, you can access the setting in WebLogic administrative console.
For WebSphere, you can access the setting in the WebSphere administrative console under Resources
I JDBC I Data sources I SharedServices I
JAAS
I J2C authentication data I SASAppSrv01Node/SASJAAS. In some releases of WebSphere, SAS encoded or encrypted password values are not supported in this context.
218 Additional Managed Passwords in the Web Environment
4 Appendix 1
Note:
Not all deployments include a JDBC data source definition. If MySQL is used, the MySQL password is stored instead of the SAS Trusted User’s password.
4
3
The SAS Trusted User’s password is in the environment properties
secure.password
, omr_password, and server.admin.password. If you use the
SAS Anonymous Web User, that user’s password is in the environment property
web.anonymous.password
. Like all of the passwords in this topic, these passwords should be managed through the SAS Deployment Manager. As a last resort, these passwords can also be accessed through a specialized XML metadata interface (under Foundation Services 9.2
I PropertySets I
Environment.Properties (PropertySet)
I SetProperties).
Checklists
4 Who’s Who in the SAS Metadata
219
Who’s Who in the SAS Metadata
Table A1.6
Main SAS Identities
SAS User, Group, or Role
SAS Administrator
SAS Demo User
SAS Trusted User
SAS Anonymous Web User
SAS General Servers
SAS System Services
PUBLIC
SASUSERS
SAS Administrators
Metadata Server: Unrestricted
Metadata Server: User Administration
Metadata Server: Operation
Management Console: Advanced
Description
1
A predefined super user that has unrestricted access in the metadata layer.
A predefined first user that can be useful for demonstrations.
A service identity that can act on behalf of other users.
A service identity that can provide anonymous access for a few
Web components.
2
A service group that enables its member (the SAS Trusted
User) to see server launch credentials.
3
A service group that enables its member (the SAS Trusted
User) to see servers, cubes, and other objects.
Everyone who can access the metadata server. A PUBLIC-only user can’t use the deployment.
Everyone who has a well-formed user definition. The subset of
PUBLIC that can use the deployment.
General metadata administrators. Membership in this group provides broad access to metadata, but doesn’t provide unrestricted access.
A highly privileged role that provides unrestricted access in the metadata layer.
A role that enables members ( SAS Administrators) to manage most users, groups, and roles, but doesn’t provide visibility for any plug-in.
A role that enables members ( SAS Administrators) to perform most server administration activities, but doesn’t provide visibility for any plug-in.
A role that enables members ( SAS Administrators) to see all SAS Management Console plug-ins.
Management Console: Content Management A role that enables members ( SASUSERS) to see a subset of SAS Management Console plug-ins.
1 Descriptions reflect the initial configuration in a new deployment. You can choose to redistribute privileges in a more or less granular approach.
2 For only SAS BI Web Services and the SAS Stored Processes application. Not for other Web applications such as SAS Web Report Studio. Anonymous access is an optional feature that is not compatible with Web authentication.
3 Server launch credentials (for example, the SAS Spawned Servers account,
sassrv
) are stored in logins on the
Accounts
tab of the SAS General Servers group. This facilitates launching of stored process servers and pooled workspace servers.
220
A P P E N D I X
2
User Import Macros
Overview of User Import and Synchronization
221
Canonical Tables
224
External Identities
226
User Import
226
Scope of the Import Process
226
Who Participates?
226
What Information Is Imported?
227
How to Import Identities
227
User Synchronization
228
Scope of the Synchronization Process
228
Who Participates?
228
What Information Is Updated?
228
How to Synchronize Identities
229
Sample Code for Generic File Import
230
Sample Code for User Synchronization
232
About the Sample Code for UNIX /etc/passwd Import
233
About the Sample Code for Active Directory Import
234
Reference: User Import and Synchronization Macros
236
Overview of User Import and Synchronization
In order to make access distinctions and track user activity, the metadata server has to know who is making each request. To enable the metadata server to make this determination, each user’s metadata definition includes that user’s account ID from your authentication provider. The metadata server maintains its own copy of each ID.
The metadata server doesn’t maintain copies of external passwords for identification purposes.
Note:
For a few administrators, a SAS internal account can be used instead. See
“SAS Internal Authentication” on page 150.
4
This chapter helps you use autocall macros and sample code that SAS provides to create your own programs that import and manage user information. The chapter emphasizes coordination with an Active Directory server or UNIX /etc/passwd files but also provides information to help you extrapolate to other providers.
The following figures introduce the batch processes for identity information. In the figures, the MDU**** items are macros and the libraries contain SAS data sets.
The initial import extracts identity information from your authentication provider and loads that information into the metadata.
221
222 Overview of User Import and Synchronization
4 Appendix 2
Figure A2.1
Initial Import
External Enterprise
Identity Source
SAS Metadata
Repository
source-specific extraction code for example: importad.sas
or importpw.sas
Enterprise
Extract Library
(raw data)
source-specific normalizing code
%MDUIMPLB
(load)
%MDUIMPC
(creates table definitions for canonical tables)
Enterprise
Extract Library
The synchronization performs two extractions (one from your authentication provider and another from the SAS metadata) and then loads validated updates into the metadata. The numbers in the following figure correspond to these activities:
1
Extract information from your authentication provider.
2
3
Extract information from the SAS metadata.
Compare the two sets of tables and identify updates that need to be made to the metadata (excluding any exceptions metadata that you want to preserve).
4
5
Validate the changes to make sure that they won’t violate the metadata server’s integrity constraints.
Load the updates into the metadata.
Note:
Notice that the first part of the import process (the extraction from your authentication provider) is the same as the first part of the synchronization process.
You will reuse your import extraction code in your synchronization program.
4
User Import Macros
4 Overview of User Import and Synchronization
223
Figure A2.2
Periodic Synchronization
External Enterprise
Identity Source
source-specific extraction code
SAS Metadata
Repository
1
Enterprise
Extract Library
(raw data)
source-specific normalizing code
%MDUIMPC
(creates table definitions for canonical tables)
Master
Library
Exceptions List
3
%MDUCMP
(comparison)
2
%MDUEXTR
(extract)
Target
Library
Changes
Library
4
%MDUCHGV
(integrity check)
5
%MDUCHGLB
(load changes)
Errors List
The following two topics document the format of the data sets and explain how corresponding identity entries are mapped between your authentication provider and the SAS metadata.
224 Canonical Tables
4 Appendix 2
Canonical Tables
The following figure illustrates the names and structures for the tables in which identity information is stored during batch processing:
Figure A2.3
Table Structures and Relationships email keyid (foreign key) emailAddr emailType grpmems grpkeyid (foreign key) memkeyid (foreign key) location keyid (foreign key) locationName locationType address city postalcode area country phone keyid (foreign key) phoneNumber phoneType
person
keyid (primary key) name displayName description title logins keyid (foreign key) userid password authDomKeyID (foreign key)
idgrps
keyid (primary key) name displayName description grpType
authdomain
keyid (primary key) authDomName
Here are some key points about the tables:
3
You don’t have to use all of the tables. For example, if you are not going to store e-mail addresses, you don’t need an email table.
3
For each table that you do use, all columns must be present. However, you don’t have to include data in every column. In the figure, the required columns for the primary objects are indicated with a star.
3
Note:
Each user should have a login that includes a qualified user ID. See “User
ID Formats” on page 32.
4
The keyids in the person table (users), idgrps table (groups and roles), and authdomain table (authentication domains) tie each of those primary objects to its related information. In the metadata, the keyid value is stored as an external identity. See “External Identities” on page 226. For each keyid column, use a fixed, enterprise-wide identifier such as these:
3
3
3
In the person table, consider using employee identification numbers.
In the idgrps table, consider using group names (or LDAP Distinguished
Names).
In the authdomain table, consider using authentication domain names.
3
3
All of the relationships between a primary object and its related data are zero-or-more relationships. For example, you can store no phone numbers, one phone number, or multiple phone numbers for each user. Constraints are documented in “What Information Is Imported?” on page 227.
We recommend that you avoid using spaces or special characters in the name of a user, group, or role that you create. Not all components support spaces and special characters in identity names.
User Import Macros
4 Canonical Tables
225
The following figure depicts data for a user named Tara O’Toole. The ovals indicate personal data for Tara. The check marks indicate data that is indirectly related to Tara
(through her group memberships).
Figure A2.4
Example: Partial Tables Showing Selected User Data person
keyid
0018
1390
5107 name
jhein hhigh
totoo displayName
John Heinsler
Harry Highpoint
Tara O’Toole
keyid
0018
0018
1390
5107
5107
logins
keyid
0018
1390
5107
5107
ETL grpmems
grpkeyid
Developers
Developers
ETL
ReportConsumers
ReportConsumers
memkeyid
Applications
ETL
5107
Developers
Executives idgrps
keyid
Applications
Developers
ETL
name
Applications
Developers
ETL
Executives Executives
ReportConsumers ReportConsumers
grpType emailAddr
emailType
work home work
work home userid
OrionSP\jhein
OrionSP\hhigh
OrionSP\totoo
Tara
diadmin
authdomKeyid
DefaultAuth
DefaultAuth
DefaultAuth
OracleAuth
DB2Auth authdomain
keyid
DB2Auth
DefaultAuth
OracleAuth
authDomName
DB2Auth
DefaultAuth
OracleAuth
In the figure, notice these things:
3
In the person table, the employee number is used as the keyid. The name column uses user IDs (that column also requires unique values). The displayName column contains a common name for each user.
3
In the grpmems table (group memberships), Tara is a direct member of the ETL group. Tara is an indirect member of the Developers group, because that group has the ETL group as one of its members. Tara also has a third-level membership in the ReportConsumers group.
3
In the idgrps table, the group name serves as the keyid. This choice is appropriate because the metadata server enforces uniqueness across all group and role names.
3
In the idgrps table, the grpType column is empty. This indicates that the entries in this table are all groups. To create a role in the metadata, provide a grpType value of ROLE.
3
In the email table, Tara has two e-mail addresses and each one has a different type.
3
In the logins table, Tara has personal logins in two different authentication domains. Tara can also use the ETL group’s login (for DB2Auth), because Tara is a member of the ETL group.
3
In the authdomain table, the authentication domain name serves as the keyid.
This is appropriate because the metadata server enforces uniqueness across all authentication domain names.
226 External Identities
4 Appendix 2
External Identities
An external identity is a synchronization key that facilitates coordination between identity entries in the metadata and identity entries in your authentication provider. If you use batch processes to coordinate metadata identity information with your authentication provider, external identities are set up and used as follows:
1
In your authentication provider, you select a field to use for the mapping. This should be a field that contains a unique and unchanging value for each user, group, and role that you want to manage with batch processes. Typically, this is an identifier such as employee number.
2
3
When you perform an initial import from your authentication provider into the metadata, the keyid values in the canonical tables become external identity values in the metadata. Each imported identity has at least one external identity value.
During the synchronization process, external identity values that are extracted from the metadata are used as the keyid in the target tables. Because these values also exist in the extraction from your authentication provider, external identity values can be used to match corresponding entries in the two sets of tables.
Note:
In SAS Management Console, you can add, view, and manage these external identities from the General tab of each user, group, or role definition (roles aren’t usually imported but are mentioned for completeness). This capability is useful for incorporating manually created identities into a batch synchronization process. See
“Scope of the Synchronization Process” on page 228.
4
User Import
Scope of the Import Process
Who Participates?
In order to participate in the initial import process, an identity must meet both of these criteria:
3
The identity must be included in the import tables. If your identity information is distributed across several authentication providers or user registries, extract information from each source and then combine the resulting sets of tables into one set of canonical tables.
To limit the import tables, you can perform these tasks:
3
Define a starting point. For example, when you extract identity information from Active Directory, you specify a Distinguished Name as the starting point. Only identities that exist below that Distinguished Name in the Active
Directory hierarchy are extracted.
3
3
Define filters. For example, when you extract identity information from
Active Directory, you can use a filter to extract entries only for people who are members of a particular group.
Make manual changes to the import tables.
User Import Macros
4 How to Import Identities
227
3
The identity must not already exist in the SAS environment. You can’t import an identity that has the same name as an identity that already exists in the metadata.
CAUTION:
Do not delete existing SAS identities in order to include them in an initial import.
When you delete a SAS identity, you lose that identity’s associations (such as access controls). Creating a new identity with the same name does not restore those associations.
You can incorporate a manually created identity into the
synchronization process. To do this, add an external identity on the General tab of that identity’s metadata definition. See “External Identities” on page 226.
4
What Information Is Imported?
The import process can add this information to the metadata:
3 user, group, and role definitions with names, display names, descriptions, and membership information
3 job titles, contact information, and personal logins for users
Note:
In most cases, passwords are not added to the metadata because they typically can’t be extracted from an authentication provider. If passwords are present in the extracted data, they are loaded into the metadata. It usually isn’t necessary to include passwords in logins.
4
Note:
Synchronization can process logins for groups. The initial import process does not support these tasks.
4
3 authentication domains
These constraints apply to the initial import:
3
When combined with information that already exists in the metadata, the input data must meet uniqueness requirements. For example, you can’t import an identity that has the same name as an identity that already exists in the metadata. See “Unique Names and IDs” on page 33.
3
In order to import a user, group, or role, only a name and one external identity value (keyid) is required. However, each user should also have at least one login in order to establish an individual SAS identity. See “Authentication to the Metadata
Server” on page 126. Windows user IDs must be qualified. See “User ID Formats” on page 32.
How to Import Identities
Note:
It is a good practice to run a backup before you perform an import.
4
To import identity information:
1
Locate the sample code that best fits your external identity source.
3
3
3
For import from Active Directory, see “About the Sample Code for Active
Directory Import” on page 234.
For import from UNIX /etc/passwd files, see “About the Sample Code for
UNIX /etc/passwd Import” on page 233.
For other formats, the first step is to figure out how to extract the data from your authentication provider. If you have LDAP, you might be able to modify the Active Directory sample for your purposes. Otherwise, use the
%MDUIMPC macro to create empty canonical tables, and then use DATA
228 User Synchronization
4 Appendix 2 steps to extract the information and insert it into those tables. See “Sample
Code for Generic File Import” on page 230.
2
3
4
5
6
Decide which attributes you want to add to the metadata. For each attribute, identify a corresponding field in your authentication provider.
In the SAS Program Editor, adapt the sample code. The comments in the sample code provide essential details.
Submit the code and review the log.
In the User Manager plug-in in SAS Management Console, verify that new identities exist. On the General tab of an imported user, group, or role, select
External Identities
. You should see an external identity value that matches the identity’s keyid in the import tables.
Save a copy of your import program for inclusion in your synchronization program.
User Synchronization
Scope of the Synchronization Process
Who Participates?
By default, the synchronization process includes all identities that were originally imported into the metadata (because by default only those identities have an external identity in the metadata). You can modify participation in these ways:
3
3
To include an identity that was manually created, add an external identity on the
General
tab of that user, group, or role definition. See “External Identities” on page 226.
To exclude an identity that has an external identity in the metadata, define an exception. See “Defining Exceptions” on page 240.
What Information Is Updated?
The synchronization process affects the metadata for participating identities as follows:
3
3
Any identities that have been added to your authentication provider are added.
Any new logins that have been added to your authentication provider are added. If passwords are extracted from your authentication provider, those passwords are included in the new logins.
Note:
It is typically not possible to extract passwords from an authentication provider.
4
Note:
Most logins do not need to include a password. See “How Logins Are Used” on page 139.
4
3
3
Any participating identities that are not found in your authentication provider are deleted.
By default, only logins that meet all of these criteria are deleted:
User Import Macros
4 How to Synchronize Identities
229
3
3
3
The login belongs to a participating identity.
The login does not exist in your authentication provider.
The login is in an authentication domain that exists in your authentication provider.
Note:
Logins in authentication domains that don’t exist in your authentication provider are preserved by default.
4
3
3
3
If the synchronization includes groups (or roles), memberships for participating
SAS identities are updated to match the memberships in your authentication provider. A change in the input grpType value (which determines whether an object is a group or a role) does not cause any update to the metadata.
Locations, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses for participating identities are updated. Use exceptions to prevent updates to contact information that is added interactively. See “Defining Exceptions” on page 240
New authentication domains are added. By default, no authentication domains are removed.
These constraints apply to updates:
3
When combined with information that already exists in the metadata, the change data must meet all uniqueness requirements. See “Unique Names and IDs” on page 33.
3
In order to add a user, group, or role, only a name and one external identity value
(keyid) is required. However, each user should also have at least one login in order to establish an individual SAS identity. User IDs must be qualified. See “User ID
Formats” on page 32.
How to Synchronize Identities
Note:
It is a good practice to run a backup before you perform a synchronization (at least until your program is proven).
4
To synchronize identity information:
1
2
If you want to include identities that weren’t originally imported, use SAS
Management Console to add a correct external identity value on the General tab of each such identity. See “External Identities” on page 226.
If you want to exclude identities or attributes from the update, create an exceptions data set.
CAUTION:
If you used SAS Management Console to make updates to imported identities, those updates are not automatically preserved during batch synchronization.
To preserve such information, see “Defining Exceptions” on page 240.
4
3
In the operating system, set up three directories: an enterprise extract directory, a metadata extract directory, and a change tables directory. For example:
4
In the SAS Program Editor, adapt the sample synchronization code to create your own program. See “Sample Code for User Synchronization” on page 232.
230 Sample Code for Generic File Import
4 Appendix 2
5
Submit the code and review the log. To address any errors, make changes in the source tables, the exceptions tables, or the metadata. For details about the errors, examine the errorsds table. See “%MDUCHGV” on page 241. After making corrections, run the synchronization program again.
Note:
An alternative method for dealing with errors is to re-execute the
%MDUCMP macro with EXCEPTIONS=ERRORSDS. This recreates the change tables without the offending entries. If an exceptions data set is already being used, you can append the content of the ERRORSDS data set to that data set.
4
6
In the User Manager plug-in in SAS Management Console, verify that the metadata reflects the changes that you expect to see.
Note:
To ensure that current information is displayed, right-click User Manager and select View
I Refresh.
4
Sample Code for Generic File Import
This code demonstrates one way to import generic identity information. This example is intended to illustrate the structure and relationships of the identity data, rather than to suggest that you enter large quantities of data using this approach. The program uses macro variables to define the tables and uses DATALINES statements to supply input data. The %MDUIMPLB macro creates XML from the tables and submits that XML (in blocks) to the metadata server.
/* Specify connection options. Use an unrestricted user ID. */ options metaserver=machine-name metauser="userID" metapass="password";
/* Initialize the macro variables that create canonical tables. */
%mduimpc();
/* Create the person table. */ data &persontbla ;
%definepersoncols; infile datalines delimiter=’,’ missover; input keyid name description title; datalines;
P001,Michelle Harrell,Mgr of Operations,Sr. Mgr
P002,Fred Granite,NE Region Acct. Rep.,Account Rep II
P003,Brian Davis,Accounting System Developer,Senior Programmer
;
/* Create the phone table. */ data &phonetbla ;
%definephonecols; infile datalines delimiter=’,’ missover; input keyid phoneNumber phoneType; datalines;
P001,x1532,Office
P001,(919) 555-1212,Home
P003,x2312,Office
;
/* Create the location table. */ data &locationtbla ;
User Import Macros
4 Sample Code for Generic File Import
231
%definelocationcols; infile datalines delimiter=’,’ missover; input keyid locationName locationType address city postalcode area country; datalines;
P001,My Company,Office,123 Oak Ave,Clayton,20711,CA,USA
P001,Michelle Harrell,Home,105 Seth Ct.,Apex,20765,CA,USA
P002,Fred Granite,Home,2138 Pond St.,Greenlevel,20832,CA,USA
P002,My Company,Office,123 Oak Ave,Clayton,20711,CA,USA
P003,My Company,Office,123 Oak Ave,Clayton,20711,CA,USA
;
/* Create the email table. */ data &emailtbla ;
%defineemailcols; infile datalines delimiter=’,’ missover; input keyid emailAddr emailtype; datalines;
P001,[email protected],business
P001,[email protected],home
P002,[email protected],business
P003,[email protected],business
;
/* Create the idgrp table. */ data &idgrptbla ;
%defineidgrpcols; infile datalines delimiter=’,’ missover; input keyid name description grpType; datalines;
G001,Operations Staff,Members of the operations department,
G002,All Groups,Group containing all groups,
G003,Backup Operators, ,
;
/* Create the grpmems table. */ data &idgrpmemstbla;
%defineidgrpmemscols; infile datalines delimiter=’,’ missover; input grpkeyid memkeyid; datalines;
G001,P001
G002,G001
G002,G003
G003,G001
G003,P003
;
/* Create the authdomain table. */ data &authdomtbla;
%defineauthdomcols; infile datalines delimiter=’,’ missover; input keyid authDomName; datalines;
A001,DefaultAuth
232 Sample Code for User Synchronization
4 Appendix 2
A002,UnixAuth
;
/* Create the logins table. */ data &logintbla;
%definelogincols; infile datalines delimiter=’,’ missover; input keyid userid password authdomkeyid; datalines;
P001,WinNet\Michelle, ,A001
P001,Michelle, ,A002
P002,WinNet\Fred, ,
P003,WinNet\Brian, ,
P003,Brian, ,A002
;
/* Load the information from the work library into the metadata server. */
%mduimplb();
Sample Code for User Synchronization
This example synchronization program is intended to help you complete step 4 in
“How to Synchronize Identities” on page 229.
/*Specify connection options. Use an unrestricted user ID.*/ options metaserver=machine-name metauser="userID" metapass="password";
/*Specify the directory for the extracted AD data (master tables).
u*/ libname adir "drive:\path\ADIRextract";
/* Specify the directory for the extracted metadata (target tables).*/ libname meta "drive:\path\METAextract";
/* Specify the directory for the comparison output (change tables).*/ libname updates "drive:\path\METAupdates";
/* Extract identity information from AD (master).
v*/
%let _EXTRACTONLY = ;
%include "drive:\path\myimportad.sas";
/* Extract identity information from the metadata (target).*/
%mduextr(libref=meta);
/* Compare AD (master) to metadata (target).
w*/
%mducmp(master=adir, target=meta, change=updates);
/* Validate the change tables.*/
%mduchgv(change=updates, target=meta, temp=work, errorsds=work.mduchgverrors);
/* Load the changes into the metadata.
x*/
%mduchglb(change=updates);
The numbers in the preceding code correspond to these points:
User Import Macros
4 About the Sample Code for UNIX /etc/passwd Import
233
1
The AD extract location should match the importlibref location in your import program. For example, if your original importad.sas put the normalized AD data in the work library, you might revise importad.sas by replacing the line:
%let importlibref=work; with these two lines: libname adir "drive:\path\ADIRextract";
%let importlibref=adir;
2
3
4
This causes the importad.sas. program to only extract the data (and not perform the load).
If you need to exclude items from the comparison, add the EXCEPTIONS=dataset parameter here. See “Defining Exceptions” on page 240.
If you prefer to not load any changes if %MDUCHGV finds an integrity violation, replace the displayed line with this code:
%macro exec_mduchglb;
%if (&MDUCHGV_ERRORS ^= 0) %then %do;
%put ERROR: Validation errors detected by %nrstr(%mduchgv). Load not attempted.;
%return;
%end;
%mduchglb(change=updates);
%mend;
%exec_mduchglb;
About the Sample Code for UNIX /etc/passwd Import
Note:
This code is in
SAS-installation-directory\SASFoundation\9.2\core\sample\importpw.sas
(Windows) or SAS-installation-directory/SASFoundation/9.2/samples/base/
importpw.sas
(UNIX). This topic highlights key points about the code.
4
This program expects user information in /etc/passwd files in this form: user name : password : uid (numeric) : primary group id : <continued> gcos-field: home-directory : login-shell
The gcos-field item consists of additional comma-delimited fields in this form:
Person Name, Office, phone extension, misc, employeeid
For example: user name : password : uid (numeric) : primary group id : <continued>
Person Name, Office, phone extension, misc, employeeid:<continued> home-directory : login-shell
Here are details about this code:
3
3
3
The colons delimit standard fields; the commas delimit items within the gcos-field
(you can use any delimiter other than a colon).
If your /etc/passwd file has a different format, modify the sample program to either exclude information from the extraction or to extract it from the appropriate fields.
If the employeeid field for an /etc/passwd entry is empty, that entry is dropped from the import.
234 About the Sample Code for Active Directory Import
4 Appendix 2
3
The values in the Person Name field should be unique. The program includes a
DUPLICATEPERSONS macro variable that, when set to RECODE, changes a duplicate value in the Person Name field to the user ID value of the PW file entry.
However, if the DUPLICATEPERSONS macro variable is set to any other value, users with duplicate names in the Person Name field are deleted.
The program expects group information in an /etc/group file. The standard format is as follows: groupname : password : gid (numeric) : comma-delimited list of users
Here are details about this file:
3
Users are identified by user name (rather than by a numeric user ID).
3
3
A group cannot be a member of another group.
To exclude a user or group, enter an asterisk (*) in the password field. The import program drops entries that contain an asterisk in the password field.
The following table highlights selected variables:
Table A2.1
Selected Variables in a UNIX File Import
Variable Name
UID
Purpose
Provides an external identity value for each metadata user and group that this program creates.
MetadataAuthDomain Enables all metadata logins that this program creates to be associated with an authentication domain.
UNIXEMAILDOMAIN Enables construction of an e-mail address for each user.
Notes
Use a field that contains a unique and unchanging value for each entry in an /etc/passwd and an /etc/group files. In the sample code, the uid field of the gcos field is used. If this field is empty for any records, those records are excluded from the import.
Specify a SAS authentication domain name. The supplied value is typically DefaultAuth.
PWExtIDTAG Provides a label for all metadata items that this program creates. The label indicates which objects were created by this program.
Specify the UNIX domain for the extracted identities. The supplied value is appended to extracted user IDs to yield e-mail addresses in the form userid@supplied-value. If your e-mail addresses follow a different convention, modify this part of the code.
Specify a descriptive label that will be applied to all imported objects to indicate where they came from. The default value is
Passwd File Import
. Do not quote this value. If you select the
External Identities
button on an imported identity’s
General
tab (in SAS Management Console), you will see this label in the
Context
column of the
External
Identities
dialog box.
About the Sample Code for Active Directory Import
Note:
This code is in
SAS-installation-directory\SASFoundation\9.2\core\sample\importad.sas
(Windows) or SAS-installation-directory/SASFoundation/9.2/samples/base/
importad.sas
(UNIX). This topic highlights key points about the code.
4
User Import Macros
4 About the Sample Code for Active Directory Import
235
Here are some tips for using the program:
3
The code uses the SAS interface to LDAP (the LDAP CALL Routine interface) to extract information from Active Directory.
3
The code references standard Active Directory schemas to identify user and group attributes. If your site has extended the standard schema, you might need to make changes in section 3 to reference additional or alternate attributes.
3
The code uses filters to segment retrieval. It might be necessary to alter the filters in sections 3 (user extraction) and 4 (group extraction) to better fit the contents of your Active Directory server. If the number of records in a request exceeds Active
Directory’s maximum query limit, only a subset of the requested records is returned. The Microsoft utility program LDIFDE can be useful in defining appropriate filters.
3
The code won’t import membership information for a group that has more than
1500 members. (This limitation is version-specific. Check the documentation for your Active Directory server for details). To incorporate an oversize group, use an approach like this:
1
Rewrite the section 4 filters to exclude large groups.
2
Create an additional extraction that uses LDAP range retrieval specifiers to extract the large group membership information in segments. See the
LDAPS_SEARCH CALL routine in the SAS Integration Technologies:
Directory Services Reference.
3
Add that membership information to the main extracted grpmems table.
The following table highlights selected macro variables:
Table A2.2
Selected Macro Variables in an Active Directory Import
Variable Name
keyidvar
Purpose
Provides an external identity value for each metadata user that this program creates.
MetadataAuthDomain Enables all metadata logins that this program creates to be associated with an authentication domain.
WindowsDomain Enables construction of a qualified user ID in each login that this program creates.
ADExtIDTag Provides a label for all metadata items that this program creates. The label indicates which objects were created by this program.
Notes
Specify an LDAP attribute that contains a unique and unchanging value for each user. The sample code uses the employeeID attribute
1
Specify a SAS authentication domain name. This value isn’t related to a Windows domain name. In the standard configuration, the correct value is DefaultAuth (or, if you have configured Web authentication and are extracting information for users who use only Web clients, web).
Provide the Windows domain name for the extracted identities.
The supplied value is prepended to each extracted user ID to yield qualified IDs in the form supplied-value\userID.
Specify a descriptive label that will be applied to all imported objects to indicate where they came from. The default value is
Active Directory Import
. Do not quote this value. If you select the
External Identities
button on an imported identity’s
General
tab (in SAS Management Console), you will see this label in the
Context
column of the
External
Identities
dialog box.
1 If this attribute is empty, consider using sAMAccountName or distinguished name.
236 Reference: User Import and Synchronization Macros
4 Appendix 2
Reference: User Import and Synchronization Macros
The user import and synchronization macros are in
SAS-installation-directory\SASFoundation\9.2\core\sasmacro (Windows) or
SAS-installation-directory/SASFoundation/9.2/sasautos (UNIX). The following topics provide basic reference information that helps you use these macros to perform standard user import and synchronization tasks.
%MDUIMPC
Defines a set of macro variables that create canonical tables and, optionally, creates empty tables for views for CSV files.
Used in:
User import, user synchronization
Depicted in:
Figure A2.1 on page 222, Figure A2.2 on page 223
Syntax
%MDUIMPC (<LIBREF=libref>, <MAKETABLE=0|1|2>, <INFILEREF=fileref>,
<FILEHEADER=1|other_value>);
All parameters for this macro are optional.
LIBREF
specifies the output location for any canonical tables or views that are created (the default is Work).
Note:
If you choose to not create tables or views, this parameter is not used.
4
MAKETABLE
controls whether any tables or views are created.
0
1
2
specifies that no tables or views are created (this is the default).
specifies that empty canonical tables are created.
specifies that DATA step views of the CSV files in the fileref directory are created.
INFILEREF
specifies the location of the input CSV source files (used only when MAKETABLE=2).
The CSV input files must have names and contents that match the table names and structures of the canonical tables. On UNIX, the file names must be lowercase.
FILEHEADERS
indicates whether the CVS input files have a header line (used only when
MAKETABLE=2).
1
indicates that the input files have header information in the first row.
other_value
indicates that the data begins in the first row.
User Import Macros
4 %MDUIMPLB
237
Tables and Macro Variables Created by %MDUIMPC
Table A2.3
Tables and Macro Variables Created by %MDUIMPC
Table Purpose
person location phone email idgrps grpmems authdomain logins
Create users
Store addresses
Store phone numbers
Store email addresses
Create groups and roles
Store membership information
Create SAS authentication domains
Create logins
Name/Keep List Global
Variable
&persontbla;
&locationtbla;
&phonetbla;
&emailtbla;
&idgrptbla;
&idgrpmemstbla;
&authdomtbla;
&logintbla;
See “Canonical Tables” on page 224.
Column Attributes
Macro
%definepersoncols
%definelocationcols
%definephonecols
%defineemailcols
%defineidgrpcols
%defineidgrpmemscols
%defineauthdomcols
%definelogincols
%MDUIMPLB
Generates and submits blocks of XML to load identity information.
Used in:
User import
Depicted in:
Figure A2.1 on page 222
Requirement:
Connection to the metadata server
Syntax
%MDUIMPLB (<LIBREF=libref>, <TEMP=libref>, <FAILEDOBJS=table_name>,
<EXTIDTAG=context_value>, <BLKSIZE=#_of_records>);
This macro uses PROC METADATA to submit load requests. All parameters for this macro are optional.
LIBREF
specifies the location of the input data. The default is Work.
TEMP
specifies the location for temporary data sets during processing. The default is Work.
FAILEDOBJS
is a table that contains the entire contents of all blocks that contain any problematic data. The default is mduimplb_failedobjs. See “Columns in the FAILEDOBJS
Table” on page 238.
This table is populated if integrity and completeness requirements aren’t met or if a metadata server request failure occurs during processing. See “What Information
Is Imported?” on page 227.
EXTIDTAG
indicates the origin of identity information. The default for this string is
IdentityImport
.
238 %MDUEXTR
4 Appendix 2
BLKSIZE
specifies the number of identities in a block. Each block of XML is generated and submitted to the metadata server independently. The default is 100.
Note:
The corresponding macro from previous releases, %MDUIMPL, is still supported. See the 9.1 version of this document.
4
Columns in the FAILEDOBJS Table
Table A2.4
FAILEDOBJS
Column
tablename chgtype objtype
Name
Objid
KeyId
UserId
AuthDomKeyId
MemObjType*
MemName*
MemObjID*
MemKeyId*
Contents
Name of an intermediate input table
A (add), U (update), or D (delete)
Internal metadata object type
Name of a user, group or role
Internal object ID
Key ID for an item
User ID value in a login
Key ID of an authentication domain
Internal metadata object type for a member
Person indicates a user, IdentityGroup indicates a group
Internal metadata object ID
Key ID of a member
* This column is populated only if there is an error in membership information.
%MDUEXTR
Extracts identity information from the metadata.
Used in:
User synchronization
Depicted in:
Requirement:
Figure A2.2 on page 223
Connection to the metadata server
Syntax
%MDUEXTR (LIBREF=SAS-library);
This macro uses PROC METADATA to submit extraction requests.
LIBREF
specifies the location to which the metadata is extracted. This is a required parameter.
The tables that contain the extracted information are in the canonical format with these additional columns:
objectid extid
User Import Macros
4 %MDUCMP
239
specifies a unique metadata identifier. These values map the extracted metadata information back to the source objects in the repository.
specifies an external identity value. These values map the extracted metadata information data to entries in the information that was extracted from your authentication provider.
%MDUCMP
Generates data sets that contain the changes that must be made to the metadata.
Used in:
User synchronization
Depicted in:
Figure A2.2 on page 223
Syntax
%MDUCMP (MASTER=libref, TARGET=libref, CHANGE=libref,
EXCEPTIONS=<libref.>dataset , <EXTERNONLY=0|1>,
<AUTHDOMCOMPARE=name|keyid>);
MASTER
specifies the location of the master tables (use the libref that you specify in
%MDUIMPC).
TARGET
specifies the location of the target tables that contain information extracted from the metadata (use the libref that you specify in %MDUEXTR).
CHANGE
specifies the location for the change tables. These tables are created ( xxx is the base name of each canonical table):
xxx_add contains users, groups, and roles to be added to the target tables to make them look like the master tables.
xxx_update
xxx_delete contains users, groups, and roles to be modified in the target tables to make them look like the master tables.
contains users, groups, and roles to be deleted from the target tables to make them look like the master tables.
person_summary summarizes changes to users (Person objects).
idgrps_summary summarizes changes to groups and roles (IdentityGroup objects).
authdomain_ summary summarizes changes to SAS authentication domains
(AuthenticationDomain objects).
EXCEPTIONS
specifies a data set that contains exception values. See “Defining Exceptions” on page
240.
EXTERNONLY
defines the scope of the comparison.
240 %MDUCMP
4 Appendix 2
Note:
Unless the master data set has an ObjectId column, this option has no effect. A typical master data set does not include an ObjectId column. A master data set that is extracted from the SAS Metadata Repository (rather than from your authentication provider) does include an ObjectId column. Extraction of a master data set from the metadata repository happens in the identity synchronization processes for some solutions.
4
1
specifies that only identities that have an external identity value are included in the comparison. This is the default value.
0
specifies that all identities are included in the comparison.
If EXTERNONLY=1 but AUTHDOMCOMPARE=name, all authentication domains are compared. In other words, for authentication domains
AUTHDOMCOMPARE=name overrides EXTERNONLY=1.
AUTHDOMCOMPARE
defines how authentication domains are compared.
name
compares all authentication domains by name. Prevents deletion and renaming of all authentication domains. Prevents deletion of logins in authentication domains that do not exist in the master data set. This is the default.
keyid
compares by keyid. Can cause deletion of authentication domains that were originally imported but are not present in the master data set. Can cause renaming of authentication domains that were originally imported but have a different name in the master data set. Does not prevent deletion of logins in authentication domains that do not exist in the master data set.
CAUTION:
If you specify AUTHDOMCOMPARE=keyid, authentication domains and logins that are interactively created might be deleted.
For a standard synchronization, don’t use this setting.
4
Defining Exceptions
The exceptions data has these columns:
tablename
specifies the name of the canonical table to which the exception applies. Valid values are person, logins, email, phone, location,
idgrps
, grpmems, and authdomain.
filter
specifies a SAS WHERE clause expression (without the WHERE) to apply against the corresponding table. The WHERE clause consists of a canonical table column name and an exception value.
For example, consider this exceptions data set: phone email logins logins
PhoneType="manual Phone"
EmailType="manual Email" authDomKeyId="A002" userid="testid%"
Each line protects a set of objects in a particular target table, ensuring that those metadata objects are preserved.
3
The first entry excludes objects in the target phone table that have a PhoneType of
manual Phone
. In SAS Management Console, the PhoneType is displayed in the
Type
field in the Phone Properties dialog box.
User Import Macros
4 %MDUCHGV
241
3
3
The second entry excludes objects in the target email table that have the
EmailType value manual Email. In SAS Management Console, the EmailType is displayed in the Type field in the Email Properties dialog box.
The last entry excludes any objects in the target logins table which have a userid value that begins with testid.
Note:
Logins that are in authentication domains that do not exist in the master tables are preserved by default. It is not necessary to define exceptions for such logins.
4
%MDUCHGV
Checks the change tables against the target tables to ensure that the updates do not introduce any integrity problems.
Used in:
User synchronization
Depicted in:
Figure A2.2 on page 223
Syntax
%MDUCHGV (TARGET=libref, CHANGE=libref, <TEMP=libref>, ERRORSDS=name);
TARGET
specifies the location of the target canonical tables. This is typically the same libref that you specify in the %MDUEXTR macro.
CHANGE
specifies the location of the change tables (that were populated by the %MDUCMP macro).
TEMP
specifies the location for temporary tables (the default is Work).
ERRORSDS
identifies a data set that contains information about any integrity problems. This data set has these columns:
errcode
specifies a numeric code for a particular error.
errmsg tablename filter
describes a particular error.
specifies the name of the canonical table from which a particular error item should be excepted if the ERRORSDS data set is fed into the %MDUCMP macro as the exception data set.
specifies a SAS WHERE clause that is used to remove all objects related to a particular error from the change tables.
Keyid
Name userid
specifies the keyid value of the offending object.
specifies the Name value of the object, if the offending object is a
Person or IdentityGroup.
specifies the userid value of the object, if the offending object is a
Login.
242 %MDUCHGLB
4 Appendix 2
authDomKeyId
specifies the keyid value of an authentication domain when duplicate userid values are found in an authentication domain.
If any errors are detected, this macro sets the DUCHGV_ERRORS column to a non-zero value and creates the ERRORSDS data set, which lists the errors that were found.
%MDUCHGLB
Generates XML for loading identity updates.
Used in:
User synchronization
Depicted in:
Requirement:
Figure A2.2 on page 223
Connection to the metadata server
Syntax
%MDUCHGLB (CHANGE=libref, TEMP=libref, <FAILEDOBJS=table_name>,
<EXTIDTAG=context_value>, <BLKSIZE=#_of_records>);
CHANGE
specifies the location of the change tables.
TEMP
specifies the location for temporary tables. The default is Work.
FAILEDOBJS
is a table that contains the entire contents of any blocks that weren’t successfully loaded into the metadata. An error within a block prevents loading of all of the data in that block. The default name for this table is mduchglb_failedobjs. See
“Columns in the FAILEDOBJS Table” on page 238.
This table is populated if integrity or completeness requirements aren’t met or if a metadata server request failure occurs during processing. See “What Information Is
Updated?” on page 228. To address errors, see “How to Synchronize Identities” on page 229.
EXTIDTAG
Indicates the origin of identity information. The default for this string is
IdentityImport
.
BLKSIZE
specifies the number of added or updated objects in a block. Each block of XML is generated and submitted to the metadata server independently. The default is 100.
Note:
For delete operations, BLKSIZE has no effect.
4
Note:
The corresponding macro from previous releases, %MDUCHGL, is still supported. See the 9.1 version of this document.
4
A P P E N D I X
3
Recommended Reading
Recommended Reading
243
Recommended Reading
Here is the recommended reading list for this title:
3
SAS Intelligence Platform: Overview
3
3
SAS Intelligence Platform: System Administration Guide
SAS Intelligence Platform: Web Application Administration Guide
3
SAS Management Console: Guide to Users and Permissions
For a complete list of SAS publications, go to support.sas.com/bookstore. If you have questions about which titles you need, please contact a SAS Publishing Sales
Representative at:
SAS Publishing Sales
SAS Campus Drive
Cary, NC 27513
Telephone: 1-800-727-3228
Fax: 1-919-531-9439
E-mail: [email protected]
Web address: support.sas.com/bookstore
Customers outside the United States and Canada, please contact your local SAS office for assistance.
243
244
245
Glossary
access control template
a reusable named authorization pattern that you can apply to multiple resources. An access control template consists of a list of users and groups and indicates, for each user or group, whether permissions are granted or denied. Short form: ACT.
authentication
the process of verifying the identity of a person or process within the guidelines of a specific authorization policy.
authentication domain
a SAS internal category that pairs logins with the servers for which they are valid.
For example, an Oracle server and the SAS copies of Oracle credentials might all be classified as belonging to an OracleAuth authentication domain.
authentication provider
a software component that is used for identifying and authenticating users. For example, an LDAP server or the host operating system can provide authentication.
authorization
the process of determining which users have which permissions for which resources.
The outcome of the authorization process is an authorization decision that either permits or denies a specific action on a specific resource, based on the requesting user’s identity and group memberships.
capability
an application feature that is under role-based management. Typically, a capability corresponds to a menu item or button. For example, a Report Creation capability might correspond to a New Report menu item in a reporting application. Capabilities are assigned to roles.
client-side pooling
a configuration in which the client application maintains a collection of reusable workspace server processes. See also puddle.
connection profile
a client-side definition of where a metadata server is located. The definition includes a computer name and a port number. In addition, the connection profile can also contain user connection information.
246
Glossary
credential management
the reuse of cached credentials or the retrieval of stored credentials from the metadata.
credentials
the user ID and password for an account that exists in some authentication provider.
direct LDAP authentication
a configuration in which the metadata server sends credentials to an LDAP provider
(such as Active Directory) for validation, bypassing the host authentication process.
encryption
the act or process of converting data to a form that only the intended recipient can read or use.
external identity
a synchronization key for a user, group, or role. For example, employee IDs are often used as external identities for users. This is an optional attribute that is needed only for identities that you batch update using the user import macros.
host authentication
a process in which a SAS server sends credentials to its host operating system for verification.
Integrated Windows authentication
a Microsoft technology that facilitates use of authentication protocols such as
Kerberos. In the SAS implementation, all participating components must be in the same Windows domain or in domains that trust each other.
internal account
a SAS account that you can create as part of a user definition. Internal accounts are intended for metadata administrators and some service identities; these accounts are not intended for regular users.
internal authentication
a process in which the metadata server verifies a SAS internal account. Internal authentication is intended for only metadata administrators and some service identities.
IWA
See Integrated Windows authentication.
login
a SAS copy of information about an external account. Each login includes a user ID and belongs to one SAS user or group. Most logins do not include a password.
PAM
See pluggable authentication modules.
permission condition
a control that defines access to data at a low level, specifying who can access particular rows within a table or particular members within an OLAP cube. Such controls are typically used to subset data by a user characteristic such as employee
ID or organizational unit. For example, an OLAP cube that contains employee information might have member-level controls that enable each manager to see the salary history of only that manager’s employees. Similarly, a table that contains patient medical information might have row-level controls that enable each doctor to see only those rows that contain data about that doctor’s patients.
Glossary
247 pluggable authentication modules
an industry-standard technology that extends UNIX host authentication to recognize additional authentication providers.
puddle
a group of servers that are started and run using the same login credentials. Each puddle can also allow a group of clients to access the servers.
repository access control template
the access control template (ACT) that controls access to a particular repository and to resources for which access controls are not specified. You can designate one repository ACT for each metadata repository. The repository ACT is also called the default ACT.
restricted identity
a user or group that is subject to capability requirements and permission denials in the metadata environment. Anyone who isn’t in the META: Unrestricted Users Role and isn’t listed in the adminUsers.txt file with a preceding asterisk is a restricted identity.
role
a set of capabilities. In some applications, certain actions are available only to users or groups that have a particular role.
SAS authentication
a form of authentication in which the target SAS server is responsible for requesting or performing the authentication check. SAS servers usually meet this responsibility by asking another component (such as the server’s host operating system, an LDAP provider, or the SAS Metadata Server) to perform the check. In a few cases (such as
SAS internal authentication to the metadata server), the SAS server performs the check for itself. A configuration in which a SAS server trusts that another component has pre-authenticated users (for example, Web authentication) is not part of SAS authentication.
SAS token authentication
a process in which the metadata server generates and verifies SAS identity tokens to provide single sign-on to other SAS servers. Each token is a single-use, proprietary software representation of an identity.
server-side pooling
a configuration in which a SAS object spawner maintains a collection of reusable workspace server processes that are available for clients. The usage of servers in this pool is governed by the authorization rules that are set on the servers in the SAS metadata.
service identity
an identity or account that exists only for the purpose of supporting certain system activities and does not correspond to a real person. For example, the SAS Trusted
User is a service identity.
single sign-on
an authentication model that enables users to access a variety of computing resources without being repeatedly prompted for their user IDs and passwords. For example, single sign-on can enable a user to access SAS servers that run on different platforms without interactively providing the user’s ID and password for each platform. Single sign-on can also enable someone who is using one application to launch other applications based on the authentication that was performed when the user initially logged on.
SSO
See single sign-on.
248
Glossary
trusted user
a privileged service account that can act on behalf of other users on a connection to the metadata server.
unrestricted identity
a user or group that has all capabilities and permissions in the metadata environment due to membership in the META: Unrestricted Users Role (or listing in the adminUsers.txt file with a preceding asterisk).
user context
a per-session, in-memory list of credentials that are available to a particular user.
Web authentication
a configuration in which users of Web applications and Web services are verified at the Web perimeter and the metadata server trusts that verification.
well-formed user definition
a user definition that includes a login with an appropriate user ID. For a Windows account, the user ID in the login must be qualified (for example, WIN\marcel or [email protected]). The login does not have to include a password. For metadata administrators and some service identities, it is appropriate to use an internal account instead of a login.
Index
A
access control templates (ACTs)
See also baseline ACTs consolidation of
permission patterns
permission settings
predefined
access controls relative priority of
access to data and resources distinctions for content and data
managing
opening up
PUBLIC access
accessibility features
account lockout period
ACT permission settings
Active Directory
ID format
sample code for user import
Administer (A) permission
administrative roles
administrators adding
metadata server role
SAS Administrators group
unrestricted role
user administration role
align authentication
anonymous access
application features availability of
authentication
See also authentication mechanisms
See also authentication model
See also authentication tasks align
coordinating the workspace server
identifying or creating user accounts
template for
token
authentication domains unique names and IDs
authentication mechanisms
credential management
direct LDAP authentication
host authentication
Integrated Windows authentication
pluggable authentication modules
SAS internal authentication
SAS token authentication
server type summary
single sign-on summary
trusted peer connections
trusted user connections
Web authentication
authentication model
credential gaps
data servers and processing servers
logins
metadata server
mixed providers
PUBLIC and anonymous access
scenarios
authentication tasks
changing internal account policies
configuring direct LDAP authentication
configuring Integrated Windows authentication
configuring SAS internal authentication
configuring SAS token authentication
configuring Web authentication
forcing the Kerberos protocol
reducing exposure of SASTRUST password
storing passwords for third-party server
storing passwords for workspace server
workspace server’s Options tab
authorization-based prefilters
authorization data sets
additional resources for building
generating
authorization decision flowchart
authorization model
authorization decisions
fine-grained controls for data
granularity and mechanics
identity precedence
inheritance paths
metadata-based permissions
permissions by item
permissions by task
use and enforcement of each permission
Authorization tab
B
baseline ACTs
creating
examples
250
Index
key points for
batch jobs
batch reporting fine-grained controls and
BI row-level permissions
assigning filters for
creating identity-driven filters
data modeling
example
filtering techniques
identity-driven properties and missing values
implementing
information map tasks
preliminary tasks
report generation and
security associations table
verification of implementation
C
canonical tables
capabilities
assigning to roles
contributed
explicit
implicit
redistributing
relationship with permissions
CEL parameter
OBJECTSERVERPARMS system option
check box colors
CheckInMetadata (CM) permission
client-side pooling
coarse-grained controls
colors, for permission check boxes
configuration directories passwords managed in
contributed capabilities
Create (C) permission
credential gaps
credential management
credentials launch credentials
cubes permissions for selected tasks
D
data access distinctions for content and data
managing
opening up
PUBLIC access
data modeling
data retrieval
data servers authentication to
Delete (D) permission
Deployment Manager password management
direct access
direct LDAP authentication
configuring
distribution of selected privileges
dual users
dynamic filters
E
effective permissions
encryption
algorithms
changing over-the-wire settings for SAS servers
contexts for coverage
default settings for on-disk
default settings for over-the-wire
increasing strength for outbound passwords in transit
increasing strength for passwords at rest
on-disk
over-the-wire
SAS/SECURE
strength of
explicit capabilities
explicit permission settings
external accounts unique names and IDs
external identities
external passwords
F
filters assigning for row-level permissions
authorization-based prefilters
dynamic
for BI row-level permissions
general prefilters
identity-driven
fine-grained controls
assigning
batch reporting
identity-driven properties
implementations of
folder permissions
ACT consolidation
baseline ACTs
end users, folders, and permissions
examples
separated administration
folders permissions for selected tasks
G
general prefilters
granularity
group definitions
unique names and IDs
groups compared with roles
identity precedence
management of
password updates for
PUBLIC
SAS Administrators
SASUSERS
H
Hide baseline ACT
hiding server definitions
host access example
Index
251
multiple levels of
to SAS tables
two levels, on UNIX
host authentication
I
ID formats
identity, preserving
identity-driven filters
identity-driven properties
missing values and
identity hierarchy
identity passing
identity precedence
identity relationships network
IDs, unique
implicit capabilities
import, user
See user import import macros
information maps
See also BI row-level permissions adding security associations table to
assigning filters for row-level permissions
creating identity-driven filters
fine-grained controls and
permissions for selected tasks
inheritance paths
inherited permission settings
internal account policies changing
per-account
server-level
internal accounts unlocking
internal authentication
IWA (Integrated Windows authentication)
configuring
Kerberos protocol
K
Kerberos protocol
forcing
L
launch credentials
creating and designating
criteria for
launching a standard workspace server
LimitData baseline ACT
lockout period
log on as batch job
logging security events
logins authentication and
for Web authentication
M
macros for user import and synchronization
management console role
%MDSECDS macro
%MDUCHGLB macro
%MDUCHGV macro
%MDUCMP macro
%MDUEXTR macro
%MDUIMPC macro
%MDUIMPLB macro
MDX expressions
mediated access
metadata main SAS identities
WriteMetadata and WriteMemberMetadata permissions
metadata authorization model
See authorization model metadata-based permissions
metadata layer
metadata repository passwords managed in
metadata server authentication
authentication, on UNIX
authentication, on Windows
determining SAS identity
metadata server role
missing values identity-driven properties and
mixed providers
align authentication for
SAS token authentication for
storing user IDs and passwords
N
names, unique
NETENCRALG system option
network, accessing computer from
O
OBJECTSERVERPARMS system option
CEL parameter
OLAP member-level permissions
assigning a permission condition
example
on-disk encryption
default settings
Options tab workspace server
Oracle
Windows shared access to
outbound passwords increasing encryption strength for
over-the-wire encryption and
over-the-wire encryption
changing settings for SAS servers
default settings
outbound passwords and
P
PAM (pluggable authentication modules)
passwords
encryption strength for outbound passwords in transit
encryption strength for passwords at rest
252
Index
enhanced protection for
external accounts
managed by SAS Deployment Manager
managed in SAS configuration directories
managed in SAS metadata repository
managed in Web environment
outbound, and over-the-wire encryption
policies
SAS internal accounts
SAS003
SASTRUST
storing for mixed providers
storing for third-party servers
storing for workspace server
updates for service accounts
updates for users and groups
per-account policies
permission conditions
permissions
See also BI row-level permissions
See also folder permissions
See also server permissions
ACT settings
assigning
Authorization tab
by item
by task
check box colors
effective
effects of settings
explicit settings
fine-grained controls
granularity and mechanics
identity relationships network
inheritance paths
inherited settings
key points for
metadata-based
OLAP member-level
patterns of selected ACTs
relationship with capabilities
repository-level controls
resource-level controls
resource relationships network
setting
use and enforcement of each permission
WriteMetadata (WM) and WriteMemberMetadata
(WMM)
pluggable authentication modules (PAM)
pooling
See workspace server pooling prefilters authorization-based
general
preservation of user identity
privileges distribution of
Windows
processing servers authentication to
Protect baseline ACT
PUBLIC access
PUBLIC group
publishing channels permissions for selected tasks
R
Read (R) permission
ReadMetadata (RM) permission
reporting
See security reporting reports
BI row-level permissions and
permissions for selected tasks
repository-level controls
resource access distinctions for content and data
managing
opening up
PUBLIC access
resource-level controls
resource relationships network
RETURNPASSWORDS=SAS003
compatibility and
role definitions
unique names and IDs
roles
application features and
assigning capabilities to
compared with groups
increasing or reducing availability of
main administrative roles
management of
metadata server role
redistributing capabilities
unrestricted
user administration role
row-level permissions
See BI row-level permissions
S
SAS Administrators group
SAS configuration directories passwords managed in
SAS Deployment Manager password management
SAS identity determining
SAS internal authentication
configuring
SAS internal passwords
SAS metadata main SAS identities
SAS metadata repository passwords managed in
SAS OLAP Server fine-grained controls and
SAS Scalable Performance Data Server fine-grained controls and
SAS/SECURE
SAS servers changing over-the-wire encryption settings for
SAS tables direct access versus mediated access
host access
risks of mediated host access
SAS token authentication
configuring
SAS003 passwords connections that cannot use
Index
253
RETURNPASSWORDS=SAS003 and compatibility
upgrading to RETURNPASSWORDS=SAS003
SAS.ExternalIdentity property
SAS.IdentityGroupName property
SAS.IdentityGroups property
SAS.IdentityName property
SAS.PersonName property
SASProprietary encryption
SASTRUST password reducing exposure of
SAS.Userid property
SASUSERS group
scope of import process
of synchronization process
security
permissions
security associations table
adding to information map
content of
creating and maintaining
format of
security checklist
metadata layer
passwords
security logging
security reporting
authorization data sets
%MDSECDS macro
security tasks
adding administrators
adding regular users
ensuring availability of application features
facilitating authentication
managing access
managing passwords
opening up access
server definitions access to
hiding
protecting
server-level accounts changing policies
Server Manager capability
server permissions
access to server definitions
hiding server definitions
protecting server definitions
server-side pooling
benefits and risks of
servers ability to update or delete
preserving identity
service accounts password updates for
single sign-on (SSO)
standard workspace server authentication to
launching
stored processes permissions for selected tasks
synchronization
See user synchronization
T
tables canonical
direct access versus mediated access
host access
risks of mediated host access
third-party servers authentication to
storing passwords for
token authentication
configuring
trusted for delegation
trusted peer connections
trusted user connections
U
UNIX authentication to metadata server
sample code for UNIX /etc/passwd import
two levels of host access
unlocking internal accounts
unrestricted role
user accounts identifying or creating
user definitions and
user administration
user administration role
user context
contents of
user definitions
unique names and IDs
user identity preservation
user IDs storing for mixed providers
user import
canonical tables
external identities
importing identities
macros for
sample code for Active Directory import
sample code for generic file import
sample code for UNIX /etc/passwd import
scope of import process
user synchronization
macros for
sample code
scope of
synchronizing identities
users adding regular users
dual users
folder permissions and end users
ID formats
identity information
identity precedence
management of
password updates for
W
Web authentication
configuring
logins for
vendor-specific instructions
254
Index
Web environment passwords managed in
Windows authentication to metadata server
IWA
privileges
shared access to Oracle
workspace server authentication to
configuring for SAS token authentication
coordinating
credential gaps
launching
Options tab
storing passwords for
workspace server pooling
client-side
comparison of configurations
eligible requests actually using pooling
modifying the initial configuration
requests eligible for
server-side
Write (W) permission
WriteMemberMetadata (WMM) permission
WriteMetadata (WM) permission
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