Database Permissions in SQL Server: Creating a Database with Same Credentials

Creating a database on a server that can have multiple databases, each with its own set of permissions and login information, is a common requirement for many applications. In this article, we will delve into the world of database permissions in SQL Server and explore how to create a database with the same credentials as another parent database.

Understanding Database Permissions

Before we dive into the solution, let’s take a closer look at database permissions in SQL Server. Database permissions are set at the database level, which means that if you have two similar databases, you need to create the appropriate users, roles, and objects (such as tables, views, etc.) in both of them.

Imagine you have two databases, abc and babyabc, and you want to grant the same permissions to the user StackOverflow\RegisteredUsers. In a standard scenario, you would need to create this user and grant the required roles in each database separately. However, what if we can achieve this using a single database, say model, which serves as a central hub for all database-related objects?

Creating a Central Hub: The model Database

The concept of creating a central hub is called a “centralized model” or “master data model.” This approach allows you to store common objects and permissions in one database, making it easier to manage and maintain them across multiple databases.

To create the model database, follow these steps:

1. Create a new database using the following SQL statement:

CREATE DATABASE model;

2.  Open the `model` database by executing the following command:
    ```markdown
USE model;
GO

3. In this database, create a user with the same login name as the parent database. You can do this using the CREATE USER statement:

CREATE USER [StackOverflow\RegisteredUsers]; GO

4.  Grant the required roles to this user in the `model` database. For example, let's grant the `db_datareader` role to the `StackOverflow\RegisteredUsers`. You can do this using the following statement:

    ```markdown
ALTER ROLE db_datareader ADD MEMBER [StackOverflow\RegisteredUsers];
GO

Applying Permissions to New Databases

Now that we have created the model database and granted permissions to the user, let’s see how we can apply these permissions to new databases.

When creating a new database, you can use the following command to inherit the users and roles from the model database:

USE [database_name];
GO

CREATE USER [StackOverflow\RegisteredUsers] IN DATABASE [model];

By using this approach, when a new database is created, it will automatically inherit the user and role definitions from the model database. This means that users with the same login name in the parent database will be granted the same permissions in the new database.

Best Practices for Database Management

While creating a central hub can simplify database management, there are some best practices to keep in mind:

• Regularly review and update user roles and permissions across all databases.
• Use the IN DATABASE clause when granting users or roles to avoid polluting the parent database with additional users and roles.
• Create separate databases for each application or feature to maintain isolation and security.

Conclusion

In this article, we explored how to create a database with the same credentials as another parent database using SQL Server. By creating a central hub database (the model database) and granting permissions to users in that database, you can easily inherit those permissions when creating new databases.

This approach simplifies database management and provides a more scalable solution for managing multiple databases. However, it’s essential to regularly review and update user roles and permissions to maintain the security and integrity of your database environment.

By following these best practices and leveraging the power of SQL Server, you can efficiently manage complex database hierarchies and ensure that sensitive data remains secure across all applications.

Last modified on 2024-12-31