Manual Permission Checks vs Policy Based Authorization

Developers should use manual permission checks when building applications that require granular security controls, such as multi-tenant systems, enterprise software, or platforms with complex user hierarchies meets developers should use policy based authorization when building applications with complex or dynamic access control requirements, such as multi-tenant systems, content management platforms, or enterprise software with granular permissions. Here's our take.

Manual Permission Checks

Nice Pick

Developers should use manual permission checks when building applications that require granular security controls, such as multi-tenant systems, enterprise software, or platforms with complex user hierarchies

Pros

• This approach is essential for scenarios where built-in authorization mechanisms are insufficient, allowing for custom logic to handle specific business rules, dynamic permissions, or integration with external identity providers
• Related to: authentication, authorization

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Policy Based Authorization

Developers should use Policy Based Authorization when building applications with complex or dynamic access control requirements, such as multi-tenant systems, content management platforms, or enterprise software with granular permissions

Pros

• It is particularly valuable for scenarios where authorization logic needs to be reused across different parts of an application or when business rules frequently change, as it decouples authorization from application code and allows for easier updates without redeployment
• Related to: role-based-access-control, attribute-based-access-control

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Manual Permission Checks if: You want this approach is essential for scenarios where built-in authorization mechanisms are insufficient, allowing for custom logic to handle specific business rules, dynamic permissions, or integration with external identity providers and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Policy Based Authorization if: You prioritize it is particularly valuable for scenarios where authorization logic needs to be reused across different parts of an application or when business rules frequently change, as it decouples authorization from application code and allows for easier updates without redeployment over what Manual Permission Checks offers.

The Bottom Line

Manual Permission Checks wins

Developers should use manual permission checks when building applications that require granular security controls, such as multi-tenant systems, enterprise software, or platforms with complex user hierarchies