Technical Glossary
Row-Level Security (RLS)
Exact Definition
Row-Level Security (RLS) is a database access control feature in PostgreSQL that restricts which rows a specific user or role can read, insert, update, or delete — enforcing data isolation at the database engine level rather than the application layer.
Architectural Deep Dive
RLS policies are defined directly on database tables using SQL POLICY statements. When a user queries a table, PostgreSQL automatically appends the policy condition — e.g., `WHERE tenant_id = current_setting('app.tenant_id')` — to every query. This means even if a developer writes a query without a WHERE clause, they only see their tenant's data. RLS is the gold standard for multi-tenant SaaS data isolation because it eliminates the risk of application-layer bugs exposing cross-tenant data.
The ERPStack Approach
We implement PostgreSQL Row-Level Security policies on all multi-tenant ERP databases, ensuring that application bugs cannot accidentally expose one client's data to another — a critical requirement for SOC 2 Type II certification.
Related reading
- Stop Using Row-Level Security: The 2026 Blueprint for Next.js Multi-Tenant Architecture
- Feature Flags (Feature Toggles) — Definition & Tech Deep Dive
- Multi-tenant Architecture — Definition & Tech Deep Dive
- The Next.js Multi-Tenant Crisis: Why Your B2B SaaS is a Massive Security Breach Waiting to Happen