How should you implement access control for departmental views of the Master dataset in BigQuery?

Implementing access control for departmental views of the Master dataset in BigQuery by creating a view with a WHERE clause and authorizing access to the view is an effective strategy for several reasons.

By defining a view that filters the Master dataset based on department-specific criteria, you can ensure each department only sees the data relevant to them. This method allows you to maintain a single source of truth within the Master dataset while providing tailored access to the data. The WHERE clause serves to limit the dataset returned to users according to specific parameters, effectively implementing row-level security.

Additionally, this approach simplifies maintenance and enhances performance. Instead of creating multiple datasets or duplicating data across different tables, which could lead to data inconsistencies and increased storage costs, a well-designed view allows you to manage and update your data in one central location. Changes made to the Master dataset automatically propagate to the views, ensuring all departments are working with the latest information. Furthermore, access can be managed efficiently by controlling permissions on the views rather than on the underlying dataset itself, allowing for flexible and secure data governance.

Choosing this method over creating separate datasets or data pipelines offers a more streamlined approach while ensuring compliance with data access policies for each department.