Security data filters

Release version: Australia

Updated March 12, 2026

2 minutes to read

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Summary of Security Data Filters

Security data filters are designed to restrict access to records based on user roles or security attributes before a query is executed, ensuring that sensitive data does not leave the database. This proactive security measure contrasts with conditional ACLs, which filter data after a query, potentially exposing unauthorized information.

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Key Features

Applied during the query process, ensuring restricted data remains secure.
Filters use an AND condition both with the query and among themselves.
Not evaluated by canRead, making them distinct from other access control mechanisms.
Scoping rules are based on the target table's scope, not on ScopeMaster or sysscope.
Typically enforced after absolute and row ACLs, with default application impacting system behavior.
Applicable only to specific query types: GlideRecordSecure, GlideRecordSandbox, and GlideAggregateSandbox.
New APIs (enableSecurityFeature and disableSecurityFeature) allow for dynamic control of security filters in scripts.

Key Outcomes

Implementing security data filters effectively prevents sensitive data from being exposed, suppresses security-related error messages, and safeguards against data leakage through reports. However, they should not replace ACLs, be used for visibility control, or be applied to unindexed columns. For optimal performance and security, ensure that filters are used judiciously, particularly in user-facing queries not utilizing GlideRecordSecure.

Security data filters restrict access to records based on role, or security-attribute related assertions.

Exploring security data filters

Security data filters enable access restriction to records based on a users' role, or other security attribute related assertions. Security data filters ensure only authorized users can view records regardless of how data is accessed.

Security data filters are applied before a query is executed so restricted data never leaves the database. In contrast conditional ACLs filter data after a query is executed possibly leaking data.

Note:

Pair security data filters with Deny-Unless ACL to ensure consistent security

Features of security data filters

The key features of security data filters are:

Security data filters are applied in-query.
Security data filter conditions AND to the query on the target table and with each other.
Security data filters are not checked by canRead. See When to use security data filters for more details
Data filter scoping rules are based on the scope of the table, data filters do not follow ScopeMaster or sys_scope scope rules

Security data filter application and enforcement

Generally security data filters are applied after absolute ACLs (also called table-level ACLs), and after row ACLs. Security data filters are applied by default, and impact system behavior if not used carefully. See Default security filters for a list of the default security data filters.

Security data filters are applied only to GlideRecordSecure, GlideRecordSandbox and GlideAggregateSandbox queries by default. There are two new GlideRecord APIs enableSecurityFeature and disableSecurityFeature that can be used in both Java and server-side scripts to enable or disable data filters for a specific query.

Important:

You should explicitly enable data filters for user-facing queries that are not using GlideRecordSecure.

When to use security data filters

Security data filters are best suited to:

Prevent sensitive data from leaving the database
Suppress the "rows hidden by security" message
Prevent sensitive data from leaking through reports

When not to use security data filters

Security data filters should not be used:

As visibility control
As replacement for ACLs
With a large number of filter conditions
On unindexed columns

Security data filter behavior

Multiple security data filters combine together for evaluation, like an AND combines operands. As an example,given three security data filters:

Filter 1: `active=true
Filter 2: priority=1
Filter 3: state=open

And an initial query:

SELECT * FROM task WHERE state != closed AND active = true AND
        priority = 1

The final query is:

SELECT * FROM task WHERE state != closed
        AND active = true AND priority = 1 AND state = open

See the diagram below for a visual representation of this example:

A Venn Diagram showing how multiple data filters combine in conjunction.

One important difference in how security data filters and ACLs are applied is, data filters on a child table do not apply to the parent table when data is queried from the parent table. Add a data filter on both child and parent tables to restrict access to records in the parent table. The diagram below highlights the hierarchy: The diagrams displays how data filters on child tables do not apply to their parent tables

Note:

A common solution for this is to add a data filter on the parent that completely hides child records in the parent table.

Data filters are applied with scoping rules similar to ACLs, but with some key differences because data filters apply before-query. Data filters applied to scopes