Data Governance with Unity Catalogue

Unity Catalogue brings row-level security, column-level masking, and a unified metadata layer to your Databricks lakehouse—essential for enterprises that need to scale data access without compromising compliance.

What is Unity Catalogue?

Unity Catalogue is Databricks' unified governance solution. It provides a single place to manage data assets, access control, and lineage across all your workspaces and clouds.

Key Capabilities

Centralized Access Control

Define permissions at the catalog, schema, table, or view level. Use standard SQL GRANT and REVOKE statements. Permissions follow the principle of least privilege.

Row-Level and Column-Level Security

Implement dynamic views that filter rows based on user attributes. Use column masks to redact sensitive data (e.g., PII) for users who don't need full access.

Lineage and Discovery

Automatic lineage tracking shows where data comes from and where it flows. Data discovery helps users find and understand datasets through metadata and tags.

Implementation Checklist

• Enable Unity Catalogue on your workspace
• Migrate existing tables to UC-managed locations
• Define catalogs and schemas for logical organization
• Create groups and assign permissions
• Configure row filters and column masks for sensitive data

Conclusion

Unity Catalogue is not optional for enterprise deployments. Start with a clear governance model, then migrate incrementally. The investment pays off in compliance, security, and data discoverability.