User Permissions

Integrate Pasifika uses a comprehensive role-based permission system to ensure appropriate access control and security. This guide explains the different user roles, their permissions, and how the permission system works across the platform.

User Role Hierarchy

The platform uses a hierarchical role system with different levels of access and permissions:

Role Levels

General User

Basic platform access with limited permissions for new users

COP Member

Full community participation rights for approved community members

COP Editor

Content management and moderation capabilities within communities

COP Owner

Full administrative control over community settings and management

General User Permissions

General Users have basic platform access with limited permissions:

Allowed Actions

  • • Browse public communities and their overviews
  • • Search Pacific data sources and external resources
  • • Request to join Communities of Practice
  • • Participate in public events and meetings
  • • View public resources and documentation
  • • Access platform help and support resources

Restricted Actions

  • • Cannot access private COP content or discussions
  • • Cannot upload resources to communities
  • • Cannot participate in private community events
  • • Cannot create new communities
  • • Cannot moderate content or manage members
  • • Cannot access community analytics or reports

COP Member Permissions

COP Members have full participation rights within their communities:

Member Capabilities

Content Access

Access all community content, resources, discussions, and events

Resource Sharing

Upload and share resources with the community

Communication

Participate in discussions, chat, and community communications

Event Participation

Join community events, meetings, and virtual sessions

Community Creation

Create new Communities of Practice

COP Editor Permissions

COP Editors have additional content management and moderation capabilities:

Content Management

  • • Upload and organize community resources
  • • Create and manage community events
  • • Moderate discussions and content
  • • Review and approve resource submissions
  • • Manage community folders and organization
  • • Create and edit community announcements

Member Support

  • • Help onboard new community members
  • • Provide guidance on community guidelines
  • • Assist with technical issues and questions
  • • Facilitate community discussions and activities
  • • Access community analytics and reports
  • • Collaborate with community owners on management

COP Owner Permissions

COP Owners have full administrative control over their communities:

Administrative Capabilities

Member Management

Approve/reject membership requests, manage member roles, and remove members

Community Settings

Configure community privacy, settings, and operational parameters

Content Control

Manage all community content, resources, and discussions

Role Assignment

Assign editor roles and manage community leadership

Analytics Access

Access comprehensive community analytics and reporting

Permission Inheritance

Higher-level roles inherit permissions from lower-level roles:

  • COP Members inherit all General User permissions plus community-specific rights
  • COP Editors inherit all COP Member permissions plus content management capabilities
  • COP Owners inherit all COP Editor permissions plus administrative controls
  • Role Changes automatically update permissions when roles are modified
  • Community-Specific permissions apply only within the relevant community
  • Cross-Community roles are independent between different communities

Permission Management

Understanding how permissions are managed and updated:

Automatic Updates

  • Role Changes - Permissions update automatically when roles change
  • Community Joins - New permissions activate when joining communities
  • Community Leaves - Permissions are removed when leaving communities
  • Account Status - Permissions adjust based on account status
  • Platform Updates - New features may include additional permissions

Manual Management

  • Role Assignment - Community owners can assign editor roles
  • Permission Overrides - Special permissions can be granted for specific needs
  • Temporary Access - Time-limited permissions for special projects
  • Custom Roles - Specialized roles for specific community needs
  • Permission Audits - Regular review of user permissions and access

Security and Access Control

Permissions are enforced through multiple security layers:

Security Measures

Authentication

User identity verification before permission checks

Authorization

Permission validation for every action and resource access

Session Management

Secure session handling with permission validation

Audit Logging

Comprehensive logging of permission checks and access attempts

Common Permission Scenarios

Understanding how permissions work in common situations:

Resource Access

  • Public Resources - Accessible to all platform users
  • Community Resources - Accessible only to community members
  • Private Resources - Accessible only to specific user groups
  • Restricted Resources - Accessible only to editors and owners
  • Download Permissions - Separate permissions for viewing vs. downloading

Event Participation

  • Public Events - Open to all platform users
  • Community Events - Restricted to community members
  • Private Events - Invitation-only events
  • Host Permissions - Special permissions for event hosts
  • Recording Access - Separate permissions for viewing recordings

Permission Troubleshooting

Common permission issues and how to resolve them:

Common Issues and Solutions

Access Denied

Check if you have the required role or if your membership is approved

Missing Features

Verify your role level and community membership status

Permission Changes

Log out and log back in to refresh your permissions

Role Confusion

Check your role in the specific community you're trying to access

Best Practices for Permission Management

Follow these best practices for effective permission management:

  • Principle of Least Privilege - Grant only the minimum permissions necessary
  • Regular Reviews - Periodically review user roles and permissions
  • Clear Documentation - Document role responsibilities and permissions
  • Training - Ensure users understand their roles and permissions
  • Monitoring - Monitor permission usage and access patterns
  • Audit Trails - Maintain logs of permission changes and access

Permission System Benefits

  • • Ensures appropriate access control and security
  • • Provides clear role definitions and responsibilities
  • • Enables scalable community management
  • • Supports flexible permission customization
  • • Maintains audit trails for compliance
  • • Facilitates effective collaboration and governance

Getting Help with Permissions

If you have questions about your permissions or need help with role management, contact our support team at [email protected] or ask your community owners for assistance with community-specific permissions.