In ChurchTools we use so-called security levels that decide which data about a person or group is released to be seen or edited. We have preset some security levels to make it easier for you to get started.
The security levels build on each other like stairs. This means that you put non-sensitive data on a lower level and sensitive data on higher levels, ascending with sensitivity. So all data “lie” on a certain level. And users are in turn released for the steps they need. You determine how far they can ultimately “climb” the stairs by releasing the security levels for the users.
Data is given a security level #
All data that is stored for a person or group in ChurchTools is assigned to a security level.
For example, you can assign a relatively low security level to a person’s contact details (phone number or e-mail) so that many in the congregation can network with each other, but you can assign a higher security level to the address so that fewer users can see it.
Users are released for certain security levels #
For each user you can set which security level is enabled for them. If a higher level is released, the user is also released for the levels below.
You set the release in Manage Permissions either via the status or the membership of a user to certain group types or groups.
You use the status to set which security levels are to be released for all users with this status. In this way you determine that, for example, all congregation members can see more sensitive data (e.g. dates of birth) than interested parties.
By belonging to specific group types or groups, you in turn adjust the security levels for the data of the group or the other group members separately. In this way, a person who is not a member of the congregation (and therefore cannot actually see the birth data) can still see the birth data of the other group members in their small group.