Using the Permissions Simulator

The simulator answers one question: "Does user X have permission Y on resource Z?" Use it to verify that a permission grant worked, diagnose why someone can or cannot access a resource, and test before making changes.

Before you begin

  • You must be a workspace admin to use the simulator.

Steps

1. Open the simulator

Go to Workspace > Permissions and select the Simulator tab.

2. Select a user

Pick the user you want to test from the dropdown.

3. Select a resource

Pick the resource type (subagent, sandcastle, tool, etc.) and the specific resource.

4. Select a relation

Choose the permission level to test: View, Execute, Edit, or Admin.

5. Run the simulation

The simulator returns:

  • Has access: Yes / No — whether the user has the requested permission level on the resource.
  • Reason — why access was granted or denied.
  • Source — how the user got the access: ownership, direct grant, or group membership. If it was a group grant, the simulator names the group.

When to use the simulator

  • After granting access. Verify the grant took effect. If the user already had access through a different path, the simulator shows you.
  • When someone reports they can't access something. Test their user against the resource. The simulator tells you exactly what's missing.
  • Before revoking access. Check whether the user has access through multiple paths. If they have both a direct grant and a group grant, revoking just the direct grant won't change their effective access.
  • During onboarding. After adding someone to groups, test a few resources to confirm they see what they should see.

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