Access Control: Role-Based Permissions
Implement role-based access control so every team member has precisely the permissions they need to work with your OpenClaw agent, nothing more.
What You Will Get
By the end of this guide, your OpenClaw agent will have a role-based access control system that ensures every team member has the right level of access. Administrators can manage everything, operators can monitor and adjust, and viewers can only read. No one has more access than they need.
Access control is a fundamental security practice. Without it, any team member can modify the agent's system prompt, view sensitive conversations, or revoke API keys. RBAC limits these capabilities to authorized individuals, reducing the risk of accidental or intentional misuse.
You will define roles, assign permissions to each role, create user accounts, and audit access patterns. The result is a secure, well-organized team structure where everyone can do their job effectively without unnecessary risk.
Step-by-Step Setup
Follow these steps to implement role-based access control.
Plan Your Role Structure
Before creating roles, list all the actions users need to perform: viewing conversations, editing prompts, managing skills, accessing API keys, viewing analytics, and managing team members. Group these actions into logical roles like Admin, Editor, Operator, and Viewer.
Create Custom Roles
Open the Access Control panel in your RunTheAgent dashboard. Click Create Role and define each role with a name, description, and list of permissions. Start with the most restrictive role (Viewer) and add permissions incrementally for higher roles. This ensures no role has unnecessary access.
Assign Permissions to Roles
For each role, toggle the specific permissions it should have. Permissions include: view conversations, edit agent configuration, manage skills, manage API keys, view analytics, manage team members, and access security settings. Review each permission carefully and assign only what the role requires.
Invite Team Members
Go to the Team Members section and invite users by email. Assign each user to the appropriate role. The invitation email includes a link to set up their account. Until they accept, their invitation shows as pending in the team list.
Configure Role Inheritance
If your organization has a hierarchical structure, configure role inheritance so higher roles automatically include all permissions of lower roles. For example, an Admin inherits all Editor permissions, and an Editor inherits all Viewer permissions. This simplifies management as your team grows.
Test Access for Each Role
Log in as a user with each role and verify they can perform their expected actions and cannot access restricted features. Test edge cases like trying to revoke an API key as a Viewer or editing a prompt as an Operator. Every denied action should show a clear permission error.
Enable Access Auditing
Turn on access auditing to log every permission check, successful or denied. Review the audit log monthly to verify that roles are correctly assigned and that no user is being blocked from actions they need. The audit log also helps detect unauthorized access attempts.
Tips and Best Practices
Follow the Principle of Least Privilege
Assign the minimum permissions each user needs. It is easier to grant additional access on request than to revoke access after an incident. Start restrictive and relax only when justified.
Review Roles Quarterly
Team structures change over time. Review role assignments every quarter to ensure they still match each person's actual responsibilities. Remove access for people who have changed roles or left the team.
Use Separate Accounts for Admin Tasks
If you are both a developer and an admin, consider using separate accounts for each role. This prevents accidental admin actions during daily development work and creates a clearer audit trail.
Document Your Role Definitions
Maintain a document that describes each role, its permissions, and who should be assigned to it. This reference helps during onboarding and role reviews. Store it alongside your other security documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
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