Dashboard Security in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013

By - June 24, 2014

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 has brought us many new functionalities and features such as new user interface (UI) model, business processes, enhance mobility and so forth. However, there is one new functionality which can be overlooked at times – dashboard security.  In Dynamics CRM 2011, we are not able to control who can see certain system dashboards based on the user’s security role, and can only control who sees what dashboard through personal dashboard by sharing.

In Dynamics CRM 2013, system dashboard can now be controlled by security role and can be visible based on the user’s security role.  Let’s take a look at the differences between Dynamics CRM 2011 and CRM 2013.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Dashboard Settings:

Tieu_Dashboard Security1

 

As you can see in the red bar, there isn’t a feature to enable security role for those system dashboards.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 Dashboard Settings:

Tieu_Dashboard Security2

 

In the blue highlighted, we can see there is a new button called “Enable Security Roles,” this will allow us to control what security role can see what system dashboard. This new button in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 is similar to security role model for different forms.

So, what is the advantage here?

This new functionality is particularly useful when you have to deploy a massive solution consisting of many dashboards from your development to production instances. Out-the-box, Dynamics CRM does not let you carry personal dashboards in a solution to move from one environment to another, so you would have to recreate those personal dashboards again in the production system, which can be very time consuming when its time to go-live.

With this functionality, you can control which user sees what system dashboard based on their user’s security role without having to recreate personal dashboards. For example, if you have a firm dashboard for a manager who needs to see Sales and Marketing dashboards, but restrict Sales dashboard to users in the Sales department, this is a great way to control who sees what dashboard regarding their business unit. As for views to generate the charts within the dashboards, if they can’t see the data, then they cannot see the records within those views anyway.

Overall, a helpful functionality that reduces time when you have to deploy dashboards across many Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 environments.

If you want to know more information or how to upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013, RSM offers a full range of services from implementation and optimization to development and support. Contact our professionals for more information on our services at 855.437.7202 or crm@mcgladrey.com.

Read more articles on the new release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013.

By: Hien Tieu – New Jersey Microsoft Dynamics CRM partner

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