# Setting the SQL standard authorization mode

Use the `derby.database.sqlAuthorization` property to enable SQL standard authorization.

The `derby.database.sqlAuthorization` property controls the ability for object owners to grant and revoke permission for users to perform actions on database objects. It also controls the ability for users to create, set, and drop roles.

The valid settings for the `derby.database.sqlAuthorization` property are:

- TRUE
- FALSE

The default setting for the `derby.database.sqlAuthorization` property is FALSE.

The `derby.database.sqlAuthorization` property is usable only if the property `derby.connection.requireAuthentication` is also set to true, since SQL authorization is of no value unless authentication is also enabled.

After you set the `derby.database.sqlAuthorization` property to TRUE, you cannot set the property back to FALSE.

You can set the `derby.database.sqlAuthorization` property as a system property or as a database property. If you set this property as a system property before you create the databases, all new databases will automatically have SQL authorization enabled. If the databases already exists, you can set this property only as a database property.

To enable SQL standard authorization for the entire system, set the `derby.database.sqlAuthorization` property as a system property:

    derby.database.sqlAuthorization=true

To enable SQL standard authorization for a specific database, set the `derby.database.sqlAuthorization` property as a database property:

    CALL SYSCS_UTIL.SYSCS_SET_DATABASE_PROPERTY(
        'derby.database.sqlAuthorization',
        'true')

- Using SQL standard authorization
  When the SQL standard authorization mode is enabled, object owners can use the GRANT and REVOKE SQL statements to set the user permissions for specific database objects or for specific SQL actions. They can also use roles to administer privileges.
- Using SQL roles
  When the SQL standard authorization mode is enabled, object owners can use the SQL roles facility to administer privileges.
- SQL standard authorization exceptions
  SQL exceptions are returned when errors occur with SQL authorization.

Parent topic: User authorizations
Related concepts
Setting the default connection access mode
Setting access for individual users