Understanding User Profiles
Profiles in Zoho IOT applications are used to define the level of permission for users to the developer application, end application, various features, and modules (device, asset, location).
For example, consider an Zoho IOT application which has 2 devices (Device 1, Device 2), 2 assets (Asset 1, Asset 2), 2 reports (Report 1, Report 2), and 2 dashboards (Dashboard 1, Dashboard 2). Two user profiles, Profile A and Profile B, have been created to manage access.
Profile A grants access to Device 1, Asset 1, Dashboard 1, and Report 1, while Profile B grants access to Device 2, Asset 2, Dashboard 2, and Report 2.
Users assigned to Profile A can only access Device 1, Asset 1, Dashboard 1, and Report 1, whereas users assigned to Profile B can only access Device 2, Asset 2, Dashboard 2, and Report 2.
Profile Types
Four profile types are available by default in Zoho IOT applications. Each profile type has a limitation, and most features and functions in the application can be controlled using profiles. The four profile types are:
- Administrator
- Developer
- Manager
- Standard
Administrator : This profile type has permission for administrative functions and permission to manage all features, entities, and options available in the Zoho IOT application.
Developer : This profile type has permission to manage all the features, entities, and options available in the developer application and end application. But, it does not have administrative privileges.
Manager : This profile type has permission for administrative functions and permission to manage all the features, entities, and options but is restricted to the end application. It does not have access to the developer application.
Standard : This profile type has permission to create, edit, and delete models, instances, dashboards, datapoints, etc. in the end application. It does not have access to the developer application. It does not have administrative privileges.
Note: Administrator functions include User and Profile Management, Rule Management, User Groups, Rebranding, and GDPR
Creating New Profiles
Profiles can be created based on the four default profile types available. By cloning one of these profiles and configuring the Access/View, Create, Edit, and Delete options for the required modules and models, a new profile type tailored to specific needs can be created.
For example, consider a user responsible for just monitoring the various air conditioning units in a smart building using a Zoho IOT application. This person does not need read/write access to any modules. A profile type called "Service Technician" based on the Standard Profile can be created with access only to view the dashboards and air conditioning assets in the application. By associating this Service Technician profile type with the user, you can effectively restrict the user to only viewing data about the air conditioning units.
Associating Users with Profiles
Every user added to the Zoho IOT application must be associated with a profile. A single profile can be associated with multiple users in the application.
For example, consider a smart building application with different users responsible for maintaining various operations. There are three users for HVAC maintenance, five users for electrical maintenance, and one building manager. In this case, three profiles: HVAC Technician, Electrical Maintenance, and Building Manager can be created with the appropriate permissions and then assigned to the corresponding users. This ensures that each user has access only to the functionalities relevant to their role.
See Also