Access the Data Quality Features¶
Alation Cloud Service Applies to Alation Cloud Service instances of Alation
Alation Data Quality surfaces data-quality information in the catalog and applies the catalog’s existing permissions model. Visibility aligns with catalog access: you can view quality details only for the cataloged assets you are allowed to access.
You can access data quality information in multiple ways:
Primary Application
Navigate to Data Quality from the left navigation panel in the Alation application.
View the full Data Quality dashboard with comprehensive monitoring and configuration capabilities.
The screenshot below shows how to locate the Data Quality App on the left-side navigation bar. Clicking this icon opens the Data Quality dashboard.
Browser or Application Extension
The Alation Chrome Extension provides contextual quality insights.
Consolidated quality summaries and alerts directly within external applications such as Slack or Microsoft Teams.
Catalog Integration
Find the data quality information in the Quality widgets embedded in catalog pages (tables, columns, schemas) and accessible via the right-side collapsible menu for immediate quality context, For more information, see Accessing Data Quality in Catalog Pages.
The Composer, Explorer, or Viewer user roles can open and view the data quality data in the catalog. Before anyone can view it, users with Server Admin, Source Admin, or Data Steward roles must configure and run at least one monitor so that the Data Quality information appears in the catalog. Before that, the Data Quality dashboard will be empty with nothing to view.
The screenshot below shows the Alation Data Quality dashboard when no monitor is configured:
Permission Framework¶
Alation Data Quality visibility and functionality are fully aligned with the permissions users already have within the Alation platform.
Object Access-Based Visibility¶
You can only view data quality checks, monitors, and results for tables and columns you have access to via Alation’s catalog permissions. If you lack access to an object, it will be excluded from your data quality views and dashboards.
Partial Access Handling¶
In instances where you have partial access to datasets within a monitor, you will receive descriptive messages explaining why certain items are restricted. This ensures transparency while maintaining security boundaries.
Role-Based Access to Configuration¶
The user roles such as Server Admin, Catalog Admin, Source Admin, or Steward are permitted to create and configure data quality checks and monitors. These roles typically reflect individuals responsible for data governance and quality enforcement.
Read-Only Access to Data Quality Information¶
All other users, such as Composers, Explorers, or Viewers have read-only access to view the results of existing monitors. Again, they can only view the data assets they are permitted to see. They cannot create or edit checks.
Server, Catalog, or Source Admin |
Steward |
Composer |
Explorer |
Viewer |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Access the Data Quality dashboard |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
View the Data Quality information on catalog pages of assets |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Add monitors |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Edit monitors |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Delete monitors |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Run monitors |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Recommend checks with AI |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Configure Data Quality alerts |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Receive Data Quality alerts |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Access Data Quality in Alation Chrome Extension¶
Available from Alation Chrome Extension version 1.5.7
You can view a consolidated data quality summary of the data assets in Alation. This lets you quickly understand whether the data behind a chart or metric is reliable without opening the Alation Data Quality application.
You can:
View the data quality score and check types
Check monitor status (pass/fail)
Review recent incidents
Access Data Quality on Catalog Pages¶
You can access the Alation Data Quality widget directly on catalog pages for tables, columns, and schemas on the right side of the page in a collapsible panel.
In the widget, you can click View in Alation or Lineage Preview to get deeper insights.
This information helps you to:
Instantly assess data trustworthiness while exploring metadata
Quickly identify problem areas for operational datasets
You can view the following information:
Section |
Details |
|---|---|
Displays the overall data quality score for the object, along with scores for each relevant quality check type (such as Accuracy or Completeness), calculated based on the data quality checks defined for the object. |
|
Monitor Summary |
Displays the monitors linked to this object, along with their pass or fail status, schedule, and the number of applicable checks. Only the checks from each monitor that are relevant to this object are included, so the check count reflects the subset specific to this table not the total number of checks defined in the monitor. |