✅ Approval Workflows

Require approvals for sensitive queries and autonomous agent actions. Track approval history and maintain comprehensive audit trails.

Overview

Approval Workflows provide:

• Multi-level approval chains
• Automated routing and notifications
• Audit trails for compliance
• Conditional approval rules
• Escalation procedures

What Requires Approval

Query Templates

Require approval for:

• Queries that modify data (UPDATE, DELETE)
• Queries accessing sensitive tables
• Bulk data exports
• Cross-database queries

Autonomous Agent Actions

Require approval for:

• Data modification actions
• External API calls
• Automated reports to external parties
• Actions above threshold values

Scheduled Executions

Require approval for:

• New scheduled workflows
• Changes to critical schedules
• High-frequency schedules

Setting Up Approvals

For Templates

1. Create or edit template
2. Enable Requires Approval
3. Select approvers:
   • Specific users
   • Roles (e.g., "Data Manager")
   • Template creator's manager
4. Set approval conditions
5. Save template

For Autonomous Agents

1. Configure agent capability
2. Check Requires Approval
3. Select approvers
4. Set threshold conditions (optional)
5. Enable capability

Approval Process

Requesting Approval

When approval is needed:

1. User/agent initiates action
2. System creates approval request
3. Approvers receive notifications
4. Request appears in pending queue
5. Action waits for decision

Reviewing Requests

Approvers can:

• View request details
• See proposed changes
• Review justification
• Check impact assessment
• View requester information
• See historical context

Making Decisions

Approvers can:

• Approve: Allow execution
• Reject: Deny with reason
• Request Changes: Ask for modifications
• Delegate: Forward to another approver

After Approval

Once approved:

• Action executes immediately or as scheduled
• Requester receives notification
• Approval logged in audit trail
• Results tracked and reported

Approval Workflows

Single Approver

Simplest workflow, one person approves.

Multiple Approvers (Any)

Any one approver can authorize.

Multiple Approvers (All)

All approvers must approve.

Hierarchical Approval

Sequential approval chain.

Conditional Approval

Approval requirements based on conditions.

Pending Approvals Dashboard

View Pending

See all requests awaiting your approval:

• Request type and description
• Requester name
• Submission time
• Priority level
• Deadline (if any)

Filter Requests

Organize pending approvals:

• By type (Template, Agent, Workflow)
• By priority
• By date
• By requester

Bulk Actions

Process multiple requests:

• Select multiple similar requests
• Approve/reject in batch
• Add comments to all

Approval History

Track all approval decisions:

• Approved/rejected requests
• Approver names
• Decision timestamps
• Comments and justifications
• Execution results

Notifications

For Requesters

• Approval request submitted
• Request approved
• Request rejected
• Changes requested
• Action executed successfully

For Approvers

• New approval request
• Request deadline approaching
• Request escalated
• Request cancelled

Best Practices

• Clear Guidelines: Document what requires approval
• Reasonable Timelines: Set realistic approval SLAs
• Appropriate Granularity: Don't over-approve
• Delegate When Needed: Avoid bottlenecks
• Review Regularly: Check pending queue daily
• Provide Context: Requesters should explain why
• Document Decisions: Add meaningful comments

Audit & Compliance

Approval workflows support compliance:

• Complete audit trail
• Who approved what and when
• Justification for decisions
• Execution outcomes
• Exported reports for auditors

Permissions

Required permissions:

• approvals.create: Request approvals
• approvals.approve: Approve requests
• approvals.read: View approval history
• approvals.configure: Set up approval workflows