Manage GCP Data Catalog Policy Tag IAM Access

The gcp:datacatalog/policyTagIamMember:PolicyTagIamMember resource, part of the Pulumi GCP provider, grants IAM roles to members on Data Catalog policy tags. Policy tags control column-level security in BigQuery, and IAM bindings determine who can view or manage those policies. This guide focuses on three approaches: adding individual members, setting complete member lists, and replacing entire policies.

The three IAM resources (PolicyTagIamMember, PolicyTagIamBinding, PolicyTagIamPolicy) reference existing policy tags and differ in scope. PolicyTagIamMember is non-authoritative and preserves other members. PolicyTagIamBinding is authoritative for a single role. PolicyTagIamPolicy replaces the entire policy and cannot be used with the other two. The examples are intentionally small. Combine them with your own policy tag infrastructure and member identities.

Grant a role to a single member

Most IAM configurations add one user or service account to a role without affecting existing members.

import * as pulumi from "@pulumi/pulumi";
import * as gcp from "@pulumi/gcp";

const member = new gcp.datacatalog.PolicyTagIamMember("member", {
    policyTag: basicPolicyTag.name,
    role: "roles/viewer",
    member: "user:jane@example.com",
});

import pulumi
import pulumi_gcp as gcp

member = gcp.datacatalog.PolicyTagIamMember("member",
    policy_tag=basic_policy_tag["name"],
    role="roles/viewer",
    member="user:jane@example.com")

package main

import (
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi-gcp/sdk/v9/go/gcp/datacatalog"
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi/sdk/v3/go/pulumi"
)

func main() {
	pulumi.Run(func(ctx *pulumi.Context) error {
		_, err := datacatalog.NewPolicyTagIamMember(ctx, "member", &datacatalog.PolicyTagIamMemberArgs{
			PolicyTag: pulumi.Any(basicPolicyTag.Name),
			Role:      pulumi.String("roles/viewer"),
			Member:    pulumi.String("user:jane@example.com"),
		})
		if err != nil {
			return err
		}
		return nil
	})
}

using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using Pulumi;
using Gcp = Pulumi.Gcp;

return await Deployment.RunAsync(() => 
{
    var member = new Gcp.DataCatalog.PolicyTagIamMember("member", new()
    {
        PolicyTag = basicPolicyTag.Name,
        Role = "roles/viewer",
        Member = "user:jane@example.com",
    });

});

package generated_program;

import com.pulumi.Context;
import com.pulumi.Pulumi;
import com.pulumi.core.Output;
import com.pulumi.gcp.datacatalog.PolicyTagIamMember;
import com.pulumi.gcp.datacatalog.PolicyTagIamMemberArgs;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Map;
import java.io.File;
import java.nio.file.Files;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

public class App {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Pulumi.run(App::stack);
    }

    public static void stack(Context ctx) {
        var member = new PolicyTagIamMember("member", PolicyTagIamMemberArgs.builder()
            .policyTag(basicPolicyTag.name())
            .role("roles/viewer")
            .member("user:jane@example.com")
            .build());

    }
}

resources:
  member:
    type: gcp:datacatalog:PolicyTagIamMember
    properties:
      policyTag: ${basicPolicyTag.name}
      role: roles/viewer
      member: user:jane@example.com

The member property specifies the identity using formats like user:jane@example.com or serviceAccount:app@project.iam.gserviceaccount.com. The role property sets the permission level. This resource is non-authoritative: it adds the member without removing others who already have the role.

Grant a role to multiple members at once

When several identities need the same permissions, you can bind them together as a group.

import * as pulumi from "@pulumi/pulumi";
import * as gcp from "@pulumi/gcp";

const binding = new gcp.datacatalog.PolicyTagIamBinding("binding", {
    policyTag: basicPolicyTag.name,
    role: "roles/viewer",
    members: ["user:jane@example.com"],
});

import pulumi
import pulumi_gcp as gcp

binding = gcp.datacatalog.PolicyTagIamBinding("binding",
    policy_tag=basic_policy_tag["name"],
    role="roles/viewer",
    members=["user:jane@example.com"])

package main

import (
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi-gcp/sdk/v9/go/gcp/datacatalog"
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi/sdk/v3/go/pulumi"
)

func main() {
	pulumi.Run(func(ctx *pulumi.Context) error {
		_, err := datacatalog.NewPolicyTagIamBinding(ctx, "binding", &datacatalog.PolicyTagIamBindingArgs{
			PolicyTag: pulumi.Any(basicPolicyTag.Name),
			Role:      pulumi.String("roles/viewer"),
			Members: pulumi.StringArray{
				pulumi.String("user:jane@example.com"),
			},
		})
		if err != nil {
			return err
		}
		return nil
	})
}

using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using Pulumi;
using Gcp = Pulumi.Gcp;

return await Deployment.RunAsync(() => 
{
    var binding = new Gcp.DataCatalog.PolicyTagIamBinding("binding", new()
    {
        PolicyTag = basicPolicyTag.Name,
        Role = "roles/viewer",
        Members = new[]
        {
            "user:jane@example.com",
        },
    });

});

package generated_program;

import com.pulumi.Context;
import com.pulumi.Pulumi;
import com.pulumi.core.Output;
import com.pulumi.gcp.datacatalog.PolicyTagIamBinding;
import com.pulumi.gcp.datacatalog.PolicyTagIamBindingArgs;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Map;
import java.io.File;
import java.nio.file.Files;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

public class App {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Pulumi.run(App::stack);
    }

    public static void stack(Context ctx) {
        var binding = new PolicyTagIamBinding("binding", PolicyTagIamBindingArgs.builder()
            .policyTag(basicPolicyTag.name())
            .role("roles/viewer")
            .members("user:jane@example.com")
            .build());

    }
}

resources:
  binding:
    type: gcp:datacatalog:PolicyTagIamBinding
    properties:
      policyTag: ${basicPolicyTag.name}
      role: roles/viewer
      members:
        - user:jane@example.com

The members property takes a list of identities. This resource is authoritative for the specified role: it replaces any existing members with the provided list. Other roles on the policy tag remain unchanged.

Replace the entire IAM policy

Some workflows require complete control over all roles and members, replacing any existing policy.

import * as pulumi from "@pulumi/pulumi";
import * as gcp from "@pulumi/gcp";

const admin = gcp.organizations.getIAMPolicy({
    bindings: [{
        role: "roles/viewer",
        members: ["user:jane@example.com"],
    }],
});
const policy = new gcp.datacatalog.PolicyTagIamPolicy("policy", {
    policyTag: basicPolicyTag.name,
    policyData: admin.then(admin => admin.policyData),
});

import pulumi
import pulumi_gcp as gcp

admin = gcp.organizations.get_iam_policy(bindings=[{
    "role": "roles/viewer",
    "members": ["user:jane@example.com"],
}])
policy = gcp.datacatalog.PolicyTagIamPolicy("policy",
    policy_tag=basic_policy_tag["name"],
    policy_data=admin.policy_data)

package main

import (
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi-gcp/sdk/v9/go/gcp/datacatalog"
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi-gcp/sdk/v9/go/gcp/organizations"
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi/sdk/v3/go/pulumi"
)

func main() {
	pulumi.Run(func(ctx *pulumi.Context) error {
		admin, err := organizations.LookupIAMPolicy(ctx, &organizations.LookupIAMPolicyArgs{
			Bindings: []organizations.GetIAMPolicyBinding{
				{
					Role: "roles/viewer",
					Members: []string{
						"user:jane@example.com",
					},
				},
			},
		}, nil)
		if err != nil {
			return err
		}
		_, err = datacatalog.NewPolicyTagIamPolicy(ctx, "policy", &datacatalog.PolicyTagIamPolicyArgs{
			PolicyTag:  pulumi.Any(basicPolicyTag.Name),
			PolicyData: pulumi.String(admin.PolicyData),
		})
		if err != nil {
			return err
		}
		return nil
	})
}

using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using Pulumi;
using Gcp = Pulumi.Gcp;

return await Deployment.RunAsync(() => 
{
    var admin = Gcp.Organizations.GetIAMPolicy.Invoke(new()
    {
        Bindings = new[]
        {
            new Gcp.Organizations.Inputs.GetIAMPolicyBindingInputArgs
            {
                Role = "roles/viewer",
                Members = new[]
                {
                    "user:jane@example.com",
                },
            },
        },
    });

    var policy = new Gcp.DataCatalog.PolicyTagIamPolicy("policy", new()
    {
        PolicyTag = basicPolicyTag.Name,
        PolicyData = admin.Apply(getIAMPolicyResult => getIAMPolicyResult.PolicyData),
    });

});

package generated_program;

import com.pulumi.Context;
import com.pulumi.Pulumi;
import com.pulumi.core.Output;
import com.pulumi.gcp.organizations.OrganizationsFunctions;
import com.pulumi.gcp.organizations.inputs.GetIAMPolicyArgs;
import com.pulumi.gcp.datacatalog.PolicyTagIamPolicy;
import com.pulumi.gcp.datacatalog.PolicyTagIamPolicyArgs;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Map;
import java.io.File;
import java.nio.file.Files;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

public class App {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Pulumi.run(App::stack);
    }

    public static void stack(Context ctx) {
        final var admin = OrganizationsFunctions.getIAMPolicy(GetIAMPolicyArgs.builder()
            .bindings(GetIAMPolicyBindingArgs.builder()
                .role("roles/viewer")
                .members("user:jane@example.com")
                .build())
            .build());

        var policy = new PolicyTagIamPolicy("policy", PolicyTagIamPolicyArgs.builder()
            .policyTag(basicPolicyTag.name())
            .policyData(admin.policyData())
            .build());

    }
}

resources:
  policy:
    type: gcp:datacatalog:PolicyTagIamPolicy
    properties:
      policyTag: ${basicPolicyTag.name}
      policyData: ${admin.policyData}
variables:
  admin:
    fn::invoke:
      function: gcp:organizations:getIAMPolicy
      arguments:
        bindings:
          - role: roles/viewer
            members:
              - user:jane@example.com

The policyData property accepts a complete IAM policy document, typically retrieved from gcp.organizations.getIAMPolicy. This resource is fully authoritative: it replaces all roles and members. It cannot be used alongside PolicyTagIamBinding or PolicyTagIamMember, as they would conflict over policy ownership.

Beyond these examples

These snippets focus on specific IAM binding features: incremental member grants, role-level member lists, and complete policy replacement. They’re intentionally minimal rather than full access control systems.

The examples reference pre-existing infrastructure such as Data Catalog policy tags. They focus on configuring IAM bindings rather than provisioning the policy tags themselves.

To keep things focused, common IAM patterns are omitted, including:

Conditional IAM bindings (condition property)
Custom role definitions
Federated identity configuration
Cross-resource IAM coordination

These omissions are intentional: the goal is to illustrate how each IAM resource type is wired, not provide drop-in access control modules. See the PolicyTagIamMember resource reference for all available configuration options.

Let's manage GCP Data Catalog Policy Tag IAM Access

Get started with Pulumi Cloud, then follow our quick setup guide to deploy this infrastructure.

Try Pulumi Cloud for FREE

Frequently Asked Questions

Resource Selection & Conflicts

Can I use PolicyTagIamPolicy with PolicyTagIamBinding or PolicyTagIamMember?

No, PolicyTagIamPolicy cannot be used with PolicyTagIamBinding or PolicyTagIamMember as they will conflict over the policy. Choose one approach: use PolicyTagIamPolicy alone for full control, or use PolicyTagIamBinding and PolicyTagIamMember together.

Can I use PolicyTagIamBinding and PolicyTagIamMember together?

Yes, but only if they don’t grant privileges to the same role. Each role should be managed by either PolicyTagIamBinding or PolicyTagIamMember, not both.

What's the difference between PolicyTagIamPolicy, PolicyTagIamBinding, and PolicyTagIamMember?

PolicyTagIamPolicy is authoritative and replaces the entire IAM policy. PolicyTagIamBinding is authoritative for a specific role but preserves other roles. PolicyTagIamMember is non-authoritative and adds a single member while preserving other members for that role.

Configuration & Identity Formats

What member identity formats are supported?

You can use allUsers, allAuthenticatedUsers, user:{email}, serviceAccount:{email}, group:{email}, domain:{domain}, projectOwner:{projectid}, projectEditor:{projectid}, projectViewer:{projectid}, or federated identities like principal://iam.googleapis.com/....

How do I specify custom roles?

Custom roles must use the full format [projects|organizations]/{parent-name}/roles/{role-name}, for example projects/my-project/roles/my-custom-role or organizations/my-org/roles/my-custom-role.

Immutability & Updates

What properties can't I change after creation?

The member, policyTag, role, and condition properties are all immutable. Changing any of these requires recreating the resource.

Which resource should I use to add a single user to a role?

Use PolicyTagIamMember to add a single member to a role without affecting other members. This is the non-authoritative option that preserves existing role bindings.

Using a different cloud?

Explore security guides for other cloud providers:

AWS Guides Azure Guides