Permissioning

A permissioned network allows only specified nodes and accounts to participate by enabling node permissioning and/or account permissioning on the network.

!!! important "Permissioning is not Privacy" In peer-to-peer networks, node permissioning enforces rules on nodes you control.

Permissioning requires a distributed network of trust across the network where participants agree to 
follow the rules. A single bad actor can decide not to follow the rules. Nodes can take action 
to prevent the bad actor adding to the chain but they cannot prevent the bad actor from allowing access to the chain.  

Pantheon also implements [privacy](../Privacy/Explanation/Privacy-Overview.md).

Node Permissioning

Use node permissioning to restrict access to known participants only.

Account Permissioning

Use account permissioning:

Enforce onboarding or identity requirements
Suspend accounts
Blacklist broken contracts
Restrict the actions an account can perform

Specifying Permissioning

Permissioning is local or onchain.

Local

Local permissioning is specified at the node level. Each node in the network has a permissions configuration file.

Local permissioning affects your node but not the rest of the network. Use local permissioning to restrict use of your node (that is, the resources under your control). For example, customers that can access your node.

Local permissioning doesn't require co-ordination with the rest of the network and you can act immediately to protect your node. Your rules are not enforced in blocks produced by other nodes.

Onchain

Onchain permissioning is specified in a smart contract on the network. Specifying permissioning onchain enables all nodes to read and update permissioning configuration from one location.

Onchain permissioning requires co-ordination to update rules. The network may not be able to act immediately (for example, the smart contract may enforce a minimum of votes before changing permissioning rules).

When onchain permissioning is updated, the update is applied across the network and new blocks abide by the updated rules. For example, blocked accounts can no longer add transactions to the chain.

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