How Google Built a Consistent, Global Authorization System; and You Can Too! - Sohan Maheshwar

This talk explores Google Zanzibar, a global authorization service that manages access control for platforms like Google Docs and YouTube. The speaker details how Zanzibar efficiently handles over 10 million client queries per second, emphasizing engineering principles that allow for scalable authorization systems with flexible consistency guarantees. By delving into Relationship-Based Access Control (ReBAC), the session highlights how Zanzibar maintains correctness and performance in distributed environments, addressing challenges like the “New Enemy” problem. Additionally, practical guidance is provided on using open-source tools and design patterns to create authorization systems inspired by Zanzibar.