ALTR Platform

ALTR Platform is a SaaS-based data access control and security solution that automates data governance and security at scale, primarily targeting enterprises using Snowflake, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, and Redshift.

Reviewed by 7wData

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ALTR Platform is a SaaS-based data access control and security solution that automates data governance and security at scale, primarily targeting enterprises using Snowflake, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, and Redshift. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Melbourne, United States, ALTR is designed for organizations that need to enforce data protection policies without writing code, making it suitable for both technical and non-technical users. The platform's 'Shift Left' approach pushes protection protocols upstream into data pipelines and catalogs, as validated by its $25 million Series C financing. ALTR's free-for-life plan on Snowflake lowers the barrier for teams to start with data masking and row access policies, while its Enterprise tier at $10 per data user per month scales for larger deployments.

ALTR delivers a centralized policy engine that uses tag- and attribute-based controls to apply data masking, tokenization, and Format-Preserving Encryption (FPE) across data warehouses. The platform is Snowflake-native, offering Format-Preserving Encryption and external tokenization that preserves data format and length, enabling realistic test data and compliant analytics. Deterministic vaulted tokenization allows consistent token replacement across systems, while database activity monitoring links audit logs directly to policies for threat detection and compliance evidence. Real-time security alerts can be sent to enterprise SIEM, SOC, or SOAR solutions, and the SaaS architecture requires no on-premises hardware or proxies, with deployment via Snowflake Partner Connect reportedly taking minutes.

In the data security platform market, ALTR competes with SecuPi Proactive Data Security Platform, IBM Guardium, DBApp Security DAS-DBAuditor, Aurva Database Activity Monitoring, Satori, Titaniam, and DATPROF. ALTR differentiates through its no-code interface and Snowflake-native FPE, which reduces the need for custom scripts or infrastructure changes. The company reported a 325% increase in Snowflake Partner Connect activations and 472% growth in Snowflake-based ARR since its $15 million Series B in 2020, indicating strong adoption within the Snowflake ecosystem. However, it faces competition from Satori and Titaniam, which also offer centralized policy management and data masking for cloud data platforms.

The primary trade-off with ALTR is the absence of policy versioning and lifecycle tools, which can complicate governance for large enterprises that need to track changes over time. While the SaaS model simplifies deployment, it may not suit organizations with strict on-premises requirements. The free plan is limited to Snowflake, so teams using other data warehouses must upgrade to paid tiers. Additionally, the platform's heavy reliance on Snowflake-native features means that customers on other databases may not benefit from the same level of integration and performance optimization.

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How it works

  1. Data discovery and classification

    Automatically identifies and categorizes sensitive data across Snowflake, SQL Server, MySQL, and Redshift using tag- and attribute-based policies.

  2. Data masking

    Dynamic and static masking applied via a no-code interface, preserving data format for non-production environments without altering source data.

  3. Row access policies

    Enforces row-level security based on user roles or attributes, restricting data visibility without duplicating tables or modifying queries.

  4. Tokenization

    Deterministic vaulted tokenization replaces sensitive values with tokens, enabling consistent de-identification across systems while retaining referential integrity.

  5. Format-Preserving Encryption

    Snowflake-native FPE encrypts data while maintaining original format and length, allowing realistic test data and compliant analytics.

  6. Database activity monitoring

    Logs and audits all data access events, linking them to policies for real-time threat detection and compliance evidence.

  7. Centralized policy management

    A single point-and-click interface manages data masking, access controls, and alerts across multiple data warehouses without coding.

Strengths and trade-offs

Strengths

  • True no-code, centralized policy engine with tag/attribute-based controls allows non-technical users to enforce data governance without writing SQL or scripts.
  • Snowflake-native Format-Preserving Encryption and external tokenization preserve data format and length, enabling realistic test data and compliant analytics without schema changes.
  • SaaS/serverless architecture requires no on-premises hardware or proxies, with deployment via Snowflake Partner Connect reportedly taking minutes and returning immediate visibility.
  • Activity monitoring linked to policy provides real-time threat detection and compliance evidence, with alerts deliverable to SIEM, SOC, or SOAR solutions.

Trade-offs

  • Absence of policy versioning and lifecycle tools makes it difficult for large enterprises to track changes, roll back policies, or manage multi-environment governance.
  • Free plan is limited to Snowflake, so teams using other data warehouses must upgrade to the $10-per-user Enterprise tier to access full capabilities.
  • Heavy reliance on Snowflake-native features means customers on SQL Server, MySQL, or Redshift may not benefit from the same integration depth or performance optimization.
  • SaaS-only delivery model excludes organizations with strict on-premises or air-gapped deployment requirements, limiting adoption in regulated industries.

Pricing context

Free for life plan on Snowflake; Enterprise at $10 per data user per month; Enterprise Plus with custom pricing.

Getting started with ALTR Platform

  1. Sign up for ALTR

    Go to the ALTR website and create a free account using your work email. Choose the free-for-life plan if you use Snowflake, or select the Enterprise tier for other data warehouses. Complete the registration and verify your email to activate the account.

  2. Connect your data warehouse

    Log into the ALTR console and navigate to the data source setup. For Snowflake, use Partner Connect to deploy the ALTR application in minutes. For SQL Server, MySQL, or Redshift, provide connection credentials such as host, port, and service account details.

  3. Configure data discovery

    In the ALTR interface, run an automated scan to discover and classify sensitive data across your connected warehouse. Use tag- and attribute-based policies to categorize columns containing PII, financial, or health data without writing any code.

  4. Apply a masking policy

    Select a sensitive column from the discovered data and choose a masking rule, such as dynamic masking or tokenization. Set the policy to apply based on user roles or attributes, then save it. The rule takes effect immediately without altering source data.

  5. Monitor access and alerts

    Open the activity monitoring dashboard to view logged data access events linked to your policies. Configure real-time alerts to send to your SIEM, SOC, or SOAR system for suspicious activity. Review audit logs periodically for compliance evidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ALTR Platform and how does it work?

ALTR Platform is a SaaS-based data access control and security solution that automates data governance without coding. It uses a centralized policy engine with tag- and attribute-based controls to apply data masking, tokenization, and Format-Preserving Encryption across Snowflake, SQL Server, MySQL, and Redshift.

What are the key features of ALTR Platform?

Key features include data discovery and classification, dynamic and static data masking, row access policies, deterministic vaulted tokenization, Snowflake-native Format-Preserving Encryption, database activity monitoring, and centralized policy management. All are accessible through a no-code interface, enabling non-technical users to enforce security policies.

How much does ALTR Platform cost and is there a free plan?

ALTR offers a free-for-life plan on Snowflake, providing basic data masking and row access policies. The Enterprise tier costs $10 per data user per month, and Enterprise Plus has custom pricing. The free plan is limited to Snowflake, so other databases require a paid upgrade.

What databases does ALTR Platform support?

ALTR primarily targets Snowflake, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, and Redshift. It is Snowflake-native, offering deep integration with Snowflake features like Format-Preserving Encryption and deployment via Snowflake Partner Connect. Support for other databases may not provide the same level of optimization.

How does ALTR compare to competitors like Satori and Titaniam?

ALTR differentiates with its no-code interface and Snowflake-native Format-Preserving Encryption, reducing custom scripts. It competes with Satori and Titaniam, which also offer centralized policy management and data masking for cloud data platforms. ALTR's free plan and rapid deployment via Snowflake Partner Connect are key advantages.

What are the main limitations of ALTR Platform?

ALTR lacks policy versioning and lifecycle tools, complicating governance for large enterprises. The free plan is Snowflake-only, and the SaaS model excludes on-premises deployments. Heavy reliance on Snowflake-native features means customers on other databases may not get the same integration depth or performance.

Alternatives

How ALTR Platform compares

Direct head-to-head against 2 competitors. Picked by 7wData.

This tool

ALTR Platform

Pricing
Free for life plan on Snowflake; Enterprise at $10 per data user per month; Enterprise Plus with custom pricing.
Target
ALTR Platform is a SaaS-based data access control and security solution that automates data governance and security at scale, primarily targeting enterprises using Snowflake, Microsoft
Strength
True no-code, centralized policy engine with tag/attribute-based controls allows non-technical users to enforce data governance without writing SQL or scripts.
Watch for
Absence of policy versioning and lifecycle tools makes it difficult for large enterprises to track changes, roll back policies, or manage multi-environment governance.

Satori

Pricing
Custom/Contact sales
Target
Data security platforms for cloud data warehouses and lakes
Deployment
SaaS, no agents
Strength
Universal data access control across multiple data stores
Watch for
Pricing can escalate with data volume

Cyera

Pricing
Custom/Contact sales
Target
Data security posture management for cloud environments
Deployment
Agentless SaaS
Strength
Automated data discovery and classification at scale
Watch for
Complex setup for large multi-cloud deployments

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Sources

Reporting on this tool draws on these publicly available sources.

  1. altr.com
  2. www.gartner.com
  3. www.prnewswire.com
  4. pulse2.com