Where does compute run with Sigma’s architecture?

Sigma issues live, governed queries that execute in your cloud data warehouse. There are no data extracts or proprietary cubes; results remain in your environment under your security controls.

How does Sigma handle governance and permissions?

Sigma honors warehouse-level policies and adds fine-grained row and column permissions, certified content, and audit trails. Access is role-based and centrally managed.

Does Sigma cache data?

Sigma can cache recent results to accelerate interactive analysis while preserving freshness controls. You can configure cache behavior and always fall back to live queries for real-time accuracy.

What security and compliance standards does Sigma support?

Sigma aligns with enterprise security practices and supports standards such as SOC 2 Type II. Visit the Trust Center for documentation on certifications, data handling, and architecture details.

How does Sigma optimize performance on large datasets?

Sigma leverages warehouse-native performance features and intelligent query optimization—pushing computation down, pruning data early, and using aggregations to keep exploration fast at scale.

Can I govern writeback and data apps within this architecture?

Yes. Sigma supports governed writeback and data apps that operate on live data with role-based controls, validations, and auditable changes—remaining within your data platform.

PLATFORM OVERVIEW

Sigma puts your warehouse at the heart

Live, extract-free connections mean security and governance are inherited from your warehouse.

INTEGRATIONS

Warehouse-first architecture

Sigma runs directly in your cloud data warehouse—live queries, governed access, and writeback with zero data movement.

Integrated across your stack

Sigma gives teams the option to build and run in Sigma or integrate with your existing warehouse, pipelines, identity, and tools.

performance

Intelligent caching everywhere

Sigma’s multi-tier query engine keeps data real-time while minimizing warehouse compute, lowering cost and speeding every user action.

A computer screen with a black background and a white arrow pointing to a black box.

How does Sigma optimize your queries?

Sigma browser Cache

Sigma Materialization

Warehouse Tier

Sigma Alpha Query

Cloud Services Tier

Storage Tier

Sigma Results Cache

Compute Tier

What is Sigma Alpha Query?

Only Sigma delivers Alpha Query, a intelligent query engine that harnesses the full power of a user’s hardware to execute queries directly in the browser.

Eliminate unnecessary processing

Apply incremental fetching

Integrate with database-native performance features

Reduce warehouse compute

Full-control AI Governance

Sigma let's you choose the LLM provider and model, and set fine-grained access for teams and users.

ADMINS:

Control which connections, schemas, tables, and columns AI can access.
Assign AI permissions by team, role, and user.
Use your chosen LLM provider and model with your own keys or warehouse-hosted options.
Capture full audits of prompts, outputs, and cost.

USERS:

Only interact with permitted data in Ask Sigma and other AI features.
See and update the step-by-step breakdown of how AI answered a question.
Build on trusted metrics, models, and workbooks approved by admins.

Security

Warehouse-native means zero-copy

Sigma’s cloud-native architecture eliminates the need to import or duplicate data. All queries in Sigma are pushed down to the cloud data warehouse, meaning your data never leaves the secure environment.

Inherit warehouse security

Sigma uses RBAC in the data warehouse to apply row- or column-level security via OAuth or user/team attributes.

Set feature
permissions

Development stays secure because you can control who can create, edit, and publish in Sigma

Reduce
risk

Sigma greatly reduces the risk of unauthorized access or leaks because there are no extracts.

trust

Enterprise-grade compliance

The world’s leading financial, healthcare, insurance, and energy institutions trust Sigma with their data. Among cloud-native business intelligence platforms, Sigma has the most compliance certifications.

governance

Governance designed for true self-service

Sigma makes trusted data accessible to business teams, while giving data and IT leaders full control.

One source of truth

All users work directly on live, governed data in the warehouse. No extracts, no silos.

RLS and CLS

Enforce row-level and column-level security inherited from the warehouse, plus role-based permissions in Sigma.

Centralized metric definitions

Define business logic once (in Sigma, dbt, your warehouse or another tool) and reuse everywhere to ensure consistency.

Usage dashboards

Admins track usage via 12 out-of-the-box reports on topics like user activity, query performance, and document permissions.

Audit logs

Sigma provides full granularity to admins on login and logout events, permission changes, connections, comments, notifications, and more.

Secure writeback

Sigma writes data back to a predefined schema, preserving governance. Existing data is never written over.

The Sigma Difference

Long-term flexibility

Switch AI models, add a new warehouse, or change where you define data models. Sigma adapts to how you work, not the other way around.

Rapid innovation

Sigma is constantly adding more security controls and infrastructure enhancements to meet the needs of your business.

Unified Intelligence

Sigma unites analytics, AI, and operational apps on cloud data. With your data systems working together, your full team can move faster.

Schedule a demo

Related resources

PLATFORM

Security

Access our Trust Center for the latest security reports, including ISO certifications and SOC 2.

VISIT TRUST CENTER

partners

Partner Integrations

Sigma Integrates with the leading platforms in the Modern Data Stack to provide a seamless experience for your data teams and business users.

Explore Integrations

PRODUCT

Governed Metrics & Models

Deliver trusted insights securely and at scale with Sigma's flexible approach to data modeling.

LEARN MORE