Access Control

Control access for your chat instance

In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to set up and manage access control for your chat instance on TypingMind Custom.

Why use Access Control?

Access control is crucial for managing the way users interact with your chat instance:

• Personalized experience: customize chat functionality based on user roles for a more relevant experience.
• Cost control: manage resources efficiently by limiting usage for external users or setting usage caps.
• Scalability: easily adjust access as your team or community grows.

Set Up Access Control on TypingMind

Step 1: Log into Your Chat Instance

Start by logging into your chat instance. You can do this by visiting the following link: https://custom.typingmind.com/manage.

Step 2: Navigate the Access Control Menu

Once you're logged in, you'll need to navigate to the Access Control menu. This menu is where you can manage who has access to your chat instance and how they can interact with it.

Step 3: Choose the Access Mode

1. Private Mode

Private Mode is designed for secure, exclusive communications within a team. This mode is typically used by teams or departments that require a closed communication environment, often for internal communications or collaborative projects.

• Accessibility: only members manually added by the chat instance owner or admins can access the chat.

  

  Invited members will receive an invitation with an instance URL to log into the chat instance:

  

  Go to the instance URL and click Login using the invited email:

  

• Who should use: this mode is useful for internal teams. Enhance collaboration and communication between individuals in a team, thus bringing up a seamless workflow.

2. Authorized Mode

Authorized Mode is a flexible access control mode that allows anyone to use the chat instance, provided they sign up with their email first. It strikes a balance between the exclusivity of Private Mode and the open access of Public Mode.

• Accessibility: anyone can access the chat instance via its URL, but they need to sign up via their email first. This adds a layer of accountability as each user is identifiable through their email.

  Admins don’t need to invite manually. Once a user signs up, they're automatically added to the Member page.

  

  Please note that if the number of sign-ups exceeds 5 seats, you will need to purchase additional seats.

• Who should use: this is a scalable solution for larger teams, communities, or groups. It allows for broader access than Private Mode, accommodating a larger user base while still maintaining some level of control and accountability.

3. Public Mode

Public Mode is the most open access control mode, allowing anyone to use the chat instance without the need for account creation.

• Accessibility: this mode allows unrestricted access to the chat instance. Users don't need to sign up or log in; they can join and participate in the chat instance freely.
  

• Who should use: this mode allows public access so it’s commonly used for customer support, public events, or open forums where the goal is to facilitate open and unrestricted communication.

Tips to use the Access Modes

1. Combine Public and Authorized / Private Mode

For a flexible solution, you can combine Public Mode with Authorized or Private Mode, allowing some users public access while others log in for personalized interactions. Learn more in this guide: Semi-Public Access

2. Control Usage for Public Mode

To manage costs, you can limit usage for Public Mode users. When Public Mode is enabled, a “Public User” will be added to your user list, allowing you to track and control their activity just like other users. Learn more about usage control: Usage and Limits