Why are repository roles preferred over catalog roles?

Repository roles are preferred over catalog roles primarily because they are transportable runtime objects. This characteristic means that repository roles can be easily moved or transported between different systems or environments without losing their functionality or requiring extensive reconfiguration. This transportability greatly enhances the flexibility and efficiency of managing user access and permissions across different HANA systems, making repository roles more favorable in enterprise scenarios where consistency across environments is essential.

The ability to transport these roles allows organizations to streamline the deployment of user authorizations, ensuring that the same access levels and permissions apply regardless of the specific system in use. This is particularly beneficial in development and production environments where maintaining identical security configurations is crucial for operational integrity.

While other factors such as resource consumption, ease of creation, and administrative overhead are relevant, they do not provide the same level of operational effectiveness and capability as the transportability feature does. This makes repository roles a strategic choice for managing user roles in HANA effectively.