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Apollo Studio data privacy and compliance

Understand what Studio ingests and learn about GDPR

This article describes which data is and is not sent to Apollo as part of its platform's data management tools.

Most importantly, result data from GraphQL operations that your server executes is never sent to Apollo.

What data does Apollo Server send to Apollo Studio?

You can configure Apollo Server to trace the execution of each GraphQL operation and push those metrics to Apollo Studio. Studio uses this trace data to reconstruct both operation-level timing data for given query shapes and field-level timing data for your overall schema. This data is available for you to explore and visualize in Studio.

You can also configure Apollo Server to report its schema to the Apollo registry.

All data sent from Apollo Server to Studio is transmitted using HTTPS on port 443, and HTTP traffic on port 80 is disabled.

Per-operation data

Apollo Server never sends the data field of an operation response to Apollo Studio. It does send:

  • Several fields besides data from every operation response
  • The query operation string for every executed operation
  • The time it takes each resolver to execute for every operation

Additionally, you can configure Apollo Server to forward some or all of:

Operation response fields

Let’s walk through Apollo Server's default behavior for reporting on fields in a typical GraphQL response:

// GraphQL Response
{
  "data": { ... },          // NEVER sent to Apollo Studio.
  "errors": [ ... ],        // Sent to Studio, used to report on errors for operations and fields.
  "extensions": {
    "tracing": { ... },     // Sent to Studio, used to report on performance data for operations and fields.
    "cacheControl": { ... } // Sent to Studio, used to determine cache policies and forward CDN cache headers.
  }
}

response.data

As mentioned, Apollo Server never sends the contents of this field to Graph Manager. The responses from your GraphQL service stay internal to your application.

response.errors

By default, if Apollo Server sees a response that includes an errors field, it reports the values of the error's message and locations fields (if any) to Apollo Studio.

You can use the rewriteError reporting option to filter or transform errors before they're stored in Studio. Use this to strip sensitive data from errors or filter "safe" errors from Studio reports.

Query operation strings

Apollo Server reports the string representation of each query operation to Apollo Studio. Consequently, do not include sensitive data (such as passwords or personally identifiable information) in operation strings. Instead, include this information in GraphQL variables, which you can send selectively.

GraphQL variables

Apollo Server 2.7.0 and later

In Apollo Server 2.7.0 and later, none of an operation's GraphQL variables is sent to Apollo Studio by default.

You can set a value for the sendVariableValues reporting option to specify a different strategy for reporting some or all of your GraphQL variables.

Versions prior to 2.7.0

In versions of Apollo Server 2 prior to 2.7.0, all of an operation's GraphQL variables are sent to Apollo Studio by default.

If you're using an earlier version of Apollo Server, it's recommended that you update. If you can't update for whatever reason, you can use the privateVariables reporting option to specify the names of variables that should not be sent to Studio. You can also set this option to false to prevent all variables from being sent. This reporting option is deprecated and will not be available in future versions of Apollo Server.

HTTP Headers

Regardless of your server configuration, Apollo Studio never collects the values of the following HTTP headers, even if they're sent:

  • Authorization
  • Cookie
  • Set-Cookie

You can, however, configure reporting options for all other HTTP headers.

Important: If you perform authorization in a header other than those listed above (such as X-My-API-Key), do not send that header to Studio.

Apollo Server 2.7.0 and later

In Apollo Server 2.7.0 and later, none of an operation's HTTP headers is sent to Apollo Studio by default.

You can set a value for the sendHeaders reporting option to specify a different strategy for reporting some or all of your HTTP headers.

Versions prior to 2.7.0

In versions of Apollo Server 2 prior to 2.7.0, all of an operation's HTTP headers (except the confidential headers listed above) are sent to Apollo Studio by default.

If you're using an earlier version of Apollo Server, it's recommended that you update. If you can't update for whatever reason, you can use the privateHeaders reporting option to specify the names of variables that should not be sent to Studio. You can also set this option to false to prevent all headers from being sent.This reporting option is deprecated and will not be available in future versions of Apollo Server.

What data does Apollo Studio log about operations executed in its Explorer tab?

Only front-end usage metrics for improving the product. The Explorer tab in Apollo Studio enables you to build and execute operations against your GraphQL server. These operations are sent directly from your browser and do not pass through Studio servers.

GDPR

Effective May 25, 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) expands European Union (EU) residents’ (Data Subjects) rights concerning their personal data. Meteor Development Group Inc. (“MDG” also dba Apollo) stands ready to assist our customers to become or remain compliant with GDPR after this crucial transition.

What is GDPR?

GDPR standardizes EU regulations and expands the rights of Data Subjects pertaining to personal data while expanding the definition of what constitutes personal data. GDPR provides Data Subjects with increased rights to control and delete their personal data, and it broadly prohibits the processing of special categories of personal data.

How has Apollo prepared for GDPR?

We have been complying with GDPR since before it became enforceable on May 25, 2018. We are enhancing our products, processes, and procedures to meet our obligations as a data processor (Processor).

How will GDPR affect the way companies use Apollo's products or services?

Our products and services are not intended to be used for processing personal data. Our products and services are focused on software, systems, and applications - not individuals. If a customer wishes to set up a custom API, custom attribute, or custom event to track such data, it may do so. Our processing is data agnostic and automated, so all data is processed in the same way in accordance with a customer’s configuration. If, however, a customer believes that it has included personal data in the information processed by Apollo, we will assist the customer in meeting its obligations in accordance with the requirements of GDPR and the terms of our Data Processing Agreement.

How can Apollo assist customers in meeting their obligations under GDPR?

As a Processor, we will assist customers in fulfilling their obligations as data controllers (Controllers) by:

  • supporting customers in complying with requests from Data Subjects
  • aggregating applicable personal data for customers replying to complaints from Data Subjects
  • replying to investigations and inquiries from supervisory authorities concerning processing activities on behalf of a customer
  • conducting Data Protection Impact Assessments

How can Apollo help address requests from Data Subjects?

Apollo has implemented a process to intake, review, and fulfill customer requests arising from Data Subject Access Requests (DSAR) they receive. As a result of a DSAR, customers might request that Apollo securely delete or return the Data Subject’s personal data. Due to their sensitivity, such requests will be handled by Apollo on a case-by-case basis.

Where can I learn more about Apollo's security and privacy policies?

The legal terms and policies that apply to Apollo's corporate websites and customer products or services are available at https://www.apollographql.com/Apollo-Website-Terms-of-Service.pdf and https://www.apollographql.com/Apollo-Terms-of-Service.pdf.

Where can I get more help?

If you have any questions (including interest in a Data Processing Addendum or DPA), or encounter any issues, please reach out to support.

Policies and Agreements

To learn about other ways that we protect your data, please read over our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

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