What is Read-Only Database User?
A read-only database user is an account that can run queries to read data but cannot insert, change or delete anything.
Read-Only Database User explained
It is the simplest safeguard for analytics: if the account can only SELECT, a bad query or a mistaken tool cannot damage the data. It can also be limited to specific tables or views so sensitive columns stay hidden.
Creating one is a normal database administration task, and it is the recommended way to connect any BI or AI analytics tool to a production database.
Example
A database administrator creates a role that has SELECT permission on the reporting views only, and the BI tool connects with that role.