SharePoint Column Permission assigns users or groups read/edit permissions to list columns. SharePoint default permission setting does not define column permissions. SharePoint Permission Boost controls column permissions by overwriting some control templates. It provides following functions: If SharePoint user has no read permission to some column, The contents of this column will be hidden to him/her in item display form or edit form; List views which contain this column are invisible to him/her and cannot be selected by him/her in View Select Menu. If SharePoint user has no edit permission to some column, The contents of this column will be read-only to him/her in item edit form; List views which contain this column cannot be switched to datasheet view or be edited in MS Access (the menu items in Actions Menu will hide to him /her).