Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product is disclosed for synchronizing access permissions across at least two disparate database systems. The invention includes a source database system coupled to a destination database system, wherein the databases have distinct access control mechanisms. At least one self-contained synchronization rule for synchronizing access permissions from the source database system to the destination database system is distributed to two or more processing engines. At least one processing rule is retrieved for at least one of the two or more processing engines based upon the self contained synchronization rule being distributed thereto. The invention also includes applying the at least one processing rule to at least one record in the at least one destination database system, thereby altering an access control mechanism associated with the at least one record.