Question

who should have permissions to modify folders on a file server?

Asked by: cmec

i manage a new file server we are just setting up for a company and am confused at what level I manage (as the IT person) the folders and at what level other users manage folders? by manage i mean read/write/delete.

1. would like to know what a typical setup is....
2. what/how to set permissions up?

let's say there are owners of the company, managers, admins and employees.
Our top level (1st level) folder is called "Shared" that everyone can access.

Let's say under Shared there are 2nd level folders as you see below. .
- accounting
- apps
- projects
so on and so forth.

Of course under second level there are many more sub folders 3rd, 4th, 5th levels.

Who do i give access to add/modify/delete 2nd level items?  

Typical setup that I assume expert exhange would tell me is some exec or manager should email me to make a new folder for 2nd level as well as who has access to this, read, writre/delete?

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Asked On
2005-10-06 at 11:55:00ID21586381
Tags

permissions

,

folder

,

server

,

file

,

modify

Topic

Miscellaneous Security

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
9

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Answers

 

by: richrumblePosted on 2005-10-06 at 12:28:47ID: 15033568

This takes a bit of planing, but only authorized person's should have access to certain files/folders/shares
The Accounting folk's should be the only ones authorized to access the accounting data, its their job, so if someone needs accounting info, they should get it from an authority- such as the accounting group.

IT admin's access is something for discussion. And IT Admin can reset a users password and access the folders that way, or you can flat out give them access to these folders. In either case, you need to turn the event logging up on servers that hold critical data. The default logging on M$ machines is not adequate. Get an application that will allow you to sort and parse through event log's quickly such as GFI's SELM or Snare from http://www.intersectalliance.com/projects/SnareWindows/index.html These utilities can also alert you when a certain event has occured and you can act on it sooner rather than later.

If there are non-critical data shares, make them readable to all, but only writable if there are things such as documents that need to be opened, or it's a person's homedirectory. No user should have access to anothers home dir, typically. If they need to share data, they can copy it to a community share.

NTFS permissions afford you the most latitude and grainularity for access control. Typically I set up a share with "everyone" full control on the share, no other accounts, then use the NTFS permissions to lock the files/folders down. Share and NTFS permissions will assign the access of the least privlege. So even though I have FC on the share, any settings on the NTFS permissions will start to hinder that FC. So if I select "deny delete" rights, then the user can't delete that file/folder.

Second level and child's typically, by default, inhierit the permissions of the parent folder. If you uncheck the "inheirit" permissions, your asked if you would like to copy, or clear the current settings. I typically select copy, and then add/remove groups/accounts and modify thier access. You should be able to setup folders for each group to use, and if requested, setup a special folder for a CEO or whoever to only have access to.

Also get a good AUP in place: http://www.sans.org/resources/policies/
-rich
-rich

 

by: GnartPosted on 2005-10-06 at 22:58:40ID: 15036333

Adding on.
Google and read up on the following security principles (they are just short paragraphs):
"Principle of least privilege", "Needs to Know", "Separation of Duties", "Privileges and Rights", Discretionary Access Control / Ownership.

As administrator you need to control all system and software components - users need read access - except where software requires more.
Administrator has full control of everything anyway.
For Backup purposes, Backup Operators need read access to all folders/data.

Users:  
You need to break it down to the structure of your organization and go from there.
Users own their data so they should have control, however give permission where it won't harm - educate them, especially if you have a folder that everyone can read, so that they don't put anything there that they don't want others to know....

To answer your question about \share - apply the above principles
\share (should be read only - you don't want anyone to delete \Share, folder traversal should be carefully considered if at all)
   \Accounting (use group to facilitate policy - separation of duties, protect this root, don't want \Accounting to be deleted)
   \Apps (consider separation - this is not data therefor user should not be owning this folder in any shape or form)
   \Projects (project managers - consider ProjectName under this - separation of duties, need to know)
       \VideoProduction

Users own their files.......

Hope this gives you ideas....... Key thing is you don't want users to be able to delete folders and child folders - wiping out the entire structure that includes data belonging to another group of users, and you don't want information leakage outside of groups and owners.

Plan, plan, plan....

 

by: gurutcPosted on 2005-10-07 at 04:40:48ID: 15037583

What gnart said. Not looking for assist here either.  It is a complex messitude to learn this stuff, but you have to start somewhere.  And you have to learn by doing.  Also, to paraphrase all the posts here, it is far better to lock things down too much and then grant permissions 'granularly' which means directory by directory or file by file.  And the boss can't say you're messing up the network because you can just reply that it's necessary to protect the company's important info resources and assets.  Then if he says 'open it up anyways' you're covered.

Good Luck,
Travis

 

by: richrumblePosted on 2005-10-07 at 05:56:55ID: 15038119

With regard to Finance or Accounting shares/data, the Admin's should probably be removed from having access. If they need to at any time they can get access to the data, but to be in-line with SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley) and if your org is medical HIPAA conformance, you should give the impression that only authorized personnel have authorized access to this data. I'm sure were all aware that an admin can gain access to this data any number of ways. This is the reason for auditing more events on M$ computers, and locking down such sensitive data as much as possible, to track an admin or another attempting to access these files. Your Acceptable Use Policies should outline that the data on any piece of equipment owned by the company is company property, the SANS policies I linked to above do have this itterated in them, as it's pretty standard.

Article on share and ntfs perms: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/library/ServerHelp/86987829-3f74-412f-abb8-c8b22b07257d.mspx
excerpt: "If you want to manage folder access by using NTFS permissions exclusively, set Share permissions to Full Control for Everyone. This frees you from having to think about Share permissions, but NTFS permissions are more complex than Share permissions, so using NTFS permissions correctly requires deeper understanding on your part."

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;313398&sd=tech
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/en/server/iis/default.asp?url=/windows2000/en/server/iis/htm/core/iidfpsc.htm
-rich

 

by: GnartPosted on 2005-10-07 at 20:41:42ID: 15043600

gurutc posted "Then if he says 'open it up anyways' you're covered."  

Yep, get it in writing....  

else lock it up and have them send you email asking you to change - archive your email to CYA.

 

by: cmecPosted on 2005-10-11 at 17:49:30ID: 15065590

All, thanks.

I have read everyone's post and will read it again to get a good understanding. Initially what common sense told me you have told me. Get in writing from top level who has access to what and locking down is better that freee for all. Oh and cya.

From there I will get my feet wet with ntsf permissions. I will keep you posted and determine an accepted answer.

 

by: gurutcPosted on 2006-02-06 at 07:41:29ID: 15883515

Cool with me - T

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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