Securing Your Files with NTFS

You can use the Windows NT File System (NTFS) security features to limit access to your Web server's files and directories. You can configure file and directory permissions that set the access level granted to a particular user account or user group. For example, you can configure your Web server to enable a specific user to view and execute a file, while excluding all other users from accessing that file.

1. Convert your current hard disk to an NTFS partition. You can use the Windows NT Convert utility to convert a hard disk partition to NTFS. Consult your Windows NT documentation for specific information.

Note   NTFS hard disk partitions offer access control security and save information more efficiently than file allocation table (FAT) partitions.


2. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and click User Manager for Domains to create new user accounts and add existing users to appropriate user groups.

Note   To configure users accounts with User Manager for Domains, you must log on on with Administrative privileges. Consult your Windows NT documentation for more information.


3. In the Windows NT Explorer, set access permissions for specific files and directories. See Setting Access Permissions for a Directory or File for procedural information.

Note   Be careful when configuring your Web server's NTFS permissions. Inappropriately set permissions can deny valid users access to required files and directories. For example, even though a user has the right to view and execute a program, the user may not have permission to access a particular dynamic-link library (DLL) required to run that program. To guarantee users secure and uninterrupted file access, place related files in the same directory, and then assign the appropriate NTFS permissions.

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