User management is a fundamental function of operating systems that deals with the control and administration of user accounts and their associated access permissions. It ensures that authorized users can access the system and its resources while maintaining security and protecting the system from …User management is a fundamental function of operating systems that deals with the control and administration of user accounts and their associated access permissions. It ensures that authorized users can access the system and its resources while maintaining security and protecting the system from unauthorized access. User management comprises creating, deleting, and modifying user accounts, setting and enforcing user access policies, and managing authentication methods such as passwords or biometrics. Operating systems provide tools and utilities that enable administrators to manage user accounts on a local or networked machine, such as the User Accounts Control Panel in Windows or the Users & Groups Preferences pane in macOS. User management helps improve security measures by enforcing the principle of least privilege, where users are granted only the minimal access required to perform their tasks.
CompTIA A Plus: User Management
User Management is an integral part of an Operating System. It provides the ability to create, modify, or delete user accounts, including setting permissions for each user, which determines their access level and the tasks they can accomplish on the system.
Importance: It is crucial in maintaining the security of a system by limiting the access and abilities of each user based on their needs. It prevents unauthorized access and the accidental or malicious misuse of sensitive data or system settings.
How it Works: Administrators create users and assign them specific privileges. These privileges can be adjusted as needed. For example, a user might only have read-only access to certain files, while an administrator typically has access to all functions.
Exam Tips: When answering questions related to User Management, it is important to understand the principles of least privilege—meaning, users should only be given as much access as they need to perform their job. Knowing about different types of user accounts (like 'administrator', 'guest', and 'standard user') and their relative permissions is also important. Always refer back to the principle of least privilege and the need for strong security when answering scenario-based questions. Tip: Be prepared to answer questions about how to create, modify, and delete user accounts, as well as how to set permissions for each.