1 Group Account Administration Introduction to Groups Planning a Group Strategy Creating Groups Understanding Default Groups Groups for Administrators.

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Group Account Administration

• Introduction to Groups

• Planning a Group Strategy

• Creating Groups

• Understanding Default Groups

• Groups for Administrators

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Introduction to Groups

• Groups and Permissions

• Group Types

• Group Scopes

• Group Nesting

• Rules for Group Membership

• Local Groups

• Using Local Groups

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Groups Simplify Administration

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Group Types

• Two group types exist: security and distribution.

• The group type determines how the group is used.

• Both types are stored in the database component of Active Directory.

• Storage in the database component allows use of groups anywhere in the network.

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Security Groups

• Microsoft Windows 2000 uses only security groups.

• Security groups are used to assign permissions to gain access to resources.

• A security group has all the capabilities of a distribution group.

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Distribution Groups

• Used by applications as lists for nonsecurity-related functions

• Used when the only function of the group is nonsecurity-related

• Cannot be used to assign permissions

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Group Scopes

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Group Scope Overview

• A group type and scope must be selected when a group is created.

• Group scopes allow groups to be used in different ways to assign permissions.

• The scope of a group determines where in the network the group can be used to assign group permissions.

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Global Groups

• Used to organize users who share similar network access requirements.

• Members can be added only from the domain in which the global group is created.

• Can be used to assign permissions to gain access to resources that are located in any domain in the domain tree or forest.

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Domain Local Groups

• Used to assign permissions to resources.

• Members can be added from any domain.

• Can be used to assign permissions to gain access to resources located only in the same domain where the domain local group is created.

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Universal Groups

• Used to assign permissions to related resources in multiple domains.

• Members can be added from any domain.

• Can be used to assign permissions to gain access to resources located in any domain.

• Not available in mixed mode.

• Full feature set of Windows 2000 is available only in native mode.

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Guidelines for Group Nesting

• Minimize levels of nesting.

• Tracking permissions and troubleshooting becomes more complex with multiple levels of nesting.

• One level of nesting is most effective.

• Document group membership to keep track of permissions assignments.

• Eliminates the redundant assignment of user accounts to groups.

• Reduces the likelihood of accidental group assignments.

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Group Membership Overview

• The group scope determines the membership of a group.

• Membership rules determine the members that a group can contain.

• Group members can be user accounts and other groups.

• Knowledge of group membership rules is important when assigning members to groups and using nesting.

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Native Mode

• Global group scope: User accounts and global groups from the same domain

• Domain local group scope: User accounts, universal groups, and global groups from any domain; domain local groups from the same domain

• Universal group scope: User accounts, other universal groups, and global groups from any domain

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Mixed Mode

• Global group scope: Users from the same domain.

• Domain local group scope: User accounts and global groups from any domain.

• Universal group scope: Not applicable; universal groups cannot be created in mixed mode.

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Local Group Overview

• Collection of user accounts on a computer

• Allows assignment of permissions to resources residing on the computer on which the local group is created

• Created in the local security database

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Local Group Guidelines

• Can be used only on the computer where it is created.

• Its permissions provide access only to the resources on the computer where it is created.

• Can be used on computers running Windows 2000 Professional and member servers running Windows 2000 Server.

• Cannot be created on domain controllers.

• Used to limit the ability of local users and groups to gain access to network resources without creating domain groups.

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Local Group Membership Rules

• A local group can contain local user accounts from the computer where the local group is created.

• Local groups cannot be members of any other group.

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Planning a Group Strategy

• Planning Global and Domain Local Groups

• Using Universal Groups

• Practice: Planning New Group Accounts

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Group Strategy Planning

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Limitations of Other Strategies

• Placing user accounts in domain local groups and assigning permissions to the domain local groups

• Does not allow for the assignment of permissions for resources outside of the domain.

• Reduces the flexibility when your network grows.

• Placing user accounts in global groups and assigning permissions to the global groups

• Complicates administration when using multiple domains.

• If global groups from multiple domains require the same permissions, permissions have to be assigned for each global group.

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Universal Group Guidelines

• Assign permissions to universal groups for resources in any domain in the network.

• Use universal groups only when their membership is static since changes in membership can cause excessive network traffic between domain controllers.

• Membership of universal groups may be replicated to a larger number of domain controllers.

• Add global groups from several domains to a universal group, and then assign permissions for access to a resource to the universal group.

• Use a universal group in the same way as a domain local group to assign permissions for resources.

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Creating Groups

• Creating and Deleting Groups

• Deleting a Group

• Adding Members to a Group

• Changing the Group Type

• Changing the Group Scope to Universal

• Creating Local Groups

• Practice: Creating Groups

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Creating and Deleting Groups

• Use the Active Directory Users and Computers console to create and delete groups.

• Create groups in the Users container or in another container, or in an OU created specifically for groups.

• As the organization grows and changes, delete groups when they are no longer needed; helps maintain security.

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New Object-Group Dialog Box

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Deleting a Group

• Each group has a unique, nonreusable identifier called the security identifier (SID).

• Windows 2000 uses the SID to identify the group and the assigned permissions.

• If a new group is created using the deleted group name, Windows 2000 creates a new SID for that group.

• Access to resources cannot be restored by re-creating the group.

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Adding Members to a Group

• After the group is created, members are added.

• Members of groups can include user accounts, contacts, other groups, and computers.

• The Active Directory Users and Computers console is used to add members.

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Select Users, Contacts, Computers, Or Groups Dialog Box

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Changing the Group Type

• As group functions change, changing the group type may become necessary.

• The group type can be changed only when Windows 2000 is operating in native mode.

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Group Scopes That Can Be Changed

• A global group to a universal group: Only if the global group is not a member of another global group

• A domain local group to a universal group: Only if the domain local group does not contain another domain local group

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Creating Local Groups

• Use the Local Users and Groups snap-in within the Computer Management console to create local groups.

• Create local groups in the Groups folder.

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New Group Dialog Box

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Select Users Or Groups Dialog Box

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Understanding Default Groups

• Predefined Groups

• Built-In Groups

• Built-In Local Groups

• Special Identity Groups

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Default Group Overview

• Four categories: predefined, built-in, built-in local, and special identity.

• Default groups have a predetermined set of user rights or group membership.

• User rights determine the system tasks that a user or member can perform.

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Predefined Group Overview

• Windows 2000 creates predefined groups with a global scope to group common types of user accounts.

• Windows 2000 automatically adds members to some predefined global groups.

• Additional user accounts can be added to predefined groups to provide additional users with privileges and permissions assigned to the group.

• The Users container holds the predefined global groups in a domain.

• Predefined groups do not have any inherent rights.

• Rights are assigned by adding the global groups to domain local groups or explicitly assigning user rights or permissions to the predefined global groups.

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Default Membership: Domain Admins

• Windows 2000 automatically adds Domain Admins to the Administrators built-in domain local group.

• Being added to the Administrators built-in domain local group allows members of Domain Admins to perform administrative tasks on any computer anywhere in the domain.

• By default, the Administrator account is a member.

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Default Membership: Domain Guests

• Windows 2000 automatically adds Domain Guests to the Guests built-in domain local group.

• By default, the Guest account is a member.

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Default Membership: Domain Users

• Windows 2000 automatically adds Domain Users to the Users built-in domain local group.

• By default, the Administrator, Guest IUSR_computername, IWAM_computername, KRbtgt, and TsInternetUser accounts are initially members.

• Each new domain user account is automatically a member.

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Default Membership: Enterprise Admins

• User accounts should be added to Enterprise Admins for users who should have administrative control for the entire network.

• Enterprise Admins should be added to the Administrators domain local group in each domain.

• By default, the Administrator account is a member.

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Built-In Groups Overview

• Windows 2000 creates built-in groups with a domain local scope.

• Built-in groups provide users with user rights and permissions to perform tasks on domain controllers and in Active Directory.

• Built-in domain local groups give predefined rights and permissions to user accounts when user accounts or global groups are added as members.

• The Built-in container holds the built-in domain local groups in a domain.

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Built-In Domain Local Groups: Account Operators

• Members can create, delete, and modify user accounts and groups.

• Members cannot modify the Administrators group or any of the operators groups.

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Built-In Domain Local Groups: Administrators

• Members can perform all administrative tasks on all domain controllers and the domain itself.

• By default, the Administrator user account and the Domain Admins and Enterprise Admins predefined global groups are members.

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Built-In Domain Local Groups: Backup Operators

Members can back up and restore all domain controllers by using Windows Backup.

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Built-In Domain Local Groups: Guests

• Members can perform only tasks for which the administrator has granted rights.

• Members can gain access only to resources for which the administrator has assigned permissions.

• Members cannot make permanent changes to their desktop environment.

• By default, the Guest, IUSR_computername, IWAM_computername, and TsInternetUser user accounts and the Domain Guests predefined global group are members.

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Built-In Domain Local Groups: Pre-Windows 2000 Compatible Access

• A backward compatibility group that allows read access for all users and groups in the domain.

• By default, only the Everyone pre-Windows 2000 system group is a member.

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Built-In Domain Local Groups: Print Operators

Members can set up and manage network printers on domain controllers.

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Built-In Domain Local Groups: Replicator

• Supports directory replication functions.

• The only member should be a domain user account used to log on to the Replicator services of the domain controller.

• The accounts of actual users must not be added to this group.

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Built-In Domain Local Groups: Server Operators

Members can share disk resources and backup and restore files on a domain controller.

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Built-In Domain Local Groups: Users

• Members can perform only tasks for which the administrator has granted rights.

• Members can gain access only to resources for which the administrator has assigned permissions.

• By default, the Authenticated Users and INTERACTIVE pre-Windows 2000 groups and the Domain Users predefined global group are members.

• Use this group to assign permissions and rights that every user with a user account in the domain should have.

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Built-In Local Groups Overview

• All stand-alone servers, member servers, and computers running Windows 2000 Professional have built-in local groups.

• Built-in local groups give users the rights to perform system tasks on a single computer.

• Windows 2000 places the built-in local groups into the Groups folder in the Local User Manager snap-in.

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Built-In Local Groups: Administrators

• Members can perform all administrative tasks on the computer.

• By default, the built-in Administrator user account for the computer is a member.

• Windows 2000 automatically adds the Domain Admins predefined global groups to the local Administrators group.

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Built-In Local Groups: Backup Operators

Members can use Windows Backup to back up and restore the computer.

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Built-In Local Groups: Guests

• Members can perform only tasks for which the administrator has specifically granted rights.

• Members can gain access only to resources for which the administrator has assigned permissions.

• Members cannot make permanent changes to their desktop environment.

• By default, the built-in Guest account for the computer is a member.

• Windows 2000 automatically adds the Domain Guests predefined global group to the local guests group.

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Built-In Local Groups: Power Users

Members can create and modify local user accounts on the computer and share resources.

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Built-In Local Groups: Replicator

• Supports directory replication functions.

• The only member should be a domain user account used to log on to the Replicator services of the domain controller.

• The accounts of actual users must not be added to this group.

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Built-In Local Groups: Users

• Members can perform only tasks for which the administrator has specifically granted rights.

• Members can gain access only to resources for which the administrator has assigned permissions.

• By default, Windows 2000 adds to the Users group local user accounts that the administrator creates on the computer.

• Windows 2000 automatically adds the Domain Users predefined global group to the local Users group.

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Special Identity Groups Overview

• Exist on all computers running Windows 2000.

• Do not have specific memberships that can be modified.

• Can represent different users at different times, depending on how a user gains access to a computer or resource.

• Are not seen when administering groups, but are available for use when the administrator assigns rights and permissions to resources.

• Membership is based on how the computer is accessed, not on who uses the computer.

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Special Identity Groups: Anonymous Logon

Includes any user account that Windows 2000 did not authenticate

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Special Identity Groups: Authenticated Users

• Includes all users with a valid user account on the computer or in Active Directory

• Used instead of the Everyone group to prevent anonymous access to a resource

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Special Identity Groups: Creator Owner

• Includes the user account for the user who created or took ownership of a resource.

• If a member of the Administrators group creates a resource, the Administrators group is owner of the resource.

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Special Identity Groups: Dialup

Includes any user who currently has a dial-up connection

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Special Identity Groups: Everyone

• Includes all users who access the computer.

• Windows 2000 will authenticate a user who does not have a valid user account as Guest and any valid user (including Guest) automatically gets all rights and permissions that have been assigned to the Everyone group.

• The Everyone group is assigned full control to many resources by default.

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Special Identity Groups: Interactive

• Includes the user account for the user who is logged on at the computer.

• Members gain access to resources on the computer at which they are physically located.

• Members log on and gain access to resources by “interacting” with the computer.

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Special Identity Groups: Network

Includes any user with a current connection from another computer on the network to a shared resource on the computer

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Groups for Administrators

• Why You Should Not Run Your Computer as an Administrator

• Administrators as Members of the Users and Power Users Groups

• Using Run As to Start a Program

• RUNAS Command

• RUNAS Examples

• Practice: Using Run As to Start a Program as an Administrator

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Reasons Not to Run Your Computer as an Administrator

• Makes the network vulnerable to Trojan horse attacks and other security risks.

• The simple act of visiting an Internet site can be extremely damaging to the system.

• A Trojan horse could reformat the hard drive, delete all files, and create a new user account with administrative access.

• Should not assign yourself to the Administrators group and should avoid running nonadministrative tasks on the computer as administrator.

• Assign yourself to the Users or Power Users group.• Log on as an administrator, perform the administrative

task, and then log off.

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Administrators as Members of the Users and Power Users Groups

• Member of Users group: Allows performance of routine tasks without exposing the computer to unnecessary risk.

• Member of Power Users group: Allows the performance of routine tasks, as well as installing programs, adding printers, and using most Control Panel items.

• If administrator privileges are frequently needed, use the Run As program to start a program as an administrator.

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Using Run As to Start a Program

• Run As is used to run a program that requires the user to be logged on as an administrator.

• Run As allows one to run administrative tools with either local or domain administrator rights and permissions while logged on as a normal user.

• If you attempt to start a program, MMC console, or Control Panel item from a network location using the Run As program, it might fail if the credentials used to connect to the network share are different from the credentials used to start the program.

• Credentials used to run the program may not be able to gain access to the same network share.

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Using Run As to Start a Program (con’t)• The RunAs service must be running for Run As to start a

program.

• The RunAs service can be configured to start automatically when the system starts using the RunAs Server option in the Services console.

• A property should be set on shortcuts to programs and MMC tools so that you will always be prompted for alternate credentials when you use the shortcut.

• A property is set by right-clicking the shortcut, clicking Properties, and then clicking the Run As Different User check box.

• When the shortcut is started, the Run As Other User dialog box appears, prompting for the alternate user name, password, and domain.

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Run As Other User Dialog Box

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RUNAS Command Syntax

runas [/profile] [/env] [/netonly] /user:UserAccountName program

• /profile: Specifies the name of the user’s profile, if it needs to be loaded

• /env: Specifies that the current network environment be used instead of the user’s local environment

• /netonly: Indicates that the user information specified is for remote access only

• /user: UserAccountName: Specifies the name of the user account under which to run the program; account Name format should be user@domain or domain\user

• /program: Specifies the program or command to run using the account specified in /user