Security Guide - Overview of User Account Security (User Accounts)

Overview of User Account Security

Geo SCADA Expert has two main security mechanisms: user account configuration and database item security permissions. Typically, each system user is allocated a user account. The features that are available to the user depend on the configuration of their user account and the security settings of the items in the database.

When a user accesses Geo SCADA Expert, they typically log on manually using a configured user account. (If a user attempts to access the system without logging on, they will be logged on as the Guest user (if available). The Guest user is one of the Built-In User Accounts.)

Virtual ViewX users have to use a configured user account to log on.

‘Configured’ user accounts are regarded as a more secure way of accessing your system as they require manual entry of a user name and password (see Configured User Accounts).

When a user logs on via a user account that is a 'member' of a User Group, that user is granted:

The permissions of the ‘Everyone’ User Group
The permissions of the user account
The permissions of the User Group(s) of which the user account is a member
'Responsibility' for any geographical regions that are assigned to the user account
'Responsibility' for any geographical regions that are assigned to the User Group(s) of which the user account is a member
Access to any Operator Document Stores that are associated with the user account
Access to any Operator Document Stores that are associated with the User Group(s) of which the user account is a member.

NOTICE

Security threat

On systems on which the 'Everyone' User Group is enabled, all User Accounts on the system automatically inherit the security permissions that are assigned to the 'Everyone' User Group, including the Guest user (which does not require a logon). Each user's security permissions comprise: Everyone permissions + User Group permissions + User Account permissions. To help avoid providing all users with unintended access to features and functionality that should be restricted, use configured User Groups rather than the 'Everyone' User Group. If the 'Everyone' User Group has to be used, it MUST be assigned the minimum permissions required, with access restricted where possible to just the relevant parts of the database. (On new installations, the built-in 'Everyone' User Group is inactive and is not assigned any security permissions by default.)

Failure to follow these instructions can result in equipment damage and a breach in system security.

User Groups and user accounts are only applicable if Security is enabled. You can enable Security by using the Server Configuration Tool (see Define whether any Permissions are Restricted).