[This is preliminary documentation and subject to change]

# Securing Your Files with NTFS

With NTFS, you can limit access to your Web server's files and directories. You can configure the 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.

Note To configure users accounts with Local Users & Groups, you must log on with administrative privileges. Consult your Windows documentation for more information.

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 may have the right permission to view and execute a program, the user may not have permission to access a particular dynamic-link library (DLL) that is 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.

To secure your files with NTFS

1. Convert your current hard disk to an NTFS partition. You can use the Windows Convert utility to convert a hard disk partition to NTFS. See the Windows documentation for more information.
2. Create a Windows user account or group:
   1. From the Start menu, right-click My Computer, and click Manage. The Computer Management window appears.
   2. Expand System Tools, and expand Local Users & Groups.
   3. To create new user accounts, select Users, and then on the Action menu, select Create User. To create new groups, select Groups and from the Action menu, select Create Group.
   4. Add users to the appropriate user groups.
3. In Windows Explorer, set access permissions for specific files and directories. For more information, see Setting NTFS Permissions for a Directory or File.

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