CIS U2 206 Research Assigment - Coursework Example

CIS U2 206 Research Assignment CIS U2 206 Research Assignment Chad Perrin’s article “Understand basic Unix file permissions” explores the configuration of users, groups, and file or directory permissions in UNIX in an instructive manner. Perrin’s main argument is that one can use the regular file authorization framework for UNIX to improve primary data security (Perrin, 2009). A section of this framework comprises three groups of entities that one can either allow or deny each of them particular authorizations.

The entities are owner, group, and world. The owner entity is when every file and its path has an “owner.” The group entity is when one affiliates every file with a category account. Lastly, the world entity covers all other users by granting all-account authorizations. Authorizations are dual arithmetic values. The arithmetic value 100 endows file-reading authorizations, 10 endows file-writing authorizations, and 1 endows file-executing authorizations (Perrin). One can combine these values to form a series of authorizations for a particular entity.

Listing authorizations requires access to a file’s authorization settings, where the -1 option for the viewing command offers data that entails listing authorizations. Changing authorizations for every entity requires the “chmod” command (Perrin). Overseeing security at the file-level in a UNIX system needs one to maintain file authorizations as stringent and limiting as possible without limiting the system itself. This measure requires a user to refrain from limiting the UNIX system itself from accessing files in an undesired manner.

As a result, one should leave file authorizations outside the home paths of the user account at default (Perrin). Learning how to use UNIX file authorizations ultimately enables one to understand UNIX security fully.ReferencesPerrin, C. (2009). Understand basic Unix file permissions. TechRepublic. Retrieved from http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/it-security/understand-basic-unix-file-permissions/