If you’re a system administrator, there’s a good chance that you’ve been asked to make changes to a folder on more than one occasion. And if you’re like most people, you probably didn’t think twice about it; after all, as an administrator, you have the ability to make changes to just about anything on the system, right? Wrong.
When it comes to making changes to folders, it’s important to remember that not all folders are created equal. Some folders, such as the System32 folder, are integral to the functioning of the system and should only be altered by someone with a deep understanding of how the system works. Other folders, such as the Temp folder, can be altered without any repercussions.
Knowing which folders you can and cannot modify is important, but it’s only half the battle. The other half is understanding why you need permission to make changes in the first place. Below, we’ll take a look at three of the most commonly cited reasons.
To Prevent accidental Deletion of Important Files
As a system administrator, one of your most important responsibilities is ensuring that critical files are not accidentally deleted or modified. All too often, administrators will receive a request to delete a file or folder only to find out later that the file or folder contained important data.
To Prevent Malicious Changes
Another reason why you may need permission to make changes is because of the possibility of malicious intent. There are individuals who may attempt to gain access to your system by making changes to files or folders without your knowledge or approval. This could lead to data loss or corruption, so it’s important that you take steps to prevent it from happening.
To Maintain System Stability
Making changes to certain files or folders can also destabilize the system as a whole. In some cases, administrators may make changes that they think are innocuous only to find out later that the changes caused serious problems for users. As such, it’s important to always get approval from administrators before making any changes – no matter how small they may seem.
To Comply with Regulatory Requirements
In some industries, there are regulatory requirements that must be met in order to ensure the safety and security of information. These requirements may stipulate that only certain individuals are allowed to make changes to certain files or folders. For example, in the healthcare industry, there may be regulations that dictate who is allowed to access patient information.
Making changes to files and folders without proper permission can have serious consequences. As such, it’s important to always seek approval before making any changes. Doing so will help you avoid potential problems and ensure that your system remains stable.
As a system administrator, it’s important that you understand both why and how permission works when making changes to files and folders on your system.
Failing to do so could result in critical data being lost or corrupted, or even worse – destabilizing the system as a whole.
So next time someone asks you to make a change, be sure to take a moment and consider whether or not it’s really necessary before taking any action.