Integrating Windows Servers with EmpowerID for File Share Management

EmpowerID facilitates comprehensive file share management for Windows Servers, enabling automated role-based access control, permissions delegation, and self-service access requests with a complete audit trail. By adding a Windows Server as a managed resource system, EmpowerID can perform continuous monitoring and inventory to track shared folders and permission modifications, ensuring transparency and control over file share access.

Prerequisites for Adding a Windows File Server

• Active Directory Integration: EmpowerID needs to be integrated with your organization's Active Directory to manage file shares effectively. Consult the Connecting to Active Directory article for detailed instructions.

• NTFS Permissions: Assign appropriate NTFS permissions to the PowerShell user account designated for managing the resource system. This account should have adequate rights to manage shared folders on the server.

Procedure for Adding a Windows File Server

Step 1 – Create file share resource system

1. On the navbar, expand Admin > Applications and Directories and click Account Stores and Systems.

2. On the Account Stores page, click the Actions tab and then click Create File Share Resource System.
   
   

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3. On the Select File Server Computer page, search for your file server.

4. Click the record for that server to select it and then click Submit.
   
   

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5. EmpowerID creates the Windows File Server resource system.

6. On the Find Account Store page, click the Resource Systems tab, search for the Windows File Server that you just created and then click the Display Name link for it.
   
   

    

7. From the Resource System > Resource System Info tabs of the Account Store Details page that appears, click the Edit link for the file server resource system to put it in edit mode.
   
   

    

8. On the edit page, select the Projection tab and then select Group Membership Projection Enabled. This ensures that EmpowerID evaluates who should be members of what Resource Role groups on a regularly scheduled basis.
   
   

    

9. Select the Enforcement tab and do the following to specify the type of rights enforcement to be applied to any Resource Role groups created by EmpowerID for the shares on the file server: (This process is used to determine who should have access to shares on the server based on their assignments to Access Levels in EmpowerID and is enforced using special domain local groups known as "Resource Role Groups". See Projection and Enforcement for more information about this process. )

   • Enforcement Type – Select one of the below enforcement options:

     • No Action – No rights enforcement action occurs.

     • Projection with No Enforcement – Adds people to Resource Role Groups in EmpowerID, but does not grant these permissions on the server.

     • Projection with Enforcement – Adds people to Resource Role Groups in EmpowerID and grants the roles to the Resource Role Groups. This is the recommended setting.

     • Projection with Strict Enforcement – This removes any assignments to groups that occur outside of EmpowerID. If someone is added to a group independently of EmpowerID, they are removed from the group by EmpowerID.

   • Rights Enforcement Enabled – Select to enable the chosen enforcement on the file server

   • Schedule – Click the Start and End fields and select the desired start and end date for enforcement.

   • Interval – Select how often you want the enforcement job to run against the file server.

10. Click Save.

Step 2 – Configure PowerShell Access

1. Navigate back to the Find Account Store page, click the Resource Systems tab, and search for your newly created File Server resource system.

2. Find your File Server in the search results and click on its Display Name link. This will direct you to the View One page, where you can access and manage the detailed settings of your File Server resource system.

3. On the View One page, select the Resource System tab and then expand the Configuration Parameters accordion at the bottom of the page.

4. In the accordion, click the Add button above the grid and then enter the following information in the General pane for the PowerShell user account:

   • Name – Enter PowershellUser

   • Value – The user name of the account making the PowerShell calls

5. Click Save.
   
   

   
   
   

6. Click the Add button above the grid again and then enter the following information in the General pane for the PowerShell user password:

   • Name – Enter PowershellPassword

   • Value – The password of the account making the PowerShell calls

   • Encrypt Data – Select this to encrypt and hide the password

7. Click Save.

Create shared folders

Configure self-service requests for shared folders

Unshare shared folders

Delete shared folders