I'm trying to figure out the best way to set up accounts on MacOS for administrative purposes, especially in terms of keeping in line with security operational center (SOC) requirements. From what I understand, the primary user should operate with standard user privileges, and then there should be a secondary account with admin privileges for IT personnel. I'm used to this setup from handling Windows machines where IT uses a built-in admin account. My initial thought for MacOS was to create a second account called "admin," but I also came across the option to enable the root account. However, I've heard mixed opinions on enabling root access in UNIX-like systems. What do most people do in this situation? Looking for insights or best practices — thanks!
3 Answers
Creating a dedicated admin account is definitely the way to go on MacOS. Enabling the root account is often more hassle than it's worth, and it can lead to issues. It's generally not recommended to operate as root in any UNIX-like environment due to the risks involved.
Stick to using a dedicated admin account. It works well because admin accounts in MacOS inherit root permissions through sudo. You'll be prompted for a password when you need to perform elevated tasks, which adds a layer of security. Directly working with the root account isn’t advisable because it bypasses a lot of safety nets that keep your system secure.
I agree with going for a separate admin account. Just a couple of tips:
1. Avoid naming it something obvious like "admin" to keep it low profile.
2. If you're using mobile device management (MDM) software, it’s a good idea to push the admin account setup via configuration profiles for consistency and easier password management.
3. Also, keep in mind that admin accounts are already included in the sudoers file, allowing for full sudo access without needing to enable root.
Good call on the naming—less obvious is always better!
Yeah, that seems like the easiest path!