In SQL Server 2005, there are various permissions that can be granted to users. One of these permissions is the ability to create new users within the database. This permission, known as 'CREATE USER', allows a user to create new login accounts and assign them specific roles and privileges.
To grant the 'CREATE USER' permission, a user must have the 'ALTER ANY LOGIN' or 'CREATE LOGIN' permission. This ensures that only authorized users have the ability to create new user accounts. It is important to carefully consider who is granted this permission, as it can have a significant impact on the security of the database.
Once the 'CREATE USER' permission is granted, a user can create new login accounts by using the 'CREATE LOGIN' statement. This statement allows the user to specify the login name, password, and default database for the new account. The user can also assign server roles and database roles to the new account, giving them specific permissions within the database.
It is important to note that the 'CREATE USER' permission only applies to the creation of new logins. It does not grant the user the ability to alter or delete existing logins. This is controlled by separate permissions such as 'ALTER ANY LOGIN' and 'DROP LOGIN'.
Another important aspect to consider with the 'CREATE USER' permission is the ability to assign default databases to new logins. This allows the user to specify which database the new login will have access to by default. This can be useful for restricting a user's access to only certain databases within the SQL Server.
In addition to creating new logins, the 'CREATE USER' permission also allows the user to assign server roles to the new accounts. Server roles are a way of grouping permissions together for a specific purpose. For example, the 'sysadmin' role grants a user full administrative access to the server, while the 'db_datareader' role grants a user read-only access to all databases on the server.
Similarly, the 'CREATE USER' permission also allows the user to assign database roles to the new accounts. Database roles are similar to server roles, but they apply to specific databases within the SQL Server. These roles can be used to grant or restrict access to certain tables, views, or stored procedures within a database.
It is important to carefully manage the 'CREATE USER' permission and regularly review which users have been granted this privilege. Allowing too many users to create new logins can lead to a cluttered and less secure environment. On the other hand, restricting this permission too much can limit the ability to create new logins when needed.
In conclusion, the 'CREATE USER' permission in SQL Server 2005 is a powerful tool for managing user access and security within the database. It allows authorized users to create new logins with specific roles and privileges, giving them controlled access to the server and databases. However, it is important to carefully manage this permission and regularly review who has been granted it to maintain a secure environment.
