What is the BEST solution to restrict user access to departmental shared folders?

Creating security groups for each department is the best solution for restricting user access to departmental shared folders. This approach allows for organized management of permissions based on specific departmental needs. By grouping users into security groups, you can assign permissions that align with their roles, ensuring that only authorized users can access the relevant shared folders.

This method is efficient, as it streamlines access control; when a user joins or leaves a department, you can simply add or remove them from the appropriate security group without having to alter individual folder permissions repeatedly. Additionally, it reduces the risk of human error that might occur if permissions had to be managed on a folder-by-folder basis.

Creating security groups enhances maintainability and scalability of user management in a network environment. As departments evolve and change over time, the security group structure provides a flexible solution to adapt access permissions accordingly.