# About Basic Security

ColdFusion Server offers two levels of security: Basic and Advanced. Basic security allows you to impose the following types of control on the ColdFusion development environment:

- You can secure the ColdFusion Administrator with a password.
- You can secure access from ColdFusion Studio to data sources and files with a password.
- You can restrict the execution of specific ColdFusion CFML tags.

To access Basic security settings in the ColdFusion Administrator, open the Server, Basic Security page.

Advanced Security allows you to exercise a high degree of control over a wide range of ColdFusion resources, including CFML tags (as well as individual tag ACTION types), specific SQL operations, as well as other ColdFusion resources. For more information, see Chapter 10, "Configuring Advanced Security".

## Installation defaults

The ColdFusion Administrator installs with secure access enabled. The password you enter as part of the setup is saved as the default, so that when you open the Administrator for the first time, you are prompted to enter the password. We recommend that you continue to use Administrator security until you complete the ColdFusion server configuration. Once you've determined your security requirements, you may decide to set up Advanced security. For more information, see Chapter 10, "Configuring Advanced Security".

### Disabling Administrator security

You can disable Basic security for the ColdFusion Administrator on the Server, Basic Security page. Once you've disabled this option, anyone can open the Administrator pages and make changes to ColdFusion Server settings.

### Disabling ColdFusion Studio security

You can disable file and data source security from ColdFusion Studio on the Server, Basic Security page. With Basic security disabled, you rely on the Web server's security to set permissions to ColdFusion application and document directories. In addition, you rely on your database settings to control access to data sources.