How to organize a file server correctly?

Question

System administration

Local network, workgroup, how to make users connect to some folders without a password, and to others only by entering a password? is this at all possible?

Answer 1

It is possible through the rights of NTFS similar to implement. Everyone will be asked for a password, but each user will only do what he is allowed to do in folders (read, change, full access, or he won’t be able to enter the folder at all)

Answer 2

A file server running Windows is not rational. There are simple off-the-shelf Linux distributions made specifically for NAS. For example, I have been using OpenMediaVault in a small enterprise for three years already - I really like it. Everything is simple, management via a web interface, there is enough documentation, reliability is very high, Debian is used as a host system. Requirements for iron, of course, are minimal.