The short answer is: Yes, there is a difference, and which one is “more correct” really depends on the scenario you’re dealing with.
Share Permissions
• These are applied only when accessing the resource over the network.
• They define the maximum level of access a remote user can have when connecting via a network share.
• Typically, they’re set to a broader permission—often “Full Control”—with finer control left to NTFS permissions.
Protection (NTFS Permissions)
• This tab (sometimes labeled “Security”) deals with the file system permissions that apply regardless of how the file/folder is accessed—locally or over the network.
• NTFS permissions provide more granularity and allow you to control specific actions (read, write, modify, etc.) for different users or groups.
• The effective permissions when accessing a network share are an intersection of the share and NTFS permissions; whichever is more restrictive will prevail.
Which Should You Use?
• For local security, NTFS (protection) settings are the key, as they always apply.
• When sharing a folder over a network, it’s common practice to set the share permissions to a permissive level (like “Full Control”) and then rely on NTFS permissions to finely control access.
• This approach simplifies management, ensuring that your overall effective permissions are as intended without having to adjust two independent systems.
Conclusion:
Use NTFS (Protection) permissions for precise control, and configure share permissions for broader network access management. In most cases, you’ll want to focus on NTFS settings, as they are applied in all access scenarios.
Hope that clears it up!
— ChatGPT