SOP – Adding a New User with Sudo Permissions in Linux

Objective:

The objective of this SOP is to provide a standardized procedure for adding a new user to a Linux server with sudo permissions.

Pre-requisites:

1. Access to the Linux server with administrative privileges.
2. Basic knowledge of Linux command line interface.

Procedure:

1. Connect to the Linux Server:

   Open a terminal window or SSH client to connect to the Linux server.

2. Switch to Root User (Optional):

   If not already logged in as root, switch to the root user by executing:

   sudo su -

3. Add New User:

   Add a new user using the adduser command. Replace <username> with the desired username:

   adduser <username>

   Follow the prompts to set a password and fill in optional user information.

4. Grant Sudo Permissions:

   Add the newly created user to the sudo group to grant sudo permissions:

   usermod -aG sudo <username>

5. Verify Sudo Access:

   Switch to the newly created user to verify sudo access:

   su - <username>

   Test sudo permissions by executing a command with sudo:

   sudo whoami

   Enter the user password when prompted.

6. Test SSH Access (if applicable):

   If the user requires SSH access, test SSH login with the new user credentials:

   ssh <username>@<server_ip>

   Verify successful login.

7. Update Security Policies (Optional):

   If required by organizational policies, update sudoers file to customize sudo permissions:

   sudo vi sudo

   Add or modify sudo rules as necessary, following the syntax and guidelines provided in the sudoers file.

8. Document User Credentials:

   Document the newly created user’s credentials, including username, password (if applicable), and sudo privileges for future reference.

9. Notify Relevant Parties (Optional):

   Notify relevant team members or stakeholders about the creation of the new user for awareness and access management purposes.

Completion:

Once the new user has been successfully added with sudo permissions and tested for access, the SOP is considered complete.

Notes:

• Ensure that the new user’s password follows the organization’s password policy for security purposes.
• Regularly review and update sudo permissions and user accounts as per security requirements and personnel changes.