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An operating system stores and processes information in the form of electronic data. In doing so, it provides an interface between you, the user of the computer, and the computer. An operating system provides you with commands, library routines, functions, and programs that allow you to tell the computer how to store and process the information that belongs to you.
A computer system enforces basic security by making access decisions, that is, by deciding who can access what. In order to make access decisions, a computer system uniquely identifies each user on the system and stores information in named files, each of which belongs to a single user on the system. It would be a potential violation of security if users could access any files at will.
SCO OpenServer supplies basic security through the use of the login and passwd (password) mechanisms, which identify you to the system and put you in control of your data. Also included in basic security are access mode bits, which give users some control over what other users can access their files. It is not a violation of basic security for users to have the ability to share individual files with specific other users.