GIAC Cybersecurity Technologies Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

The highest level of privileges on a Windows machine is the SYSTEM account. This account has more privileges than an Administrator account and is used by the operating system and services to perform various critical tasks. The SYSTEM account can access all files and resources on the system, allowing it to execute processes with full permissions. It has unrestricted access to the operating system and its components, which is essential for core system functions.

In contrast, the Administrator account, while powerful, operates with elevated privileges that can be limited by User Account Control (UAC) settings. The User account has standard permissions, restricting access to certain system features and files to protect the integrity and security of the operating system. The term "Root" is typically associated with Unix and Linux systems, referencing the highest-level administrative account in those environments, and does not apply to Windows architecture. Therefore, the SYSTEM account is recognized as the highest privilege level within a Windows operating system context.