---
title: "What are security profiles?"
slug: "what-are-security-profiles"
updated: 2026-06-10T11:26:20Z
published: 2026-06-10T11:26:20Z
canonical: "help.cintra.co.uk/what-are-security-profiles"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.cintra.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What are security profiles?

A **Security Profile** is the top level profile that is assigned to an employee, which contains security profiles from the **File Permissions**, **Lookup**, **Menu**, **Field** and **Record Security Definitions**.

By grouping together the various security definitions, you can restrict the records and menus the user sees when they log in to **Cintra iQ**. Once you have created a profile, you can assign it to a user.

> [!WARNING]
> **Important:** You must have System Administration permission in order to access this functionality. Go to Cintra iQ: System Administration Manage Security Define Security Profiles

## Before you begin...

Before you create a security profile, decide what access the user needs, what that means, and what kind of security they require.

> [!NOTE]
> **Knowledge:** When Sally logs in, I don't want her to use the Absence Analysis menu option. So that would be Menu Access security. I don't want her to enter new absence reasons, so that would be Lookup Access security. And I don't want her to see any medical record data, so that would be Field Access security.

## About the Security Profile Definitions window

Within this window, you can pick **File Permission**, **Lookup**, **Menu**, **Field** and **Record** definitions to create a main security definition. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064365.png)

## About the Create Profile Definitions form

Within this window you have five types of security that you can use to create the main profile definition, that can be assigned to a user. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064367.png)

| Task | Link |
| --- | --- |
| **Title** | Enter the **Profile Definition's Title**. |
| **File Permission Security** | These profiles are created in **File Permission Security Definitions**. For more information, see [Setting File Permissions](/iq/docs/what-is-file-permission-security). |
| **Lookup Security** | These profiles are created in **Lookup Definitions**. For more information, see [Setting Lookup Security](/iq/docs/what-is-lookup-security). |
| **Menu Security** | These profiles are created in **Menu Security Definition**. For more information, see [Setting Menu Security](/iq/docs/what-is-menu-security). |
| **Field Security** | These profiles are created in **Field Security**. For more information, see [Setting Field Security](/iq/docs/what-is-field-security). |
| **Record Security** | These profiles are created in **Record Security**. For more information, see [Setting Record Security](/iq/docs/what-is-record-security). |
| **Read Only User** | You can check this check box if you wish to have all the definitions within the security profile as read only. |

## How do I create a security profile?

1. Navigate to the **Security Profile** window. Go to **Cintra iQ**: System Administration > Manage Security > Define Security Profiles
2. Click the New button. The Create Security Profile window appears. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064367.png)
3. Enter the profile's **Title**.
4. Select the desired security definition from each category.
5. Select the **Read Only User** check box, if necessary.
6. Click the **OK** button. You are ready to attach the security profile to a user.