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Tip (08/25/2011) Differences Between Logging Off and Locking the Account

The following table will help explain the differences and advantages that are offered between logging out of Active Directory and when locking the account on the machine.

 
What it does
What it does not do
Logging Off
  • Allows the computer to clear the cache.
  • It allows the computer to reset the connection to Active Directory
  • Allows for updates to take be finished.
  • Does not save your sessions data for the next time you get onto the machine
  • Not as quick as locking the machine when logging onto and off of the machine.
Locking Computer
  • Saves the session data for next time you log onto your machine. This keeps all programs and files open that are running when you lock the machine.
  • Allows for user to be quicker to lock the machine if the client has to walk away.
  • Quicker to log in to the computer
  • Does not clear the cache on the machine.
  • Does not finish updates that need to occur on the machine.
  • Does not reset the connection to Active Directory which could lead to being locked out of the machine.