Please explain the authority settings and levels for users and how contacts are shared.

Please define:
User vs. System Admin
Manager vs. User
Can add accounts to CRM
Access to tables: security officer vs. update, view, no access

You'll find the following authority settings on the user:

Update: Please note that for Pro users using the Account Teams, the authority to information can be assigned on a record by record basis.

This information can also be found in the user manual: Click Here

Authority:

SysAdmin gives access to special features like access to the admin area and the Admin link at the top. SysAdmin Also gets a different set of reports.

CRM Authority:

Manager level gives users access to All Accounts and All Contacts.

User (limited) level give only access to their own accounts and contacts that they own (OwnerUserID).

SuperUser level will allow users to view all information but only let them edit/update the ones they own.

Add Accounts to CRM:

If you want someone to be able to add accounts, then you must set this to yes. Being a manager will override this.

Access to Tables:

This sets what kind of access they have in the Admin area if they get into it.

Security Officer is the most advanced and has access to everything including users and changing their passwords etc...

Update allows them to edit tables but not update certain sensitive spots like user
passwords other than their own.

View only is just that, they can look but not change anything.

No Access: they can't get in to admin area, if they try they get an error.

Recommended settings for a general user:

Authority: User
CRM Authority: Manager
Add Accounts: Yes
Access to Tables: No access

The reason to set general users as Manager is we have seen the most successful companies give wide access to all information to all staff. This lets everyone see everything that is going on and lets them get to the information they need no matter the situation.

Generally secrecy or restriction is not something you want when you are trying to make new sales!