Abstract: The authority of a user seeking access to a vision system is authenticated by a directory server connected to a plurality of cameras. The directory server stores a device directory. When the user requests access to a given camera, a location of an identifier of the given camera in the device directory is determined. From data related to that location, a decision is made whether the user is associated with the given camera. If the user is associated with the given camera, a user access level linked with the user and the given camera is retrieved from the directory server. The user access level identifies a set of privileges corresponding to functions that the user is permitted to perform on the given camera. The user is then permitted to exercise that set of privileges on the given camera.