# Suspending, blocking and archiving users

## Supending and unsuspending users

Sometimes it is required to suspend a user temporarily. This is useful in service provider scenarios for users with billing or security issues.

A suspended user:
- All infrastructures's servers will be disconnected from WAN networks.  Servers are still kept powered on.
- Can access the infrastructure designer and has access to credentials although they cannot be used to access the server normally except via the remote console.
- Cannot deploy infrastructures of type create or edit
- Can delete infrastructures
- Cannot create reservations
- Can access the API but the above operations are not possible

To suspend a user go to the **Users & Permissions** > **user's details page** > **Advanced** > **Suspend**. A form will pop-up asking for a suspend reason.
A user can be suspended for multiple reasons and all suspend reasons will need to be cleared before the account is re-enabled fully. An admin can add "suspend reasons" from the same Advanced tab for the user.

To unsuspend a user go to **Users & Permissions** > **user's details page** > **Advanced** > **Unsuspend**.

## Block and unblock user

In certain rare situations a user needs to be completely blocked from accessing an environment but kept visible to admins. This is usually due to a serious security issue.
- Access to the API is restricted
- Access tot the UI is restricted
- Remote console access to servers is restricted

:::{Warning}
The servers and internet connections are untouched! Note that if the servers need to be blocked you need to use the suspend function!
:::

To block a user go to: **Users & Permissions** > **user's details page** > **Advanced** > **Block**
To unblock a user go to: **Users & Permissions** > **user's details page** > **Advanced** > **Unblock**

## Archiving an user
> Available since 6.2.1

Users cannot be deleted for security reasons. They may have associated audit log events, deleted infrastructure records, utilization records.  Instead they are "archived":
- Hidden from the Admin UI
- Access to the API is restricted
- Access tot the UI is restricted

Note that if the same email address is used again or same account is used again the old account needs to be un-archived. 
To archive a user go to: **Users & Permissions** > **user's details page** > **Advanced** > **Archive**
To un-archive a user go to: **Users & Permissions** > Add this search term and click Filter: `user_archived:1` **Search the user by name or email** > **user's details page** > **Advanced** > **Unarchive**