Create a private staff discussion category

Where: Admin → Forum Categories and Groups & permissions

Before you start

Hiding a navigation link is not privacy. The category’s actual read permission must deny the audience. Explicit group rules supersede fallback category-role visibility.

Steps

1. Create the category with private fallback visibility for the intended staff roles.
2. Set explicit category access for staff groups if you use the group ACL.
3. Do not grant Registered/Guests access. Review custom groups before saving.
4. Create a test thread and copy its URL.
5. Try the category and direct thread URL as guest and ordinary member.

Verify

Restricted readers cannot read the category or its direct topics. Public feeds/search must not reveal its contents.

Troubleshooting

If a public reader can read it, inspect group grants and category rules; do not attempt to fix access merely by removing the menu link.