How to configure UAC (User Account Control) with Microsoft Intune

How to configure UAC (User Account Control) with Microsoft Intune. In this guide, we will explore the power of Microsoft Intune, a leading cloud-based service, and delve into the steps you need to take to configure UAC settings. By the end of this journey, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of how to optimize your UAC configuration, bolstering your organization’s security posture while maintaining user productivity.

What is UAC (User Account Control)

User Account Control (UAC) is a security feature introduced by Microsoft in Windows operating systems, starting with Windows Vista and continuing in subsequent versions, including Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. Its primary purpose is to enhance the security of the operating system by preventing unauthorized changes to your computer.

UAC works by prompting users for confirmation whenever a task or application requires administrative privileges to run. These tasks could include installing software, making changes to system settings, or modifying files in certain protected directories. When an action that requires administrative privileges is initiated, UAC displays a prompt asking the user to confirm that they want to proceed. This confirmation dialog helps prevent malicious software or unauthorized users from making significant changes to the system without the user’s knowledge or consent.

By default, users operate in a standard user account mode, which has limited privileges. When administrative tasks are attempted, UAC elevates the user’s privileges temporarily, allowing the task to be completed. Once the task is done, the privileges return to the standard user level. This process ensures that even users with administrative privileges are prompted to confirm potentially risky actions, reducing the likelihood of accidental or unauthorized system changes.

Create configuration profile

We first are going to create a Configuration profile. Just follow these steps:

• Go to intune.microsoft.com
• Navigate to Devices
• Click on Windows
• Click on Configuration profiles
• Click on Create profile

• Platform: Windows 10 and later
• Profile type: Settings catalog
• Click on Create

• Give it a meaningful name
• Click on Next

• Click on Add settings
• Search for User Account Control
• Click on Local Policies Security Options

All UAC Setting are showing now. You can choose which settings you want to configure. For this demonstration I will configure my preferences.

• User Account Control Behavior Of The Elevation Prompt For Administrators: Prompt for consent on the secure desktop
• User Account Control Behavior Of The Elevation Prompt For Standard Users: Automatically deny elevation request
• User Account Control Detect Application Installations And Prompt For Elevation: Enable
• User Account Control Only Elevate UI Access Applications That Are Installed In Secure Locations: Enabled: Application runs with UIAccess integrity only if it resides in secure location.
• User Account Control Run All Administrators In Admin Approval Mode: Enabled
• User Account Control Switch To The Secure Desktop When Prompting For Elevation: Enabled
• User Account Control Use Admin Approval Mode: Enable

When you are finished click on Next

• Click Next on the Scope tags
• Assign the Policy to Users or Devices and click on Next
• On the Review + create tab click on Create

Test configuration

After I deployed the policy to a Device I can test this very easy. With my configuration a normal user is not able to for example open a administrator task with login.
If I want to open for example the following setting in the Control Panel I get an blocked notification.

This popup can be different. Its also depending on what you have configured in the configuration profile.

Congratulations! You have successfully deployed the policy.