IT professionals require local administrator privileges on enterprise devices to install applications, adjust system configurations, and conduct troubleshooting. However, it is common for regular employees to also be granted these rights on their workstations.
Although this practice may offer convenience, it introduces significant security vulnerabilities. Users with administrative privileges can install unauthorized software or alter system settings to optimize their workflow, often without fully understanding the associated security implications. Additionally, any user is susceptible to social engineering tactics, such as opening malicious attachments or clicking on harmful links in phishing emails. If administrative rights are present, malware can be installed unintentionally, potentially leveraging those privileges to exfiltrate data or cause other forms of damage.
To mitigate these risks, it is considered a security best practice to revoke local admin rights from non-IT personnel across all devices. The following four steps outline the process for implementing this essential security measure.
Step 1: Identify Accounts with Local Administrator Privileges
The initial step involves cataloging all users who possess local administrator access on servers and desktops. On Windows systems, such access is granted through inclusion in the Local Administrators group via:
- Direct membership — The user account is explicitly listed in the group.
- Indirect (nested) membership — The user account belongs to another group that is itself a member of the Local Administrators group.
Avoiding nested group structures for privileged accounts is advisable, as they complicate the task of determining who holds elevated access.
Native tools do not offer comprehensive visibility into local administrator group memberships across an entire IT environment. Third-party solutions, such as Netwrix Privilege Secure, can provide detailed insights into the composition of privileged groups, including those on Windows servers and workstations. This tool also tracks changes to these groups and issues alerts for suspicious modifications.
Step 2: Assign Group Ownership and Conduct Membership Reviews
The next phase involves identifying the owner of each local administrator group. This task can be complex, so utilizing tools that automatically suggest potential group owners is beneficial.
Once ownership is established, the designated individual should thoroughly review group membership and remove unnecessary administrative privileges to minimize the organization’s exposure to threats. This review process should be conducted at regular intervals to maintain security hygiene.
Step 3: Enforce Unique Passwords for Local Administrator Accounts
In many environments, the default local administrator account on Windows devices shares the same credentials across all machines. If an attacker gains access to these credentials on one device, they can potentially compromise the entire network.
To address this issue, Microsoft provides the Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS). LAPS ensures that each device within a domain has a distinct password for its local administrator account and automatically rotates these passwords at defined intervals. Deployment can be managed via Group Policy or Intune.
Step 4: Enable Secure Task Execution for Users and Administrators
The principle of least privilege dictates that users should only have the access necessary to perform their duties. Restricting local administrator rights is a key component of enforcing this principle. However, certain tasks may still require elevated privileges.
Windows allows administrators to log in with standard accounts and use the “run as administrator” feature for specific tasks. Despite this, standing privileged accounts remain vulnerable to misuse and compromise. A more secure alternative is a Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution that generates temporary accounts with just enough access for the required task, which are deleted immediately after use. This approach significantly reduces the number of persistent administrative accounts.
To facilitate secure application execution for business users without granting administrative rights, Netwrix Endpoint Policy Manager can be employed. This solution enables users to bypass User Account Control (UAC) prompts for approved applications and prevents the installation of ransomware or other unauthorized software.
Conclusion
Effective control over privileged access is essential for preventing data breaches, minimizing downtime, and ensuring regulatory compliance. With appropriate tools and strategies, local administrator rights can be removed from non-technical users without hindering productivity, thereby significantly reducing the organization’s attack surface.
