How to manage user accounts on Windows devices: The Scalefusion way

Managing user accounts on a few personal Windows devices is relatively simple. However, the process becomes much more complex for IT administrators responsible for a large fleet of Windows devices in an enterprise. 

Ensuring the right access levels for maintaining data security and managing multiple accounts efficiently across numerous devices can be challenging. Organizations face challenges such as security vulnerabilities, unauthorized access, and administrative inefficiencies without a solution to streamline the user account management process. 

This where a Unified Management solution like Scalefusion helps. Let’s explore the capabilities Scalefusion offers to accelerate Windows User Account Management. 

Understanding Windows user account management with Scalefusion

In contrast to mobile phones, laptops and desktops are structured as user-based systems. These devices need user accounts for logging in and logging off from the devices. Hence, IT Admins require the capability to remotely add and manage these accounts on the devices. 

To expedite this user account management process and make it easier for IT admins, Scalefusion provides utilities at the device level. These utilities enable IT administrators to directly and quickly add users as well as take other actions on them from the Scalefusion dashboard itself. The capabilities are offered by Scalefusion: 

1. Adding users

To manage user accounts, first they need to be created and added to a particular Windows device. With Scalefusion, you can: 

• Add a user
• Set a predefined password
• Select whether they are a ‘Standard’ user or an ‘Admin’ user
• Hide the username on the device login screen 
• Allow a user to autologin by not setting a predefined password.

2.  Managing users

Once the user is added, you can see the basic details such as: 

• User’s account name 
• Type of account (whether it is a ‘Local’, ‘Managed Local’, ‘Global Admin, or ‘Managed Admin’
• Group (Standard or Admin) the user belongs to. 
• Date and time of user login and logout

Moreover, you can take certain actions on the user accounts such as: 

a. View in-depth user details: 

• Username
• SID number
• Group type
• Domain and host name
• Account type
• User’s enrollment status 
• User name display and autologin status 

b. Reset password: You can reset the password for the user account. 

c. Edit group: Switch user account from ‘Standard’ to ‘Admin’ group and vice versa. 

d. Delete user account: This deletes the user from the device. 

3. Add a user to multiple devices 

Consider, in an organization, employees need to work at different office locations. It is difficult for IT admins to add user accounts to devices stationed at different locations. With this utility setting, admins can add a user account to multiple devices at once.

4. Just-In-Time access for Windows

The Just-In-Time Admin feature in Scalefusion’s OneIdP solution. It allows users to temporarily launch apps in admin mode on Windows devices only when needed. This reduces the risks of giving users unnecessary privileges by granting access only for a limited time. It ensures that users can perform tasks requiring elevated access securely and only when necessary.

With the Scalefusion Dashboard, IT admins can configure the following settings: 

a. Duration of admin privilege: Admins can set admin access time (5–60 mins). The app auto-closes after the set time.

b. Allowed number of requests per day: Limits daily admin access requests. Users can elevate apps using the Scalefusion account if needed.

c. Enforce request justification text: Requires users to provide a reason before requesting admin access.

d. Enforce active internet connection: Users need an active internet connection to access apps in admin mode.

e. Allow users to elevate using other admin credentials: Lets users enter another admin’s credentials for access. Falls back to Scalefusion account if unavailable.

f. Configure disclaimer note: Displays a message on the JIT Admin screen about access duration and restrictions.

5. Device authentication for Windows 

Device authentication is the new standard for streamlined organizational security, powered by Scalefusion OneIdP. It validates every Windows device attempting to access secure corporate resources based on context-aware signals. IT admins can set the following parameters using the Scalefusion Dashboard:

• Location: Restrict login to selected geofences.
• IP Range: Allow login only within specified IP ranges.
• WiFi SSIDs: Grant access only through designated WiFi networks.
• Day & Time: Set login permissions based on start and end times.

This ensures secure, policy-driven authentication for Windows devices.

6. Shared device for Windows 

With Scalefusion, you can create a specific user group, allowing its members to share a device and log in to the same machine. Alternatively, you can disable device sharing, which will log out all users signed into that device.

Streamline Windows user account management for IT admins with Scalefusion

Managing user accounts across a large fleet of Windows devices no longer has to be overwhelming. What once felt like a challenge riddled with security risks and inefficiencies is now a streamlined, controlled, and hassle-free process with Scalefusion.

By enabling IT admins to create, manage, and secure user accounts effortlessly, while also offering smart features like Just-In-Time Admin and Keycard, Scalefusion transforms account management from a time-consuming burden into a seamless operation.

With this newfound control, IT admins can shift their focus from tedious user management to strategic IT initiatives, knowing that access control is in place, security is strengthened, and productivity remains uninterrupted. The challenge is solved—the only question now is, how soon do you want to get started?