Implementing robust restrictions on user accounts in Windows is a critical step toward protecting systems against unauthorized access and potential cyber threats.
An October 2024 report by Anetac revealed that 75% of organizations misuse service accounts by employing them as human accounts or vice versa, thereby blurring critical security lines and exposing vulnerabilities[1]. Additionally, Microsoft’s 2024 Security Report indicated that 50% of identities possess full access permissions, highlighting the necessity for stringent access controls[2].
These findings emphasize that mismanagement of user accounts can lead to significant security breaches. The solution?
Organizations must configure appropriate restrictions on user accounts to mitigate risks associated with user access and enhance their overall security posture. Let’s see how you can enforce restrictions on User Accounts in Windows devices by using Scalefusion.
Configuring restrictions on User Accounts in Windows devices using Scalefusion
Scalefusion offers a streamlined way to enforce restrictions on users through its centralized dashboard. It allows you to create a ‘Device Profile’ and configure it according to your requirements.
With Scalefusion’s ‘Device Profile’, you can configure multiple restrictions and push it to the desired user’s device. Below are the restriction settings if offers:
1. Configuring application policy
This setting allows you to choose an application policy to deploy applications on end-user devices. You can choose from the following application policies:
a. Multi-App Kiosk mode: Allows IT Admins to configure policies that enable the end users to have a dedicated account on the device, which, when logged in, provides access to the set of allowed applications. Access to the remaining applications is blocked.
b. App Locker Policy: Allows IT Admins to select apps that they want to allow or block for the end users, thereby allowing only supported or approved apps to run on Windows machines. Users would see all applications, but would not be able to use the disallowed apps.
2. Allowed websites
Allow or block websites on targeted users’ devices. Allowing websites creates shortcuts to those websites. Further, you can configure if the shortcuts of the allowed websites are visible on the device home screen.
Disabling visibility still allows the end-user to access the websites through the designated browser but removes their shortcut. You can also add bookmarks of the allowed websites. This restricts the user from accessing unauthorized sites while improving accessibility.
3. Passcode settings
Scalefusion helps you define a password policy in the device profiles. The policy can then be applied to multiple devices, thereby forcing users to create a password that complies with your organizational policies. It provides IT admins with the flexibility to define passcode policies of different complexities to devices in different profiles.
4. Browser configuration
Browser configuration is a collection of settings divided into multiple sections to get granular control over Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox. You can configure the following browser configuration settings:
a. Policy targets: You can select the browser – Chrome, Edge, or Firefox, on which the configurations should apply or you can select all the browsers.
b. Start up: Take control of the start-up experience. You can:
- Configure homepage URL – URL of a website that should open when end-users click on the Home button of Chrome, Edge, or Firefox browser.
- Launch multiple URLs – You enter URLs of websites that should open on the launch of the Chrome/Edge/Firefox browser. You can add multiple URLs, which will open in separate tabs at the launch of the browser
- ‘Home’ Button – You can configure whether you want to show the ‘Home’ button or hide it from the end user.
c. User Experience: Control the various user experience-related items:
- Bookmark folder name
- Visibility of bookmark bar
- Access to developer tools
- Auto-fill behavior
d. Content: Configure the policies related to web content, such as:
- Cookie policy
- Javascript
- Popups
- Flash plugins
- Google SafeSearch
- YouTube restrictions
e. Security: Enforce the following security policies:
- Allow or disable the Password manager
- Access to incognito mode
- User control over browser history
- Allow or restrict users from accessing malicious sites
- Allow or restrict users to configure and sites to track Geolocation
f. Network Settings: Configure proxy settings and PAC file URL.
g. Printing: Configure the way users can access the printing capabilities via Chrome.
h. Extension management: Configure whether users control the extensions and also allow or block extensions as per your requirement.
5. Single/Kiosk app mode
Set an application to run always and set the Windows device in Kiosk mode. This is beneficial in the retail and logistics industries for locking down mPOS and vehicle-mounted devices for dedicated purposes.
6. BitLocker Encryption
Restrict users from accessing the work device and drives by enforcing BitLocker encryption. This mandates the user to enter the BitLocker PIN to unlock the device, ensuring authorised access to corporate resources.
7. WiFi and network
- Choose to allow or restrict users to connect to Wifi.
- Create and apply Wi-Fi configurations and apply it to a device profile.
- Allow/deny the end users to configure a new Wi-Fi connection on the device.
- Control whether a user is allowed to connect to the VPN.
- Enforce VPN tunneling to encrypt critical traffic while maintaining flexibility for other data.
Secure your Windows devices—Start with enforcing user account restrictions using Scalefusion
As Windows environments are still a major target for cyberattacks, restricting user accounts is a frontline defense. The 2025 DBIR indicates that compromised user account credentials remain a leading cause of data breaches[3]. Specifically, credential abuse is the dominant vector across phishing, web attacks, and ransomware.
Organizations can significantly reduce their attack surface by configuring restrictions, such as limiting access to the Control Panel, blocking specific apps or websites, and enforcing strict password policies and secure user accounts from being targeted. These controls are especially critical in hybrid and remote setups where endpoint visibility is fragmented.
Modern tools like Scalefusion enable IT teams to enforce these restrictions at scale, across Windows devices, with precision and ease. Centralized policy management enhances security posture and ensures compliance with frameworks like NIST, SOC 2, and ISO 27001. Ultimately, proactive user account restriction is a simple yet powerful step toward securing Windows enterprise endpoints.
References:
2. AnoopCNair
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