Group Policy Control on Windows

Using an ADMX file

To use a custom Admin By Request ADMX group policy file, download the file below. On the server, on which you edit group policies, unpack the zip file to C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions (or PolicyDefinitions under SYSVOL for central store). The settings will then appear under Computer Configuration.

DOWNLOAD ADMX FILE

Alternative without using a custom ADMX file

If you prefer, you can set the policy keys without using the custom ADMX file. Note that all these registry values are snapshotted during administrator sessions to avoid tampering by users. Policies are set under the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\FastTrack Software\Admin By Request\Policies and must be set using the Group Policy editor. KeyPath must be "Software\FastTrack Software\Admin By Request\Policies".

Settings

Additional Server Edition Settings

Group and OU delimiter

Multiple groups or OUs must be split by a vertical pipe, such as "Domain Admins|Customer Relations". This is because comma may naturally appear in groups or OU names and always appears in full distinguished names for OUs. OUs can be specified as full distinguished name or simply the OU name itself. Note that if a OU name is not unique, the check will happen on either. In a list, the user/computer must be member of one (not all) to allow administrator elevation. Note that local users (except Administrator) cannot elevate, when domain groups or OUs are in place. Users can always request a PIN code for elevation, in case of an exception.

Auto elevated applications

Some applications may always need to run as administrator. A list of applications can be set using policies. For example, if Photoshop always needs to run as administrator (regardless of other settings), a name/data entry can be set under the subkey "AutoElevatedApps". Only the value is used and it can be a full path to an exe file or just the exe file. This feature requires UAC enabled to function and the user will be prompted for credentials on application start and must enter their user name and password. This credentials prompt is a UAC limitation that cannot be bypassed. But the application will run as elevated administrator without the user being administrator.

Blocked applications

Applications that are never allowed to run, can be set using the "BlockedApps" subkey. These are applications that will always be blocked from execution, regardless of being elevated or not.

Admin blocked applications

Applications can be blocked, only when the user is elevated by Admin By Request and only when user runs the application as administrator. For example, if the user elevates to administrator, it would make sense to block Outlook.exe, so the user does start Outlook and click dangerous links. Browsers could also be blocked, if the policy is that the must download software before elevation, to try to sandbox the installation as much as possible. Note that a domain administrator can still log on and run this application elevated. It intentionally only applies to users elevating using Admin By Request.