What is Endpoint Privilege Management in Microsoft 365?

Why Your Business Should Be Managing Administrator Access

Cyber security is not always about adding more antivirus software or installing another security product.

Sometimes, one of the most effective improvements is simply controlling what users are allowed to do on their computers.

Many businesses give employees local administrator access because it makes installing applications, updating software and changing settings easier. The problem is that administrator access can also make it much easier for malicious software, cyber criminals or even simple user mistakes to cause serious damage.

This is where Microsoft Endpoint Privilege Management can help.

What is Endpoint Privilege Management?

Microsoft Intune Endpoint Privilege Management, often shortened to EPM, allows employees to use their computers as standard users while still completing approved tasks that require administrator permissions.

Instead of giving somebody permanent administrator access to their computer, the business can approve specific applications, installers or processes that are allowed to run with elevated permissions.

The purpose is simple: users receive the access they need to do their job, without receiving unrestricted control over the device.

Microsoft manages Endpoint Privilege Management through the Microsoft Intune admin centre. It supports a least-privilege approach, where users only receive elevated permissions when they genuinely need them.

Why is local administrator access a risk?

Local administrator access gives a user a high level of control over their computer.

They may be able to:

* Install applications
* Change important security settings
* Add or remove software
* Update drivers
* Run scripts
* Disable certain protections
* Make changes that affect other users of the device

That may sound useful, but it also means that anything running under that user’s account could potentially receive the same level of access.

Imagine an employee accidentally opens a malicious email attachment or downloads software from an untrusted website.

If they are using a standard account, the damage the software can cause may be limited. If they have administrator permissions, the malicious software could have far greater control over the computer.

Removing unnecessary administrator access can therefore reduce the potential impact of malware, ransomware and compromised user accounts.

How does Endpoint Privilege Management work?

Endpoint Privilege Management allows your IT provider or internal IT team to create rules for applications that need additional permissions.

For example, an employee may need to install an update for a trusted business application. Rather than giving them permanent administrator access, a rule can be created allowing that specific application to run with elevated permissions.

Depending on how the business configures the service, elevation can be:

Automatically approved

A trusted application can automatically receive the permissions it needs without the user having to contact IT.

This can be useful for well-known applications and routine processes, although automatic rules should be carefully controlled.

Confirmed by the user

The employee can right-click an approved application and select **Run with elevated access**.

The business can also require the employee to confirm their identity or provide a reason for requesting the additional access.

Approved by IT support

The employee submits a request when they need to run something with administrator permissions.

An authorised member of the IT team can review the request and either approve or reject it.

Denied

Known applications, files or processes can be prevented from running with elevated permissions.

Microsoft EPM can create rules around trusted information such as the file name, location, file hash, publisher certificate and permitted arguments. It currently supports executable files, Windows installer packages and PowerShell scripts.

A practical example

Imagine an employee needs to update specialist accounting, design or manufacturing software.

Without Endpoint Privilege Management, the business may have three options:

Give the employee permanent administrator access.

Ask IT support to remotely connect every time an update is required.

Or provide the employee with an administrator password.

None of these options is ideal.

Permanent administrator access increases risk, repeated support sessions take time, and sharing administrator passwords makes it harder to control who has access.

With Endpoint Privilege Management, the specific updater can be approved while everything else remains restricted.

The employee can complete the update, the business remains protected and the administrator password does not need to be shared.

What are the benefits for your business?

The biggest benefit is improved security without unnecessarily preventing employees from doing their jobs.

Endpoint Privilege Management can help your business:

* Remove permanent local administrator permissions
* Reduce the potential impact of malware and ransomware
* Prevent unauthorised software installations
* Control which applications can receive elevated access
* Record and monitor elevation activity
* Reduce the need to share administrator passwords
* Allow employees to request access when required
* Support a Zero Trust and least-privilege security strategy

Microsoft also provides reports covering managed and unmanaged elevation activity. These reports can help identify which users, applications and publishers regularly require administrator permissions, allowing the business to improve its rules over time.

Will it make it harder for employees to work?

Not when it is planned and configured correctly.

The aim is not to block employees from completing legitimate tasks. It is to replace unrestricted administrator access with controlled and auditable access.

A successful rollout should normally begin by monitoring how administrator permissions are currently being used.

Your IT team can then identify:

* Which applications regularly require elevation
* Which employees genuinely need additional access
* Which requests can be approved automatically
* Which requests should require IT approval
* Which applications should always be denied

Microsoft recommends a phased approach that begins with auditing, identifies groups of users with similar requirements, builds appropriate rules and continually reviews user privileges.

This helps avoid unnecessary disruption while gradually improving security.

Is Endpoint Privilege Management included with Microsoft 365?

Endpoint Privilege Management is managed through Microsoft Intune, but it is not automatically available with every Microsoft 365 subscription.

It requires an eligible Intune and Endpoint Privilege Management license. Depending on your existing Microsoft licensing, it may be available through an additional standalone license, the Microsoft Intune Suite or an eligible Microsoft 365 package.

Licensing can become complicated, particularly when different employees have different requirements. It is therefore worth checking your existing Microsoft 365 licenses before purchasing anything additional. Microsoft’s current guidance states that EPM requires appropriate licensing beyond the base Intune service.

How do we get started?

The first step is to understand who currently has administrator access and why they need it.

At Hamilton Group, we can review your Microsoft 365 and Intune environment, identify unnecessary administrator permissions and help introduce a controlled Endpoint Privilege Management policy.

We can support your business with:

* Microsoft Intune configuration
* Endpoint Privilege Management deployment
* Microsoft 365 license reviews
* Application elevation rules
* Local administrator access reviews
* Device security policies
* Monitoring and ongoing IT support

The right setup will depend on your users, applications and the way your business operates.

Hamilton Group can guide you through the process and recommend a solution that improves security without making everyday tasks unnecessarily difficult.

Call us on 0330 043 0069 or book an appointment with one of our experts.