Unfortunately, the weakest link on most computers, user accounts, servers, networks is the people (especially when they are employees) who use them. Whether they intend to or not, users often put their computers at risk to hackers. When users disable various security software, install dangerous or unlicensed programs or software, and change network or desktop configuration settings, they make their computers wide open to attacks by malware and other hacking software.

This vulnerability is greatly compounded when it is combined with a user account which has administrator rights. With administrator rights, the user accounts have access to virtually any devices, programs and information within the computer. Without administrator access, the potential for damage is greatly limited. Without administrator access, most malware software cannot be installed. The solution, therefore, would seem to be fairly simple: eliminate admin rights.

In theory, this seems like a simple fix. The stark and unfortunate reality, though, is that eliminating admin rights is not quite so simple to do. Many users require administrator rights to run applications and to ensure that they have the proper privileges to ensure productivity. The usual solution to the need for certain levels of accessibility has been to give the different users administrator status. Obviously, this greatly reduces security.

Luckily, there are new ways to ensure security and productivity, while eliminating the need for admin rights. Privilege management software such as PowerBroker Desktops allows users to run all of their required applications without needing administrator rights. Virtual Environment Access Management software enables you to manage privileges in a secure, virtual environment, limiting security risks while still enabling the limiting of privileges.

More and more organizations are switching to this new virtual environment access management system, noting that it gives them a cost-effective way to control and manage administrative access and privileges. This new virtual way of managing access also allows for a more effective concept of least privilege access. From a controlled virtual environment, least privilege access users are allowed only the minimum access required to do their job. The new virtual management system allows for a quicker, more consistent managing operation from a centralized management console.

This software creates a virtual platform which approves or denies tasks as the user requests them. It then logs and reports all of the activity and saves it on the platform. This should not only serve as a reason to consider switching to a virtual platform, it should make the case for eliminating administrative rights logins.