User Account Control (UAC) and virtualisation

Summary

A basic overview of User Account Control in Windows Operating Systems.

Description

We test Sage software on all supported operating systems. If you use it in a non-standard environment, like a virtual machine, we'll help as much as possible. However, for some issues related to your specific environment, contact your local IT support.

Resolution

User Account Control (UAC)

User Account Control (UAC) enhances Windows security by preventing malware from running with admin rights.

The basics of how UAC works

UAC asks for user permission when an app needs admin access. Child processes inherit this access from their parent process, as long as both have the same integrity level.

Windows uses integrity levels to protect processes:

  • High-integrity: Trusted apps that modify system data (for example, disk partition tools)
  • Low-integrity: Less trusted apps that might risk the system (for example, web browsers)

Apps with lower integrity levels can’t change data in apps with higher levels. When a standard user runs an app needing admin access, UAC asks for valid admin credentials.

See this article from Microsoft for more information about how UAC works, and how to change it.

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Solution Properties

Solution ID
200427112209810
Last Modified Date
Mon Nov 17 10:34:35 UTC 2025
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