Deny all access to Removable Storage using Intune

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The Removable Storage Access Control feature enables you to apply policy by using OMA-URI or by using Intune user interface to either user or device, or both. Until now, I have been using Endpoint security profiles to implement device control settings to manage write access to removable drives like USB. However, recently I needed to block access to removable storage altogether and I couldn't make it work using Endpoint security ASR Device control profile. As of writing this blog, these are relevant settings that are available in the Device control profile.


I expected Block Removable storage to work, but it didn't. I couldn't find any obvious errors so decided to do some research.

One way is to use OMA-URI CSPs which are broadly broken down into following categories -


Using Default Enforcement, you can set the default access (Deny or Allow) for all Device Control features (RemovableMediaDevices, CdRomDevices, WpdDevices, PrinterDevices). 

Another way is to use device storage class to block installation, but I wanted to find a better way to administratively manage this.

The method that I found most suitable was Settings catalog. Here is how you can do it -

2. Browse to Devices – Windows – Configuration Profiles
3. Click Create Profile
4. Select Platform as Windows 10 and later
5. Select Profile as Settings catalog
6. Provide a Name and hit next.
7. Click on Add settings.
8. Search and select for 'Removable storage access' as shown below.


9. Select 'All Removable Storage classes: Deny all access'

10. Assign to a device group.

End result

After the policy applies, access to removable storage will be denied.


Deny All registry against RemovableStorageDevices registry key will get configured as expected.



Intune should report compliant against the policy as well.


Happy days..

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 25, 2023 at 9:08 AM

    Simple and useful!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mack JohnMarch 8, 2023 at 9:35 AM

    You can use Microsoft Intune to configure a policy that denies all access to removable storage devices for managed devices running Windows 10. Here are the steps:

    Sign in to the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center.

    Go to Devices > Configuration profiles and click on the "Create profile" button.

    Select "Windows 10 and later" as the platform and "Device restrictions" as the profile type.

    Give the policy a name and description, then select "Removable storage" from the list of available restrictions.

    Set the "Configure removable storage access" setting to "Block all".

    Save and assign the policy to the appropriate devices or groups of devices.

    Once the policy is applied, users will not be able to access any removable storage devices, including USB flash drives, external hard drives, and SD cards. They will receive an error message when trying to access them.

    Note that this policy may impact certain business operations that rely on removable storage devices. Therefore, it is recommended to evaluate the business impact before implementing this policy. Also, make sure to thoroughly test the policy on a small group of devices before deploying it widely.

    ReplyDelete

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