How to only allow one specified person to use Visual Studio on a shared computer

In the setup in which I am working, with many other tech people with admin access (infrastruture, networks, app support) all sharing this common VM it is impossible to lock it down as described. So even though none of them are interested in using Visual Studio, I cannot guarantee that they could use it. So it is with regret I need to continue to use it on my laptop, and deal with WDAC trying to stop me.Thanks for all the ideas everyone !

Thank you for reaching out.
If more than one person can log in to the VM, then more than one person can open the software. The system does not know who is allowed to use it and who is not. As long as other users can technically open the software, there is always a risk. The only real ways to remove that risk are to allow only one person to log in to the VM, to block other users from opening the software, or to make sure everyone who can log in and use the software has their own license. If none of these are done, the risk remains because the software is still accessible to multiple people.

This link also explains how shared virtual machines allow multiple users to access the same system and run applications unless access is restricted, which might help for further understanding:

Reference:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/2237628/how-to-enable-concurrent-users-in-azure-virtual-de

Please let us know if you require any further assistance, we’re happy to help. If you found this information useful, kindly mark this as "Accept Answer". So that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

To restrict the use of Visual Studio on a shared VM to only one specified user, you can implement the following strategies:

1. User Account Control: Ensure that only your user account has administrative privileges on the VM. You can create a standard user account for others who should not have access to Visual Studio.
2. File Permissions: Set file permissions on the Visual Studio installation directory and any related files so that only your user account has access. This can be done by right-clicking the Visual Studio installation folder, going to Properties > Security, and modifying the permissions accordingly.
3. Group Policy: If applicable, use Group Policy settings to restrict access to certain applications for specific users or groups. This is more relevant in a domain environment.
4. Licensing Compliance: Make sure that your Visual Studio license is only associated with your account. This will help ensure that you are compliant with licensing terms.
5. Monitoring: Regularly monitor the VM for unauthorized access or usage of Visual Studio by other users. This can help you identify any potential violations of your licensing agreement.

By implementing these measures, you can help ensure that only you can use Visual Studio on the shared VM while maintaining compliance with your licensing requirements.

References:

• Visual Studio administrator guide
• User permissions and Visual Studio