Use UAC Shield icon to indicate (non-Windows) elevation will be required?

Question

i am working on financial software where there are many times where a "supervisor" is required to authorize that the user can continue, e.g.:

• user wants to void a funds transfer
• user has a variance (they're missing, or have extra, money)
• user is performing a financial transaction over a certain value (e.g. $10,000).

In these cases when the user clicks the "Do it" button, e.g.:

a supervisor will be required to enter their credentials:

And this is how the software has been behaving for over a decade.

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Starting with Windows Vista, i really liked the indication on certain UI elements that lets the user know that they're gonna need an administrator if they click this:

i wanted to add the same indication on my own UI elements. Except that we don't use Windows domain account credentials, we use our own (corporate wide) user manager. Initially i added our "User" icon to some buttons; the rationale is that you're looking at a "supervisor":

But as i tested it, it just didn't give the correct impression as the real Windows "UAC Shield":

But i'm somewhat weary of presenting a true UAC Shield icon, when the software will be prompting for "financial credentials" rather than "Windows credentials".

Between Windows Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft changed the UAC Shield icon. And since almost nobody used Vista, i thought perhaps i could repurpose that "shield". That way i'm not using the exact elevation shield, but it has enough of the certain mise-en-scène of elevation being required, but not an actual Windows elevation:

What is the thinking on using the Windows 7, or Windows Vista "UAC Shield" in software to indicate that a privelage elevation is required? Is there another icon that represents the idea better?

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Update: Lock:

It doesn't look like the feature is blocked (i.e. locked out)?

In retrospect the shield signifies protection; protecting you from harm. In my case the shield isn't protecting anyone - except maybe bureaucrats from auditors.

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Update Two: Non-descript shields:

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Update Three: Users and Locks:

Locked User:

User'd Lock:

16×16 px is a tight fit.

Answer 1

In this case, I would recommend using a combination of your first and fourth sample images; use an icon of a user, with a smaller icon overlay of a padlock. This indicates that the action will require secure access (hence the padlock) provided by a user (hence the user icon.)

This is a prime example of the combination:

Answer 2

I'd steer well away from reusing any official UAC icon - whether from Vista, Windows 7 or any future version.

The idea though is a good one.

The official UAC shield has the four colour panes from the Windows logo - what about using a shield icon, but in a different colour?

A simple gold shield () () would give a similar vibe, but without the possibility of confusion.

Answer 3

Use a padlock icon on the button. Eg - see examples below.

It has no OS specific association - it simply means that the action is locked and needs to be unlocked before it can be completed. It's a clear common icon. The windows shield will not be identifiable to most users I feel.

[and you've already got 'keys' on the authentication dialog!]