Application Control

Application Control: Lock Down What Runs in Your Environment

Introduction:

Application control isn’t about saying “no” – it’s about knowing exactly what’s running in your environment. When properly implemented, it stops 98% of malware execution attempts by only allowing approved applications to run. The ASD considers this the #1 most effective mitigation strategy.

Maturity Level Implementation:

Level 0:

(Non-Compliant)

No application restrictions
Users can install/run anything
Ransomware executes freely

Level 1:

(Basic)

Standardized approved apps list
Blocks common malware formats (.exe, .ps1)
Manual approval process

Level 2

(Intermediate)

Cryptographic hash rules for critical apps
Publisher certificate verification
Automated exception logging

Level 3:

(Advanced)

Memory-level execution control
AI-based anomaly detection
Integration with threat intelligence