What Is Application Control?

Application control is a security measure that regulates and manages the execution of software applications on a computer or network. It involves defining and enforcing policies that dictate whether applications can run, as well as how they are allowed to execute.

Many organizations have introduced a zero-trust security approach to combat constantly evolving threats and limit the effects of human error. Such an approach focuses on verifying identity and requesting authorization for every access request, using methods like:

Application control is a complementary practice regulating the software and applications allowed to run on a system. Together, these strategies help organizations limit the potential attack surface. 

Application Controls vs. General Controls

In essence, general controls establish the foundation for application controls to function effectively. A secure and reliable IT environment is essential for protecting the integrity of financial information.

Here’s a more in-depth comparison of general and application controls.

Application Controls

Application Controls are designed to safeguard the integrity of data processed within specific applications. They focus on ensuring accuracy, completeness, and validity of data throughout the:

  • Input stage
  • Processing stage
  • Output stage

Examples include input validation, sequence checks, report reconciliation, and access controls.

General Controls

General Controls provide a secure and reliable IT infrastructure that supports the effective operation of application controls. They address the overall IT environment, focusing on:

  • Physical security
  • Logical security
  • Disaster recovery planning
  • Change management

Examples include access controls to data centers, firewalls, backup procedures, and authorization requirements for system changes.

How Application Controls Work

Application control typically involves creating a whitelist of approved applications. Any application not on this list is flagged as unknown and may be blocked, quarantined, or subjected to further scrutiny. 

This zero-trust approach helps mitigate the risk of unauthorized access and malicious activity.

The Key Methods of Application Control

Here are the key methods of application control:

  • Whitelisting: Only approved applications are allowed to run.
  • Blacklisting: Known malicious applications are blocked.
  • Behavior-based detection: Monitors application behavior for suspicious activity.
  • Sandboxing: Runs applications in an isolated environment to prevent them from harming the system.

By implementing effective application control measures, you can significantly reduce your risk of cyberattacks and ensure the security of your data.

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Benefits of Application Control

Application control is a powerful tool delivers a suite of benefits, including:

  • Enhanced Access Management: By establishing policies tailored to user groups and roles, businesses can ensure that staff have access to the data necessary for their duties while restricting access to sensitive information.
  • Optimized Network Performance: Administrators can prioritize essential business applications, ensuring smooth network traffic flow and minimizing latency.
  • Streamlined Compliance: By permitting only authorized applications to run on the network or devices, application control assists organizations in adhering to industry regulations and security standards.
  • Boosted Productivity and Cost Savings: By reducing the time and resources invested in handling security incidents and managing unauthorized applications, organizations can save valuable time and mitigate the costs associated with security breaches and compliance violations.
  • Enhanced Visibility: Application control empowers IT teams to gain a comprehensive understanding of applications, users, devices, data, and potential threats traversing the network.

The 3 Types of Application Controls

Application control platforms also allow controls within specific software packages like payroll and order processing. 

These controls help to maintain data accuracy, completeness, and validity, including:

  1. Input controls – ensure data entered into an application is accurate, complete, and valid. For example, mandatory fields can ensure that users enter all required information, while drop-down menus can help users select from a predefined list of options. Validation rules can also be used to check that data is entered in the correct format, such as ensuring that an email address has the “@” symbol.
  2. Processing controls – ensure data is processed correctly within an application. They can help prevent errors or inconsistencies, like duplicate entries or incorrect calculations. For example, a processing control might ensure that the transaction amount is not negative or that a customer’s order is not being processed twice.
  3. Output controls – protect the accuracy and security of application output. They can help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data, such as customer information or financial data. For example, access controls can be used to restrict who can view a report, while encryption can be used to protect data from being intercepted by unauthorized users.

Additional forensic measures can be taken to preserve the integrity of data and evidence during a security incident, including:

  • Data backups
  • Access logs
  • Audit trails

This helps investigators reconstruct what happened before or during the event.

Also, they can reduce the risk of errors, fraud, and data breaches and help organizations respond to threats appropriately.

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How to Implement Application Controls

Before implementing application controls, IT teams should carefully consider their list of approved applications and their impact on departments and employees within their organization. 

To combat security threats, consistent software package updates are critical, and security patches will help avoid the exploitation of security vulnerabilities. IT staff must review and test application control policies regularly to ensure accuracy and relevance. 

Partnering with a cybersecurity expert can guide the creation of rules and take the guesswork out of application control.

Application Control is a Critical Component of Your Cybersecurity Strategy

Persistent and successful bad actors have gained access to many organizations by exploiting vulnerabilities in their security systems and user behavior, resulting in high-profile data breaches and loss of sensitive information. 

Successful implementation of application control can prevent accidental or intentional downloads of unauthorized software and malicious code, protecting your organization and your valuable data.

Schedule a free demo to see how Perimeter81 can implement application control in your organization.

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