In today’s digital age, Application Whitelisting has become an increasingly popular security measure. So much so that it is the Number 1 recommendation on the Australian Government’s ‘Essential Eight’ list of recommendations..
The concept behind application whitelisting is simple: Rather than trying to block every potential threat, you simply allow only authorised applications to run on your system. By doing so, you significantly reduce the risk of malware attacks, since malware typically requires some sort of user interaction or authorisation to execute.
One of the key advantages of application whitelisting is that it can be customised to meet the specific needs of an organisation. This means that the whitelisting policy can be tailored to include or exclude certain applications, depending on the organisation’s requirements. This level of customisation can be particularly valuable for organisations that have unique business processes or use specialised applications that are not commonly used.
Application whitelisting works by creating a list of authorised applications that are allowed to run on a computer system. When an application tries to run on the system, the application’s digital signature is checked against the list of authorised applications. If the application is on the whitelist, it is allowed to run. If the application is not on the whitelist, it is blocked from running.
The primary challenge with application whitelisting is creating and maintaining an up-to-date whitelist. This requires careful planning and ongoing monitoring to ensure that the whitelist accurately reflects the applications that are needed to run the organisation’s business processes. Whitelisting policies may also need to be updated as new applications are introduced or as existing applications are updated.
Application whitelisting can be a valuable tool in the fight against malware and other cyber threats. However, it should not be viewed as a stand-alone security measure. It should be used in conjunction with other security measures such as firewalls, EndPoint Detection and Response, and user education programs. When used together, these security measures can provide a comprehensive defence against cyber threats.
In conclusion, Application Whitelisting is a powerful security measure that can help protect computer systems from malware and other cyber threats. However, it requires careful planning and ongoing maintenance to ensure that the whitelist accurately reflects the organisation’s needs. When used in conjunction with other security measures, application whitelisting can provide a comprehensive defence against cyber threats.