Looking for ways to prevent unauthorized access to your organization? Learn what are the types of application control?
Application Control Importance
Application Control is a security feature that helps prevent unauthorized access to applications. It does so by restricting access to specific applications on the network. Also, it provides granular control over who can access different types of applications and technologies.
This includes web, email, and messaging servers, as well as FTP servers, cloud and SaaS apps, social media sites, and more. Application Control is a feature of Cisco ASA and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) next-generation firewalls. Also, it allows administrators to control how users access applications on the network.
It can be applied to individual applications or groups of applications. Proactive security administrators can use application control to identify and block unauthorized or malicious applications. Moreover, it even prevents users from accessing certain applications altogether to maintain overall network security.
How Does Application Control Works?
Application Control works by inspecting traffic for sensitive application information like URLs, keywords, or metadata. This is before allowing it through the gateway or next-generation firewall. Before inspecting traffic, the administrator can configure Application Control with a list of trusted applications that do not require inspection.
The administrator can also configure trusted users and groups. So they are always allowed access to specific applications regardless of who is attempting to access them. Application Control can be applied on an individual application basis, or a group basis.
Administrators can create groups based on the type of application they want to control. These are such social media sites as Facebook and Twitter, and cloud storage apps like Dropbox and Google Drive. This includes any other type of application the organization uses.
Based on those groups, administrators can then create security policies that allow users access to those apps only. That is when using their assigned IP address and/or device ID. By creating a different security policy for each group, administrators can easily create a custom security policy for each user. Thus, giving them direct control over which apps each user has access to.
Administration Network Control
Administrators also have the option of preventing users from accessing specific applications altogether. This is by blocking it from the gateway or next-generation firewall. Not only does this help prevent malware from spreading through the network, but it also protects against malware.
This threat could potentially steal confidential information like credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, and more. Also, this threat sends through the user’s browser while visiting a malicious website within an organization’s network. In addition to controlling what apps users have access to on their devices, Application Control also gives administrators control over what apps users have access to.
That is while roaming outside the organization’s network boundaries at public Wi-Fi hotspots and hotels. Administrators can also use Application Control to control traffic inside the network if they have a Cisco Meraki MX next-generation firewall. Application Control helps protect secure organizations from malware and unauthorized apps that can steal confidential information or harm network security.
The apps can prevent malware from spreading through the network. It also prevents users from accessing unauthorized or malicious applications and helps administrators maintain overall network security.