Application Control solutions ensure that only permitted applications run on a network. This strengthens security by preventing unauthorized software from executing.
To learn more, read our
Application Control Buyer's Guide (Updated: June 2025).
The top 5 Application Control solutions are ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform, VMware Carbon Black App Control, Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform, Check Point Application Control and CyberArk Endpoint Privilege Manager, as ranked by PeerSpot users in May 2025. ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform received the highest rating of 9.2 among the leaders. Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform is the most popular solution in terms of searches by peers, and VMware Carbon Black App Control holds the largest mind share of 22.1%.
Application Control solutions provide a layer of defense by allowing administrators to create whitelists and blacklists of applications. This protects the network from harmful software and unauthorized applications, making it an essential part of IT security strategies. Implementing these solutions allows IT teams to monitor and control applications, providing better compliance and reducing the risk of data breaches.
What are the critical features of Application Control solutions?
- Whitelist Management: Empowers admins to allow only approved applications to run.
- Blacklist Management: Blocks specific, potentially harmful applications from executing.
- Real-time Monitoring: Continuously observes application behavior and prevents suspicious activity.
- Compliance Reporting: Generates reports to ensure adherence to security policies and regulations.
- User Access Control: Limits application execution based on user roles and permissions.
What benefits should users look for when evaluating these solutions?
- Enhanced Security: Stops unauthorized applications from running, reducing security risks.
- Operational Efficiency: Streamlines application management by automating approval processes.
- Regulatory Compliance: Helps meet industry standards by providing detailed compliance reports.
- Reduced IT Workload: Minimizes the need for manual intervention in application monitoring.
- Improved Productivity: Ensures only necessary applications are available to users, reducing distractions.
In financial industries, Application Control is used to restrict the execution of unauthorized trading software, thereby maintaining secure transactions. Healthcare organizations apply it to prevent unverified medical applications from accessing sensitive patient data, ensuring compliance with health regulations.
Organizations find Application Control solutions helpful because they add an essential security layer, support compliance efforts, and protect against unauthorized software execution.
