There is no single way to secure a network and its applications. You know that. From firewalls to SD-WANs and zero trust network access, organizations rely on all sorts of security strategies and policies to keep data and networks secure. But is every solution appropriate? For example, is application whitelisting a sound strategy?
Application whitelisting is a security approach that limits the applications that can be run on a system or network. It can also be deployed for application protection purposes. In a nutshell, only pre-approved and trusted applications can run on a given system. All other applications are blocked by default.
How It Works
As far as security strategies go, application whitelisting is one of the simplest to understand – at least in practical terms. Implementing a whitelisting strategy starts with putting together a list of trusted applications an organization wants approved for its systems. These approved applications are added to an official whitelist.
The whitelist becomes a security policy that can be enforced by way of software. Any and all applications are checked against the list before execution is allowed. Applications not on the list are prevented from running by default.
Security and application verification are managed through a variety of attributes that can be defined by the application protection solution. Common attributes include digital signatures and file hashes. Whatever attributes are chosen need to match corresponding entries in the whitelist.
Here at Hillstone Networks, we like to think of application whitelisting as being similar to controlling access to an invitation-only event. Guests arriving at the event must identify themselves. Their identities are then compared against the official guest list. Guests whose names are on the list are allowed entry while all others are denied. Application whitelisting works the same way.
Why Implement It
Application whitelisting seems so primitive in the cybersecurity industry that now utilizes advanced tools like extended network detection and response and cloud workload protection platforms. So why implement it? Because sometimes a simple solution is among the most effective.
There is a law in the computer sciences that dictates an inverse relationship between system complexity and potential security breaches. The more complex a system is, the more difficult preventing breaches becomes. As such, there is something to be said about simplicity.
From an application prevention standpoint, whitelisting is the epitome of simplicity. And yet, implementing it can lead to significant security benefits. Here are just a few of them:
- Stopping Malware – Whitelisting applications stops unknown malware and its variants in its tracks. The nefarious software cannot run because it is not on the whitelist.
- Attack Surface Reduction – Threat actors look for every possible entry point into networks and virtual environments. Application whitelisting reduces the total volume of entry points by restricting application execution. This further reduces the attack surface.
- License Compliance – One of the fringe benefits of application whitelisting is license compliance. By controlling the applications that can run in a specific environment, eliminating unauthorized use based on license status is also possible.
- Simplified Management – It is often easier to manage applications through a centralized whitelist rather than trying to identify and blacklist all potentially malicious applications. Just assume everything is malicious if it is not on the whitelist.
Hillstone Networks exists to help organizations make their networks as secure as possible. One of the tools at our disposal is application whitelisting. For more information about how we can improve your organization’s cybersecurity, contact us at your earliest convenience. We would be happy to discuss all the tools and strategies that might be appropriate to your organization. Application whitelisting may be on that list.
