In this lesson,
we will learn about application management.
Application management involves overseeing
and controlling applications
to ensure they do not introduce vulnerabilities
into the network or compromise enterprise system integrity.
Application management concepts include application control
and browser isolation.
Application control utilizes policies
and tools to restrict
what applications can run on a given system.
Browser isolation uses technology
to separate web browsing activities
from the rest of the operating system.
Let's learn more about application control
and browser isolation.
First, we have application control.
Application control is a security measure that uses policies
and tools to decide which applications can run on a system,
helping to prevent unauthorized
or malicious software from compromising the network.
This approach allows organizations
to implement a granular level of control
using application allow lists and block lists,
which were formally known as whitelists and blacklists.
Allow lists are used to manage
which applications are permitted.
Block lists specifically identify applications
which are not permitted.
For example, companies can block games
or unapproved software that could distract employees
or contain malicious code,
ensuring that only safe and productive applications
are used.
Application control can be implemented
through technologies like Windows Group Policy,
where administrators define rules that restrict
or allow software installations.
Once complete, allow and block list rules are pushed
to all workstations in the domain,
preventing unauthorized or unapproved software
from being installed on the systems.
More advanced solutions like host-based
intrusion prevention systems can go beyond
and block not just installations,
but also the execution of certain files,
such as portable executables,
which can run without needing to be installed.
This provides even tighter security measures
by stopping potentially harmful software applications
from running in the first place.
By using these controls,
organizations can maintain a secure baseline,
reduce the risk of attacks,
and ensure that only authorized applications operate
within their environment.
Second, we have browser isolation.
Browser isolation is a security technique
that separates web browsing activities
from the rest of the system,
preventing web-based threats from spreading
to other parts of the network.
It works by isolating the browser environment
on a virtual machine, remote server, or secure container,
creating a protective barrier
between potentially dangerous websites
and the main operating system.
This approach ensures that any malicious content,
such as drive by downloads, malware, or harmful scripts
remain contained within the isolated environment,
keeping the host and its connected systems safe.
In an enterprise environment,
browser isolation can be applied
as either a cloud-based service
or an on-premises solution,
integrated with existing security infrastructure,
such as secure web gateways or firewalls.
Furthermore, administrators can configure these solutions
to route all web traffic
through isolated environments based on predefined policies.
For instance, high risk websites or browsing activities
by specific user groups can be automatically isolated,
ensuring threats are processed
and contained away from the endpoint.
Additionally, policies can be fine tuned
to control which websites are isolated,
enforce read-only browsing modes,
or block downloads entirely
to prevent potential malware infection.
In enterprise systems, browser isolation solutions
can be managed through centralized administration consoles,
where security teams can monitor browsing activities,
adjust isolation rules,
and update security policies as needed.
Some advanced configurations allow for dynamic isolation
based on real-time risk assessments,
adapting the level of isolation
based on the site's reputation or the user's behavior.
By implementing browser isolation,
organizations not only reduce the attack surface
from web-based threats,
but they also maintain control over web browsing activities.
So remember,
application management involves controlling
and overseeing applications
to ensure they do not introduce vulnerabilities
or compromise system integrity.
Key aspects of application management
include application control and browser isolation.
Application control uses policies
and tools to decide which applications can run on a system,
helping to prevent unauthorized software
from compromising the network.
Browser isolation, on the other hand,
separates web browsing activities from the operating system,
creating a secure barrier
that contains any malicious content
within a protected environment.
Together these measures maintain security, minimize risks,
and ensure that only safe and approved applications
and activities are allowed within networks.