What is Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC)? Benefits and Key Features

Application Control is a security practice that ensures only trusted and authorized software is allowed to execute. It is a means for organizations to create and enforce application control policies that restrict which apps can run on a device. Based on this approach, Microsoft introduced Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) to restrict unauthorized applications from running on Windows devices.

To provide you with more insights, this blog will explain the concept of WDAC and highlight its key features and benefits. It will also explore the next step of application control – application management – for a comprehensive device and data security experience.

What is Application Control?

Before diving into Windows Defender Application Control, it’s important to understand what application control means. Simply put, application control is a cybersecurity technique used to manage which apps are allowed to run on a device. Its main goal is to stop unapproved or harmful software from executing.

This approach often uses tools and processes known as application whitelisting. With application control, IT teams can set up rules or policies that only let trusted and approved apps run on a system. Anything that isn’t on the approved list gets blocked. This helps protect devices from malware, ransomware, and other security threats by making sure only safe software is used. 

Application control policies: A quick insight 

The core function of Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) is to help IT administrators define and enforce application control policies. But what exactly are these policies?

In simple terms, application control policies are rules that determine which applications are allowed to run on a device. These rules help enforce a security boundary between trusted and untrusted software, minimizing the risk of executing unauthorized or malicious programs.

WDAC supports the following types of application control policies:

1. Hash-based policies: These policies rely on the cryptographic hash of an application’s executable file. Only applications whose file hashes match the approved list can run. This method is highly secure but requires policy updates whenever an application is updated or recompiled, as the hash changes.
2. Path-based policies: These policies allow or deny applications based on their file paths or locations. For example, you can allow apps to run only from trusted directories like C:\Program Files. While easier to manage, path-based rules are less secure, as attackers could place malicious files in allowed locations.
3. Certificate-based policies: These policies use the digital signature of an application’s publisher certificate to determine trust. If a file is signed by a trusted certificate authority (CA), it is allowed to run. This approach provides flexibility and is useful for managing applications from known, reputable vendors.

What is Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC)?

Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) is a security feature built into Windows that helps protect your devices from malware and other untrusted software. It ensures that only approved, trusted applications run on your Windows devices. If an unapproved program tries to execute, it will be blocked automatically.

WDAC is like an applocker, it uses application whitelisting to allow only pre-approved software applications on Windows devices. It enforces code integrity policies that specify exactly which applications and processes are authorized. Windows Defender application control policy prevents unauthorized or malicious software from executing by enforcing these rules across all Windows-based devices.

Key features of Windows Defender Application Control

WADC enhances application security and control by offering the following features:

1. Prevents execution of unauthorized applications and codes

Windows Defender Application Control adheres to application control policies. It ensures only trusted, authorized, and approved software applications can run on Windows devices. This protective measure reduces the risk of security breaches and malware infections.

2. Uses Virtualization-based Security (VBS) for better system integrity

Critical processes such as code integrity checks need an isolated environment for execution. Virtualization-based Security (VBS) uses hardware-based virtualization to create an isolated environment within the Windows operating system, known as a virtual secure mode (VSM). 

VSM uses the on chip virtualization extensions of the CPU to ensure these critical processes are securely executed without any tampering. The isolation acts as an additional layer of security, which makes it difficult for the attackers to bypass WDAC’s defenses. 

3. Protects against file-based and script-based attacks

Windows Defender application control assesses executable files and scripts to ensure malicious scripts are not executed on secured devices. It acts as a comprehensive defense mechanism addressing a wide range of attack vectors used by cybercriminals. 

4. Leverages Microsoft Device Guard for tailoring code integrity policies

Device Guard is a group of key features, designed to harden a computer system against malware. Organizations can customize the device guard to tailor the code integrity policies to their needs. This agility offers you granular application control.

Code integrity policies outline the rules and criteria that determine applications and scripts can run on your Windows devices. Windows Defender Application Control uses Microsoft Device Guard to manage these code integrity policies.  Microsoft Device Guard enforces these policies, ensuring that only approved code can be executed. 

What are the benefits of WDAC?

With WDAC, organizations experience: 

1. Additional protection against modern threats 

Windows Defender Application Control acts as a strong protective layer against various modern threats such as zero-day exploits and fileless malware. This enhances the security posture, protecting the organization’s sensitive data and preserving business continuity. 

2. Minimized security breaches with reduced attack surface

A reduced attack surface makes it more challenging for attackers to gain complete hold over your system. WDAC narrows the avenues for attackers to breach vulnerabilities or introduce malware. Less breakthrough points means less opportunity for malicious attackers to attack your Windows 10 system. For you, it is less security incidents, less reputational damage and reduces downtime. 

3. Compliance with security regulations 

WDAC enforces stringent application control policies that align with various security regulations, including HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS and more. It pairs with the security principles of these regulations by strengthening security measures, ensuring the protection of sensitive data. 

When Windows Defender Application Control Isn’t Enough: The Next Step? 

While Windows Defender application control secures Windows devices by preventing unauthorized applications from running, relying solely on app control for business may not address all the challenges of modern IT environments.

Application control focuses primarily on restricting access to software to ensure system integrity. 

However, as organizations grow and adopt more complex workflows, they require more than just the ability to block or allow applications to run. They need tools that can entirely manage the application lifecycle on Windows devices.

This is where Application Management steps in to complement application control. Tools such as Scalefusion UEM offer robust Windows application management capabilities such as: 

• Application blocking and allowing 
• Uniform app deployment
• App configuration 
• Software metering
• Third-party application patching and updates

Without application management, organizations may struggle to maintain a productive and secure environment. This may also result in outdated software apps, configuration errors, or compliance gaps.

However, with application management businesses can achieve comprehensive data and device security, without compromising on user productivity.  It ensures that all applications are consistently deployed, monitored and optimized. 

Application management empowers IT teams to have granular control over applications. While application control sets the rules for what software can run, application management ensures those apps are well-maintained,  maintaining a controlled and operational work environment. 

Be a Pro at Windows Application Management with Scalefusion UEM

Scalefusion UEM is a modern Windows device management solution that offers advanced capabilities to manage applications on Windows devices. It offers you advanced endpoint management features providing you a secure and confident endpoint and device management experience. 

Get in touch with our product experts to know more about Scalefusion UEM or try our 14-day free trial today!

FAQs

1. What is the Windows Defender application control policy?

Windows Defender application control (WDAC) policy helps control which applications and scripts can run on a Windows device by enforcing rules based on file attributes and digital signatures. It enhances security by blocking untrusted or malicious code, reducing the risk of cyberattacks.

2. How does WDAC work?

WDAC offers code integrity policies to define which applications, scripts, and installers are permitted to run on a Windows device. It leverages a trusted certificate-based or hash-based approach to verify the authenticity of applications before execution.

3. How to disable Windows Defender application control?

To disable Windows Defender Application Control, first identify the active policy using the ‘Get-CIPolicy’ command in PowerShell. Next, create an unrestricted policy with the ‘New-CIPolicy’ command, convert it to binary format using ‘ConvertFrom-CIPolicy’, and copy it to ‘C:\Windows\System32\CodeIntegrity\CiPolicies\ActivePolicy.bin’. Restart your device to apply the changes. Ensure this action aligns with your organization’s security protocols, as it may increase vulnerability to threats.

4. Why is Windows Defender Application Control important?

Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) helps prevent unauthorized or malicious software from running on Windows devices. By enforcing a set of trusted applications, it minimizes the risk of malware, ransomware, and unapproved executables from compromising business systems. 

5. What operating systems support Windows Defender Application Control? 

WDAC is available on the following operating systems:

• Windows 10 Enterprise and Education (version 1903 and later)
• Windows 11 Enterprise and Education
• Windows Server 2016 and later versions (with some feature limitations)

Note: Full WDAC functionality is optimized for Enterprise and Education editions of Windows. Home and Pro editions do not support it fully.

6. What are the best practices for implementing WDAC?

Some proven practices for deploying WDAC include:

• Document exceptions and approvals for applications to avoid operational slowdowns.
• Start with audit mode to test policies before enforcing them, minimizing disruptions.
• Use Microsoft-recommended baselines as a foundation for building WDAC policies.
• Regularly update application policies to include trusted updates and patches.
• Combine with other security measures such as Microsoft Defender Antivirus and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR).