Feature

Application Blocklisting

Proactive application containment

Reducing the attack surface of applications is becoming increasingly critical for security teams, as modern software often includes rich functionality that can be exploited by malicious actors to achieve their objectives.

Airlock Digital’s blocklisting capabilities provide a powerful and flexible framework to reduce the attack surface of applications by controlling how they behave. For example, you can block Microsoft Office from calling Powershell, or stop complex software such as web browsers from spawning untrusted processes.

Blocklisting also serves as a powerful control over Shadow IT, prohibiting the use of unwanted applications (including remote access tools such as TeamViewer.) 

Even more, blocklisting provides an effective control if legitimate, trusted applications are exploited due to a vulnerability - minimizing attacker "break out."

      • Prevent the use of Living off the Land binaries (commonly known as LOLBins);
      • Prohibit unwanted versions of applications from executing (e.g. outdated or vulnerable applications);
      • Overrule any attempted allowlisting bypasses.

When utilized in tandem with effective allowlisting, blocklisting enforces effective application containment, safeguarding IT and OT environments alike.

Scalable, Precision Blocklisting

Contextual Alerting
Deliver tailored, context-aware messages to end users when an event is blocked. Communicating at the moment of action helps reinforce security policies and positively shape user behavior.
Granular Blocking Policies
Define which files you want to block by using a variety of launch conditions - including path, product name, publisher, version, user, command line, operating system and more - providing precise control over what is denied execution. 
Centralized Management
Manage blocklists from a single, intuitive interface, ensuring consistent implementation across diverse environments. 
Rapid Updates
Seamlessly update blocklists in response to evolving threats, providing continuous protection. 
Enhanced Auditing
Maintain comprehensive logs of blocklisted activities for reporting and compliance purposes. 
Control Behaviors
Prevent the execution of unauthorized applications, scripts, and system tools by enforcing strict controls around application usage. This ensures that only approved software operates within defined security boundaries, helping to block LOLbin (Living off the Land binary) techniques and attacker lateral movement.

Blocklisting: Effective Attack Surface Reduction

Airlock Digital’s blocklisting capabilities empower organizations to proactively reduce their endpoint attack surface, by scoping the use of known LOLbins. This forces attackers to bring their own capabilities, significantly increasing cost and complexity for attackers.

Blocklisting is one of the most effective strategies to prevent modern attack chains.

Raising the Bar
Reduce the attack surface on endpoints through the proactive restriction of functionality.
Operational Efficiency

Leverage predefined blocklist packages that enable the proactive prevention of capability within your environment that may provide undesired functionality (e.g. script interpreters), often used for malicious purposes or as an attempt to bypass allowlisting controls.

Enforce Policy Controls
Proactively prevent the execution of unwanted software with blocklisting.  Don't want TeamViewer running in your corporate environment? Just block it.
Scalable for Complex Environments
Deploy blocklists uniformly across IT and OT, including legacy infrastructure. 
Visibility and Oversight
Monitor blocked activity and refine security policies with detailed insights. 
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