List of the Top 11 Application Control Software for Windows in 2025

ManageEngine's Endpoint Central, which was previously known as Desktop Central, serves as a comprehensive Unified Endpoint Management Solution that oversees enterprise mobility management. This solution encompasses all aspects of mobile app and device management, in addition to client management for various endpoints, including mobile devices, laptops, tablets, servers, and other computing machines. With ManageEngine Endpoint Central, users can streamline and automate numerous desktop management activities, such as software installation, patching, IT asset management, imaging, and operating system deployment, thereby enhancing operational efficiency across the organization. This tool is particularly beneficial for IT departments looking to maintain control over their diverse technology environments.

Enhance the capabilities of both your system administrators and users with App Control. Select from a variety of parameters such as file path, publisher, certificate, vendor name, software title, MD5 hash, and additional criteria to easily permit or restrict application launches. Manage your system according to your preferences.

To effectively combat ransomware, IT professionals must implement strategies that go beyond merely monitoring for threats. ThreatLocker offers a solution by minimizing attack surfaces through policy-driven endpoint security, shifting the focus from just blocking recognized threats to preventing anything that isn’t expressly permitted. By incorporating features like Ringfencing and other robust controls, organizations can bolster their Zero Trust framework and effectively thwart attacks that exploit existing resources. Explore the comprehensive suite of ThreatLocker’s Zero Trust endpoint security solutions, which includes Allowlisting, Ringfencing, Elevation Control, Storage Control, Network Access Control, Unified Audit, ThreatLocker Ops, Community, Configuration Manager, and Health Center, to enhance your cybersecurity posture today. This proactive approach not only safeguards your network but also empowers your team to maintain greater control over security protocols.

A Unified Endpoint Management system designed to be modular, scalable, and cost-effective, catering to IT administration, security, and workflow automation needs. Users can operate all modules from a single interface linked to one database. Currently, there are 18 modules to select from, with the flexibility to incorporate additional ones as required for tasks such as OS installation and cloning, patch management, vulnerability management, and mobile device management. This approach ensures that organizations can tailor their endpoint management solutions to fit their specific requirements efficiently.

Identify and document all local administrator accounts on endpoints throughout your IT infrastructure. Remove unnecessary local administrators to mitigate the risk of malware and ransomware spreading within your network, while transitioning to a streamlined permission-based system for an enhanced user experience. Identify and incorporate applications that necessitate elevated privileges for automatic execution. Implement whitelisting and blacklisting strategies through detailed application control policies. Apply the principles of least privilege and zero-trust throughout the organization to bolster security. Ensure compliance with industry regulations by maintaining thorough audit trails and logging all activities. Additionally, monitor application usage organization-wide with detailed reporting to gather insights that aid in developing policies for an even smoother operational experience. Regular reviews and updates to these policies will further enhance security and usability.

Access privileges and their corresponding credentials play a crucial role in safeguarding an organization's sensitive information. The nature of this sensitive data can differ widely depending on the sector; for instance, healthcare entities manage extensive patient records, while banks oversee financial and customer information. It is vital to secure access to these privileged accounts, as they are frequently unmanaged and scattered throughout the organization. A comprehensive Privileged Access Management solution, such as Securden Unified PAM, is essential for gathering all privileged identities and accounts into a centralized vault, simplifying management. By limiting access to these accounts and applying the Just-in-time access principle, organizations can enhance security. Users can initiate remote connections to authorized IT resources with a single click, while monitoring and managing these sessions for users, third-party vendors, and IT administrators through shadowing capabilities. Additionally, organizations should eliminate local admin rights on endpoints and implement application control policies to effectively uphold a Zero-Trust approach without hindering productivity. Furthermore, it is important to record and monitor all activities with thorough audit trails and actionable reports to maintain compliance with industry regulations, ultimately ensuring the protection of sensitive information.

Privilege Manager stands out as a comprehensive solution for endpoint privilege elevation and control, functioning with the speed of cloud technology. By eliminating administrative rights from local devices and enforcing policy-driven controls over applications, it effectively mitigates the risk of malware exploitation. Additionally, Privilege Manager not only blocks malware attacks but also ensures that end users experience no disruption, thereby maintaining productivity levels. Available in both on-premises and cloud formats, Privilege Manager caters to the needs of rapidly expanding businesses and teams, allowing them to efficiently oversee hundreds to thousands of machines. Moreover, it simplifies the management of endpoints for executives and auditors alike, boasting features such as embedded application control, real-time threat intelligence, and detailed actionable reports that enhance overall security management. With these capabilities, organizations can achieve a robust security posture while empowering their workforce.

Heimdal Application Control introduces an innovative method for managing applications and defining user permissions. The modular design ensures straightforward setup, enabling system administrators to establish comprehensive, rule-based systems that facilitate automated dismissal and approval processes. Additionally, it enforces specific rights based on Active Directory groups, enhancing security protocols. A key feature of this tool is its seamless integration with Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions, providing users with precise control over both software inventories and hardware resources. This integration not only boosts efficiency but also strengthens the overall security framework, allowing for meticulous management of user access and application usage.

PC Matic Pro utilizes application whitelisting as a crucial layer of defense that strengthens current endpoint security protocols. This zero trust methodology successfully deters hacking attempts and various cyber threats, effectively blocking the execution of malware, ransomware, and malicious scripts to provide strong protection for business data, users, and networks through its dedicated whitelist cybersecurity framework. Representing a noteworthy leap in the cybersecurity realm, PC Matic Pro exemplifies an essential shift toward holistic prevention strategies. In light of the escalating threats aimed at critical infrastructure, diverse industries, and government agencies, adopting such a proactive approach is vital. The software includes a patented default-deny security mechanism at the device level, which stops all unauthorized executions without complicating the workflow for IT teams. Unlike conventional security solutions, there is no requirement for customer infections to improve the whitelisting process. Additionally, organizations can implement local overrides after prevention with a focus on accuracy, allowing for a secure environment that mitigates the need for reactive measures against existing threats. This approach not only fortifies defenses but also adapts effortlessly to the constantly changing landscape of cyber risks, ensuring long-term resilience. Overall, PC Matic Pro stands out as an indispensable tool for organizations seeking to elevate their cybersecurity posture.

The PolicyPak Platform presents various editions customized to meet the distinct management and security requirements of organizations. As the hybrid work model becomes increasingly prevalent, employees often access their desktops from multiple locations, such as their offices, homes, during travel, via kiosks, and in virtual environments. This variety in access creates substantial difficulties in managing and securing these settings, particularly since many existing management systems were not developed with today's scenarios in mind. PolicyPak tackles these challenges by delivering cutting-edge solutions that refine and update your current infrastructure. By incorporating PolicyPak with Active Directory, organizations can simplify the management and security of computers linked to Active Directory through the use of Microsoft Group Policy. While Microsoft Group Policy is a powerful tool that is frequently utilized, it necessitates enhancements to meet the management, security, reporting, and automation needs of modern enterprises effectively. With PolicyPak, businesses can not only overcome these obstacles but also successfully adapt to the evolving digital workspace, ensuring a more secure and efficient operational environment. This level of adaptability is essential for maintaining productivity and security in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

The NGFW TrusGuard has been acknowledged through an extensive market analysis for its advanced technology, superior performance, and dependability. This state-of-the-art firewall delivers vital protections for the business landscape, featuring Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), application control, virtual private networks (VPN), command and control (C&C) defense, along with Anti-Virus/Anti-Spam and Data Loss Prevention (DLP) functionalities. TrusGuard provides a wide array of models, addressing needs from entry-level setups to data center specifications, and is built to scale effectively within high-performance networks. It skillfully handles the surge in network traffic thanks to its optimization for high-performance multicore environments, ensuring uninterrupted network stability. The system protects network assets—including websites, database servers, application servers, and client devices—from potential threats using a comprehensive three-tier defense approach. Additionally, it is fully prepared to support IPv6 network environments, greatly enhancing its adaptability. By minimizing the total cost of operation (TCO), it offers a more cost-effective alternative to the integration of several security products. This solution reduces operational and labor costs associated with managing various security tools, ultimately fostering increased productivity and superior network efficiency while upholding a high level of security. As businesses continue to evolve, having a robust and comprehensive security solution like TrusGuard becomes increasingly critical to safeguarding their digital environments.