deepblue/windows-itpro-docs
1
0
Fork 0
mirror of https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/windows-itpro-docs.git synced 2025-05-14 14:27:22 +00:00
Code Issues Actions 2 Packages Projects Releases Wiki Activity

Merge pull request #3889 from isbrahm/master

Browse Source 
Recommend WDAC over AppLocker
This commit is contained in:
Gary Moore 2020-09-30 14:15:02 -07:00 committed by GitHub
commit 04109c3b69
No known key found for this signature in database
GPG Key ID: 4AEE18F83AFDEB23
1 changed files with 24 additions and 34 deletions
Show Stats Download Patch File Download Diff File Expand all files Collapse all files

58
windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-application-control/wdac-and-applocker-overview.md
View File

@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
--- ---
title: WDAC and AppLocker Overview title: WDAC and AppLocker Overview
description: Compare Windows application control technologies. description: Compare Windows application control technologies.
keywords: security, malware keywords: security, malware, allow-list, block-list
ms.assetid: 8d6e0474-c475-411b-b095-1c61adb2bdbb ms.assetid: 8d6e0474-c475-411b-b095-1c61adb2bdbb
ms.prod: w10 ms.prod: w10
ms.mktglfcycl: deploy ms.mktglfcycl: deploy
@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ author: denisebmsft
ms.reviewer: isbrahm ms.reviewer: isbrahm
ms.author: deniseb ms.author: deniseb
manager: dansimp manager: dansimp
ms.date: 04/15/2020 ms.date: 09/30/2020
ms.custom: asr ms.custom: asr
--- ---
@ -29,58 +29,48 @@ Windows 10 includes two technologies that can be used for application control de
## Windows Defender Application Control ## Windows Defender Application Control
WDAC was introduced with Windows 10 and allows organizations to control what drivers and applications are allowed to run on their Windows 10 clients. WDAC was designed as a security feature under the [servicing criteria](https://www.microsoft.com/msrc/windows-security-servicing-criteria) defined by the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC). WDAC was introduced with Windows 10 and allows organizations to control which drivers and applications are allowed to run on their Windows 10 clients. WDAC was designed as a security feature under the [servicing criteria](https://www.microsoft.com/msrc/windows-security-servicing-criteria) defined by the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC).
> [!NOTE]
> Prior to Windows 10, version 1709, Windows Defender Application Control was known as configurable code integrity (CCI) policies.
WDAC policies apply to the managed computer as a whole and affects all users of the device. WDAC rules can be defined based on: WDAC policies apply to the managed computer as a whole and affects all users of the device. WDAC rules can be defined based on:
- Attributes of the codesigning certificate(s) used to sign an app and its binaries; - Attributes of the codesigning certificate(s) used to sign an app and its binaries
- Attributes of the app's binaries that come from the signed metadata for the files, such as Original Filename and version, or the hash of the file; - Attributes of the app's binaries that come from the signed metadata for the files, such as Original Filename and version, or the hash of the file
- The reputation of the app as determined by Microsoft's Intelligent Security Graph; - The reputation of the app as determined by Microsoft's [Intelligent Security Graph](use-windows-defender-application-control-with-intelligent-security-graph.md)
- The identity of the process that initiated the installation of the app and its binaries (managed installer); - The identity of the process that initiated the installation of the app and its binaries ([managed installer](use-windows-defender-application-control-with-managed-installer.md))
- The path from which the app or file is launched (beginning with Windows 10 version 1903); - The [path from which the app or file is launched](select-types-of-rules-to-create.md#more-information-about-filepath-rules) (beginning with Windows 10 version 1903)
- The process that launched the app or binary. - The process that launched the app or binary
Note that prior to Windows 10, version 1709, Windows Defender Application Control was known as configurable code integrity (CCI). WDAC was also one of the features which comprised the now-defunct term 'Device Guard'.
### WDAC System Requirements ### WDAC System Requirements
WDAC policies can only be created on computers running Windows 10 build 1903+ on any SKU, pre-1903 Windows 10 Enterprise, or Windows Server 2016 and above. WDAC policies can only be created on devices running Windows 10 build 1903+ on any SKU, pre-1903 Windows 10 Enterprise, or Windows Server 2016 and above.
WDAC policies can be applied to computers running any edition of Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016 and above via a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution like Intune, a management interface like Configuration Manager, or a script host like PowerShell. Group Policy can also be used to deploy WDAC policies to Windows 10 Enterprise edition or Windows Server 2016 and above, but cannot deploy policies to machines running non-Enterprise SKUs of Windows 10.
WDAC policies can be applied to devices running any edition of Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016 and above via a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution like Intune, a management interface like Configuration Manager, or a script host like PowerShell. Group Policy can also be used to deploy WDAC policies to Windows 10 Enterprise edition or Windows Server 2016 and above, but cannot deploy policies to devices running non-Enterprise SKUs of Windows 10.
## AppLocker ## AppLocker
AppLocker was introduced with Windows 7 and allows organizations to control what applications their users are allowed to run on their Windows clients. AppLocker provides security value as a defense in depth feature and helps end users avoid running unapproved software on their computers. AppLocker was introduced with Windows 7 and allows organizations to control which applications are allowed to run on their Windows clients. AppLocker helps to prevent end users from running unapproved software on their computers, but it does not meet the servicing criteria for being a security feature.
AppLocker policies can apply to all users on a computer or to individual users and groups. AppLocker rules can be defined based on: AppLocker policies can apply to all users on a computer or to individual users and groups. AppLocker rules can be defined based on:
- Attributes of the codesigning certificate(s) used to sign an app and its binaries; - Attributes of the codesigning certificate(s) used to sign an app and its binaries
- Attributes of the app's binaries that come from the signed metadata for the files, such as Original Filename and version, or the hash of the file; - Attributes of the app's binaries that come from the signed metadata for the files, such as Original Filename and version, or the hash of the file
- The path from which the app or file is launched (beginning with Windows 10 version 1903). - The path from which the app or file is launched
### AppLocker System Requirements ### AppLocker System Requirements
AppLocker policies can only be configured on and applied to computers that are running on the supported versions and editions of the Windows operating system. For more info, see [Requirements to Use AppLocker](applocker/requirements-to-use-applocker.md). AppLocker policies can only be configured on and applied to devices that are running on the supported versions and editions of the Windows operating system. For more info, see [Requirements to Use AppLocker](applocker/requirements-to-use-applocker.md).
AppLocker policies can be deployed using Group Policy or MDM. AppLocker policies can be deployed using Group Policy or MDM.
## Choose when to use WDAC or AppLocker ## Choose when to use WDAC or AppLocker
Although either AppLocker or WDAC can be used to control application execution on Windows 10 clients, the following factors can help you decide when to use each of the technologies. Generally, it is recommended that customers who are able to implement application control using WDAC rather than AppLocker do so. WDAC is undergoing continual improvements and will be getting added support from Microsoft management platforms. AppLocker is a legacy technology which will continue to receive security fixes but will not undergo new feature improvements.
### WDAC is best when: In some cases, however, AppLocker may be the more appropriate technology for your organization. AppLocker is best when:
- You are adopting application control primarily for security reasons.
- Your application control policy can be applied to all users on the managed computers.
- All of the devices you wish to manage are running Windows 10.
### AppLocker is best when:
- You have a mixed Windows operating system (OS) environment and need to apply the same policy controls to Windows 10 and earlier versions of the OS. - You have a mixed Windows operating system (OS) environment and need to apply the same policy controls to Windows 10 and earlier versions of the OS.
- You need to apply different policies for different users or groups on a shared computer. - You need to apply different policies for different users or groups on shared computers.
- You are using application control to help users avoid running unapproved software, but you do not require a solution designed as a security feature.
- You do not wish to enforce application control on application files such as DLLs or drivers.
## When to use both WDAC and AppLocker together AppLocker can also be deployed as a complement to WDAC to add user- or group-specific rules for shared device scenarios where it is important to prevent some users from running specific apps.
As a best practice, you should enforce WDAC at the most restrictive level possible for your organization, and then you can use AppLocker to further fine-tune the restrictions.
AppLocker can also be deployed as a complement to WDAC to add user- or group-specific rules for shared device scenarios where its important to prevent some users from running specific apps.
As a best practice, you should enforce WDAC at the most restrictive level possible for your organization, and then you can use AppLocker to fine-tune the restrictions to an even lower level.