Microsoft’s recommended application blocklist is implemented.
Topic
Application control
Applicable to
all
History
Priority
Must
Dec 2023
Microsoft’s recommended application blocklist is implemented.
The existing control relating to implementing Microsoft’s ‘recommended block rules’ was reworded to ‘recommended application blocklist’.
Dec 2021
Microsoft’s ‘recommended block rules’ are implemented.
Miscellaneous changes were made to rationale and security controls throughout the publication. This included:
• A review from the Using the Information Security Manual chapter through to the Guidelines for Media chapter.
• Security controls suitable for all audiences have been identified with the ‘All’ applicability marking while additional security controls suitable for just government audiences have been identified with the O, P, S and TS applicability markings.
• Security controls suitable for specific classifications have been amended to include their classification(s) in the wording of the security controls to reduce the reliance on applicability markings to confer suitability.
• Tables in security controls have been converted into prose to allow for inclusion in the SSP annex template and the XML list of security controls.
• The use of ‘official’ and ‘highly classified’ terminology has been replaced with specific classifications to remove ambiguity.
• Security controls relating to high assurance ICT equipment have had their applicability narrowed to ‘S, TS’ reflecting that they are intended for the protection of SECRET and TOP SECRET systems and data.
Apr 2020
Microsoft’s latest recommended block rules are implemented to prevent application control bypasses.
Security controls 0843, 1490, 0955, 1471, 1392, 1544, 0846 and 0957 were modified to replace ‘application whitelisting’ with ‘application control’.
Mar 2020
Microsoft’s latest recommended block rules are implemented to prevent application whitelisting bypasses.
Jul 2019
Microsoft’s latest recommended block rules are implemented to prevent application whitelisting bypasses.
Security control 1544 was added to ensure organisations are aware of, and mitigate, common application whitelisting bypass techniques used by adversaries.