Application and Device Control with Saner Platform

Not every security control is about finding risk. Some are about preventing it. Application and device control defines what software can run and what hardware can connect. Effective control helps reduce the attack surface before vulnerabilities are even introduced.

In environments without application and device control, users install unauthorized software, connect unapproved devices, and introduce both intentional and unintentional risk constantly.

Security programs that rely entirely on finding and fixing those risks after the fact are always reacting. Application and device control shifts the balance toward prevention.

Why application and device control matters

• Unauthorized software is a primary attack vector:
  
  Malware, unauthorized remote access tools, cryptocurrency miners, and rogue software installed by users are all application-layer risks. So is legitimate software that's unsupported, unpatched, or simply outside the organization's ability to assess and manage. Controlling what can be installed reduces the scope of what needs to be secured, which in turn reduces your attack surfaces.
  
• Removable media and unauthorized devices create data risk:
  
  USB drives, personal storage devices, and unauthorized network adapters create data exfiltration risk and introduce paths for malware that bypass network-based controls. Device control policies that restrict unauthorized hardware limit these vectors without requiring constant user monitoring.
  
• The software inventory is a security asset:
  
  Organizations that know exactly what software is installed on every endpoint and have the ability to act on unauthorized installations have a significantly stronger security posture than those that don't. The software inventory is not just an IT management artifact; it's a security control.
  
• Vulnerability management depends on software scope:
  
  Vulnerability assessment is only as useful as the software inventory it scans. When unauthorized or unmanaged software exists on endpoints, those applications are not assessed, not patched, and not included in risk calculations. Application control that enforces the scope of installed software directly improves vulnerability management effectiveness.

What application and device control covers

• Application allowlisting and blocklisting:
  
  Policies define which applications are permitted to execute on managed endpoints. Allowlisting (only approved applications can run) and blocklisting (known unauthorized or malicious applications are blocked) represent different points on the control spectrum, with most environments implementing a tiered approach.
  
• Software installation control:
  
  Restricting which users can install software — and what software they can install — prevents unauthorized applications from entering the environment while minimizing friction for legitimate software needs.
  
• Peripheral and removable media control:
  
  Device control policies govern what hardware can connect to managed endpoints — restricting USB storage, controlling mobile device connections, and preventing unauthorized network adapters from creating unmanaged network paths.
  
• Execution control:
  
  Beyond installation, execution control prevents unauthorized code from running even if it's present on the system — blocking scripts, macros, and other execution methods that bypass traditional application installation paths.
  
• Audit and enforcement logging:
  
  Every attempted and blocked installation or execution is logged — providing both enforcement evidence and detection signal for unusual application activity that may indicate compromise or policy circumvention.
  
• Application control as a risk reduction strategy:
  
  Every unauthorized application eliminated from the environment is a vulnerability that doesn't need to be found, assessed, prioritized, and patched. Prevention reduces the remediation burden downstream.

How Saner Platform supports Application and Device Control

Application and device control only works when it is built on complete endpoint visibility, continuous enforcement, and fast operational response.

Saner Platform brings those pieces together in one console, helping security and IT teams discover what is installed, identify what should not be there, enforce policy across distributed endpoints, and take action before risky software or peripherals turn into a security incident.

Saner Platform supports heterogeneous environments across Windows, macOS, and Linux, and extends control to remote as well as on-premise endpoints through the same lightweight agent.

• Software inventory as the control baseline:
  
  Saner maintains a continuously updated inventory of installed applications across managed endpoints, giving teams a live baseline for control enforcement, audits, and risk review. Because software data sits in the same console as endpoint visibility and security operations, teams can quickly see what is installed, where it is running, and whether it aligns with policy.
  
• Unauthorized software detection:
  
  Saner continuously surfaces unauthorized, unsupported, out-of-date, unsigned, or unknown-publisher applications across the fleet. That helps security teams spot shadow software early, reduce attack surface, and identify applications that create both security and license risk.
  
• Policy-based application control:
  
  Teams can define which applications are allowed or blocked across endpoint groups based on business need, endpoint type, or user role. Enforcement happens through the Saner agent on the endpoint itself, so policies still hold even when devices are remote, off-network, or disconnected from VPN.
  
• Device and peripheral control:
  
  Saner lets admins control USB drives, removable media, and other external devices through centralized policy. Approved devices can be allowed, risky ones can be blocked, and enforcement happens automatically across endpoints without manual configuration on each device.
  
• Integrated with vulnerability management:
  
  Application and device control does not sit in isolation. Saner connects software inventory and endpoint controls to its broader CVEM workflow, which covers vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, posture anomalies, and remediation from one console. That gives teams a clearer view of which applications are present, which are risky, and what should be fixed first. Integration with vulnerability management. Software control policies and the software inventory feed directly into vulnerability assessment — ensuring that the vulnerability program covers the complete application landscape, not just formally managed software.
  
• Built for modern endpoint environments:
  
  Saner supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and AIX through the same lightweight agent and unified console. That makes it easier to apply application control, device policies, monitoring, and remediation consistently across hybrid, on-prem, and remote environments.
  
• Operational follow-through from the same console:
  
  When risky software or device activity is identified, teams can move straight to action from within the platform. Saner supports a tighter workflow for blocking applications, restricting devices, monitoring endpoint state, and taking corrective action without switching between separate point tools.