Faronics Anti-Executable Standard vs Alternatives: Which Is Right for Your Organization?Choosing application control software is about balancing security, usability, manageability, and cost. This article compares Faronics Anti-Executable Standard with several common alternatives — application whitelisting from Microsoft (AppLocker/Windows Defender Application Control), third‑party app control suites (e.g., Symantec/ Broadcom, McAfee, Ivanti), and lightweight endpoint allowlisting tools — to help you determine which fits your organization’s needs.
What is Faronics Anti-Executable Standard?
Faronics Anti-Executable Standard is an application allowlisting product designed to prevent unauthorized or malicious software from running by enabling admins to create and enforce policies that permit only known, trusted executables. It’s commonly used in environments where system integrity must be tightly controlled: education, libraries, kiosks, shared workstations, and some enterprise scenarios.
- Primary purpose: Prevent execution of unauthorized code via allowlisting.
- Deployment models: Agent on endpoints, centralized management available in higher editions.
- Typical strengths: Simplicity, low resource footprint, ease of locking down shared/public PCs.
Key factors to evaluate
Before comparing products, clarify your priorities. These dimensions typically matter most:
- Security effectiveness (resistance to bypass, coverage of script/packer exploits)
- Policy granularity (file attributes, paths, hashes, publisher rules)
- Management scale (centralized policy management, reporting, automation)
- Integration (with EDR, SIEM, patch management, MDM)
- User experience (false-positive handling, exception workflows)
- Performance and compatibility (system impact; ability to run required business apps)
- Deployment complexity and ongoing maintenance effort
- Licensing cost and total cost of ownership (TCO)
Comparison overview
| Dimension | Faronics Anti-Executable Standard | Microsoft AppLocker / WDAC | Enterprise suites (Broadcom/Symantec, McAfee, Ivanti) | Lightweight allowlisting tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security model | Hash/path/publisher allowlisting; block unknown executables | AppLocker: rules by publisher/path/hash; WDAC: kernel‑level control with strong enforcement | Varies — often combines allowlisting + reputation + EDR | Basic hash/path-based allowlist; minimal management |
| System impact | Low | AppLocker low; WDAC higher (kernel-mode) | Varies; can be heavier due to telemetry/EDR | Very low |
| Management scale | Basic centralized features (Standard edition) | Integrated with Windows Group Policy / Intune; scalable | Enterprise-grade consoles, reporting, automation | Limited or manual |
| Script/LOLBIN protection | Basic; depends on policy scope | WDAC strong; AppLocker covers scripts with rules | Often includes script control and advanced protections | May not cover scripts |
| Integration with EDR/SIEM | Limited | Good (native MS ecosystem) | Strong — often bundled with EDR and SIEM integrations | Minimal |
| Ease of setup | Relatively simple; suitable for kiosks/classrooms | AppLocker moderate; WDAC complex to configure | Complex; requires planning | Very simple |
| False-positive remediation | Basic exception workflows | Integrated with AD/Intune for rollout/testing | Advanced workflows and automation | Manual |
| Cost | Generally affordable; license per seat | Included in Windows editions (some features require Enterprise) | Higher — enterprise licensing | Low |
Strengths of Faronics Anti-Executable Standard
- Simplicity: Straightforward to deploy and configure on standalone or small fleets, making it attractive for schools, libraries, and public-access machines.
- Low resource use: Designed for shared/kiosk devices; minimal impact on performance.
- Focus: Purpose-built for allowlisting, reducing surface area by preventing unknown executables.
- Rapid lock-down: Good for quickly enforcing a strict execution policy on endpoints that must remain unchanged.
When to prefer Faronics:
- You manage kiosks, labs, library PCs, or classrooms where the same known set of apps must always run.
- You need a low-cost, easy-to-manage allowlisting solution.
- You want minimal system overhead and quick, tight lockdown.
Limitations of Faronics Anti-Executable Standard
- Policy granularity and automation are more limited compared with enterprise suites; features for large-scale policy orchestration, advanced reporting, or integrations with SIEM/EDR are weaker.
- Script and living-off-the-land-binary (LOLBIN) protections may be limited compared with kernel-level solutions or modern EDR-equipped allowlisting.
- In complex enterprise environments with frequent legitimate software changes, ongoing maintenance and exception handling could become a burden.
- Fewer integrations with modern endpoint security ecosystems; may require additional tooling for detection/response and telemetry.
Microsoft AppLocker and Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC)
- AppLocker (available in certain Windows editions) lets admins create allow/block rules based on file attributes (publisher, path, file hash) and can control executable files, scripts, Windows Installer files, DLLs, and packaged apps. It integrates with Group Policy and Intune, which simplifies enterprise rollouts.
- WDAC provides kernel-level application control with stronger enforcement and reduced bypass surface, but it’s more complex to configure and manage.
- Strengths: Native Windows integration, good scalability, and strong protection (especially WDAC). Cost-effective when you already run supported Windows editions.
- Tradeoffs: WDAC complexity and potential compatibility issues; AppLocker weaker against some bypass techniques versus WDAC.
When to prefer Microsoft solutions:
- You have a primarily Windows environment and want native support, deep OS integration, and centralized policy management via AD/Intune.
- You need stronger protection (WDAC) and are prepared for the complexity of deployment and compatibility testing.
Enterprise application control suites (Broadcom/Symantec, McAfee, Ivanti, etc.)
- These vendors offer application control as part of broader endpoint security platforms combining allowlisting, reputation services, EDR, patching, and device control.
- Strengths: Enterprise-scale management, automation of policy creation, rich telemetry, integration with detection/response, and advanced features (script control, exploit mitigation).
- Tradeoffs: Higher cost, more complex deployments, greater resource usage.
When to prefer enterprise suites:
- You run a large organization that needs centralized policy orchestration, deep telemetry, incident response integration, and consolidated vendor support.
- You require robust protections against sophisticated attacks and want application control tightly coupled with EDR.
Lightweight allowlisting tools
- These are small-footprint utilities or open-source projects that offer basic allowlisting by file path or hash.
- Strengths: Extremely low cost and simple to deploy on a few machines.
- Tradeoffs: Minimal management, lack of enterprise features, poor scalability, and limited coverage of modern attack vectors (scripts, DLLs, LOLBINs).
When to prefer lightweight tools:
- For very small deployments with static app sets, or for quick proof-of-concept testing.
Practical decision guide
-
Small organizations, labs, kiosks, schools, libraries:
- Preferred: Faronics Anti-Executable Standard for ease, low cost, and low overhead.
- Alternative: Lightweight tools if budget is extremely constrained.
-
Medium-to-large Windows-centric enterprises seeking native integration:
- Preferred: Microsoft AppLocker (for simpler cases) or WDAC (for stronger enforcement) integrated with AD/Intune.
- Complement with EDR for detection/response.
-
Large enterprises with complex security operations:
- Preferred: Enterprise suites (Broadcom/Symantec, McAfee, Ivanti, etc.) for integration, automation, telemetry, and advanced protections.
-
Environments with frequent legitimate app changes or BYOD:
- Prefer solutions that support dynamic policy creation, automated whitelisting, publisher rules, and fast exception workflows — typically enterprise suites or Microsoft with good tooling.
Deployment and operational tips (regardless of choice)
- Start with an audit: inventory applications and scripts to understand what must be allowed.
- Use a staged rollout: Implement in audit/allow-reporting mode first to identify false positives.
- Favor publisher-based rules where possible (signing) to reduce maintenance compared to per-hash rules.
- Maintain exception workflows and a rapid approval process for business-critical changes.
- Integrate with patch management and EDR so that allowlisting complements detection and response.
- Document rollback procedures and have a recovery plan for compatibility issues.
Conclusion
- Choose Faronics Anti-Executable Standard if you need an easy-to-deploy, low-overhead allowlisting solution for kiosks, labs, or other tightly controlled shared systems.
- Choose Microsoft AppLocker/WDAC when you want native Windows integration and can manage the operational complexity, especially for broad Windows fleets.
- Choose an enterprise security suite when you need scale, automation, telemetry, and integration with incident response and EDR.
- Use lightweight tools only for tiny, static deployments or short-term testing.
Match the tool to your operational model: the best choice is the one that provides the right level of control with acceptable maintenance overhead and integrates into your existing security operations.
Leave a Reply