Microsoft has published and made available for download technical documentation designed to deliver an insight into one of the new features of the next iteration of Windows client and server operating systems. AppLocker Technical Documentation for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 is now live on the Microsoft Download Center and up for grabs for administrators interested in controlling the applications that users are able to install and run in their environments.

“AppLocker is a new feature in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 that replaces the Software Restriction Policies feature. AppLocker contains new capabilities and extensions that reduce administrative overhead and help administrators control how users can access and use files, such as executable files, scripts, Windows Installer files, and DLLs,” Microsoft revealed.

As far as the successor of Windows Vista is concerned, only the Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Windows 7 sport AppLocker. Via this feature, admins will be able to allow only certain applications to run, in accordance with the guidelines of a given organization. But the level of control goes even further. AppLocker can restrict the process of running licensed apps only to specific users. At the same time, the feature is capable of monitoring and producing an audit log with all applications run in an environment. And last but not least, AppLocker can also serve to block users with standard privileges from installing programs.

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