The main objective when using Application Control is to ensure the security and privacy of information. Application Control is a security practice that blocks or restricts unauthorized applications from executing in ways that put data at risk. The control functions vary based on the business purpose of the specific application, but the main objective is to help ensure the privacy and security of data used by and transmitted between applications1. Application Control can also prevent malware, untrusted, or unwanted applications from running on the network, reducing the risks and costs associated with data breaches1. Application Control can also improve the overall network stability and performance by eliminating unnecessary or harmful applications1.

Application Control is not mainly used to filter out specific content, although it can be combined with other technologies such as URL filtering or content filtering to achieve that goal. Application Control is not mainly used to assist the firewall blade with handling traffic, although it can be integrated with firewall policies to enforce granular access rules based on applications. Application Control is not mainly used to see what users are doing, although it can provide visibility and reporting on application usage and activity.