Direct answer
Use an audit-mode pilot to observe which applications would be affected by an application-control policy, compare those events with the approved software inventory, and resolve compatibility before considering enforcement.
Select representative devices
Choose a pilot that includes business applications, support tools, developers or other relevant roles. Record the policy version, device owners and application inventory. Agree who can approve exceptions and how to recover from a policy that blocks a critical workflow.
Collect audit evidence
Microsoft documents audit-mode App Control policies that allow execution while recording relevant activity. Check that the intended policy is present on each test machine and collect the appropriate application-control events. Exercise scheduled jobs and infrequent workflows as well as ordinary interactive applications.
Reference: Microsoft: App Control for Business policies.
Resolve unexpected results
For an event involving a legitimate payroll tool, establish the executable, publisher, business owner and deployment method before changing a policy. Reject the temptation to broadly trust an uncontrolled folder merely to silence events. Review unknown binaries with security and application owners.
Move toward enforcement deliberately
Document approved rules, exception scope and a rollback process. Validate updates, installers and remote-support tools, then move through an approved change process for a small enforcement group. Monitor for blocked work and expand only when the organization has reviewed the results.
Assessment limits
Audit mode does not block the applications it records. Application control behavior and management options vary by Windows version and deployment; a successful pilot does not cover all rare workflows or future software.
Frequently asked questions
Does audit mode stop an unapproved application?
No. The documented audit mode records relevant activity while allowing applications to run.
Can one pilot device represent the whole fleet?
No. Include representative roles, applications and management groups, and track devices not covered.
Why test application updates?
A policy that permits the current application may affect its installer, updated components or an infrequently used feature.
Primary sources and further reading
These guides combine published security guidance with practical assessment planning. Adapt checks to the owner's policy, environment, and authorized scope.
This guide was prepared with AI assistance using the linked sources and illustrative examples. Check current vendor guidance and your environment before making changes.