Which of the following technologies helps in blocking unwanted applications from being installed?

Application controls are designed to manage and restrict the use of applications within a computing environment. This technology helps in blocking unauthorized or unwanted applications from being installed or executed. Examples include software whitelisting and blacklisting, which allow organizations to define which applications are permissible for use and which ones should be blocked.

By implementing application controls, organizations can significantly reduce risks associated with malware and potentially harmful software, as they establish a secure baseline by only allowing approved applications to run. This is crucial in a security posture because many threats are introduced through unauthorized applications.

The other technologies mentioned do serve important security functions, but they do not specifically focus on application installation controls. For example, the Trusted Platform Module is primarily concerned with hardware security functions, self-encrypting drives primarily protect data at rest, and host-based intrusion prevention systems monitor and block suspicious activities or anomalies within running applications, rather than controlling the installation of applications directly. Therefore, application controls are explicitly catered to the prevention of unwanted applications being installed.