System and method of monitoring and controlling application files

A method of updating a system which controls network access by programs on a workstation, the method comprising:

• detecting a network access request of an application;
• generating a hash value for the application, wherein the hash values includes network access data;
• comparing the generated hash value to one or more hash values in a hash/policy table that includes one or more policies associated with the one or more hash values;
• if the generated hash value matches one or more of the hash values in the hash/policy table, then applying the one or more policies that are associated with the one or more hash values;
• if the generated hash value does not match a hash value in the hash/policy table, then posting the application to a logging database;
• uploading the logging database to an application server module;
• determining whether the application from the logging database is in an application inventory database;
• and
• if the application is not in the application inventory database, then posting the application to a network access database.