Understanding CatchPulse Protection Modes: Automatic, Interactive, Lockdown, Trust All & Observation – Bison Knowledgebase

Understanding CatchPulse Protection Modes: Automatic, Interactive, Lockdown, Trust All & Observation

📅 01 Jan 2026 📂 General 👁 12 views

Modern endpoint protection platforms increasingly rely on application allowlisting—a “deny-by-default” approach that blocks execution of unknown or untrusted software to prevent malware and advanced threats. CatchPulse from SecureAge is such a platform that combines AI, cloud antivirus scanning, and application control to provide configurable protection modes tailored to different environments and risk tolerances. knowledgebase.secureage.com

This article explains each protection mode available in CatchPulse, including technical behavior, use cases, configuration steps, common issues, security considerations, and best practices.

Technical Explanation of CatchPulse Protection Modes

CatchPulse implements five distinct protection modes to regulate how applications and executable content are allowed to run on an endpoint. These modes balance security vs user control and are designed to fit deployment scenarios ranging from tightly locked down corporate endpoints to flexible testing environments. knowledgebase.secureage.com

1. Automatic Mode

Automatic Mode leverages CatchPulse’s AI and allowlist to make trust/block decisions with minimal user interaction:

Uses the AI and existing trusted allowlist to automatically decide if new and untrusted files should be allowed or blocked.
Minimizes prompts to users; best for environments where user friction needs to be low.
If the Auto Protect switch is off, the system falls back to Interactive Mode, still blocking untrusted files until admin decision. knowledgebase.secureage.com

Benefits

Low user prompts
Strong protection with automated decisions
Suitable for most desktop environments

2. Interactive Mode

Interactive Mode is the default and balances control vs flexibility:

When a new untrusted file attempts execution, CatchPulse blocks it and prompts the user or administrator to Trust or Block.
Prompt includes metadata such as digital signature status and cloud AV detections to inform decisions.
Trusted files are added to the allowlist; blocked files remain untrusted. knowledgebase.secureage.com

Benefits

Real-time administrator input on new executables
Good compromise between security and usability

3. Lockdown Mode

Lockdown Mode enforces the strictest security stance:

Blocks all untrusted files from executing without prompting.
New executables cannot run unless explicitly trusted by an administrator beforehand.
Ideal for non-admin user accounts and high-risk scenarios. knowledgebase.secureage.com+1

Benefits

Highest protection against malware
No user decisions required during operation

4. Trust All Mode

Trust All Mode temporarily relaxes protection:

Adds all applications that start during the selected period to the allowlist without prompts.
Available for fixed durations (e.g., 5 minutes, 30 minutes, until next reboot) and then reverts to the previous mode. knowledgebase.secureage.com

Benefits

Useful for bulk software installs/updates
Mitigates prompt fatigue during controlled maintenance windows

5. Observation Mode

Observation Mode is a non-blocking diagnostic mode:

Allows all new and untrusted files to execute.
Records behavior in logs for analysis but does not enforce allowlist blocking.
Typically used for testing or baseline tuning prior to enforcing stricter modes. knowledgebase.secureage.com

Benefits

Visibility into untrusted application behavior
Suitable for initial discovery phase before enforcement

Use Cases for Protection Modes

Mode Ideal Use Case
Automatic Standard office desktops with predictable software
Interactive Environments needing admin oversight but some flexibility
Lockdown High-security zones, non-admin users
Trust All Software deployment windows or maintenance sessions
Observation Auditing/testing new systems before production rollout

Mode	Ideal Use Case
Automatic	Standard office desktops with predictable software
Interactive	Environments needing admin oversight but some flexibility
Lockdown	High-security zones, non-admin users
Trust All	Software deployment windows or maintenance sessions
Observation	Auditing/testing new systems before production rollout

Step-by-Step Implementation

Switching Protection Modes

From System Tray
- Right-click the CatchPulse tray icon.
- Navigate to Application Allowlisting → Protection Mode.
- Select the desired mode (Automatic, Interactive, Lockdown, Trust All, Observation). knowledgebase.secureage.com
Using the Main Console
- Open the CatchPulse main interface.
- Go to Manage → Protection Modes.
- Choose the mode and apply. knowledgebase.secureage.com
Trust All Sub-Mode Configuration
- When selecting Trust All, choose the duration (e.g., 5 minutes, 30 minutes, until next reboot). knowledgebase.secureage.com

Typical Deployment Sequence

1. Initial Installation and Baseline Scan 2. Set to Observation Mode for 24–48 hours 3. Review logs and approve known applications 4. Switch to Interactive or Automatic mode 5. Use Trust All for scheduled bulk install updates 6. Use Lockdown for endpoints with limited app variability

Common Issues & Fixes

Excessive Prompting in Interactive Mode

Cause – Too many new untrusted files.
Fix

Expand baseline before switching to Interactive.
Use Trust All temporarily during bulk changes.

Blocked Legitimate Software in Lockdown Mode

Cause – App not on allowlist.
Fix

Pre-approve software via administrative allowlist.
Temporarily switch to Interactive/Trust All for installations.

Observation Mode Overwrites Expectations

Cause – Users assume protection is active when it only logs.
Fix

Limit Observation mode to controlled test environments.
Educate users/IT staff on logging vs enforcement.

Security Considerations

Observation Mode does not block threats; use only for tuning.
Trust All temporarily reduces security; limit its duration and monitor activity.
In Lockdown Mode, prevent non-admin users from switching modes.
Ensure allowlists are managed centrally for consistency across endpoints.
Combine allowlisting with real-time AI/could AV engines for layered defense. secureage.com

Best Practices

Start in Observation Mode to learn endpoint behavior.
Move to Interactive for controlled enforcement with admin oversight.
Use Automatic Mode for standard operations with minimal user engagement.
Apply Lockdown Mode for high-security users or devices.
Restrict Trust All Mode to controlled maintenance windows.
Document allowlist additions and review periodically.

Conclusion

Understanding and correctly configuring CatchPulse protection modes enables security teams to tailor endpoint behavior from maximum control (Lockdown) to diagnostic observation (Observation). Each mode balances security, usability, and administrative overhead to suit different operational environments. Proper planning and staged implementation ensure robust defense with minimal disruption.

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