what is meant by adaptive application controls in security center ?

How to block 

1. No unwanted software run on these virtual machines.
2. Block attempts to run malicious applications.

Azure security applications controls.

Adaptive application controls:

Adaptable indicates long-term changes; flexible more short-term alterations

other meaning  to be adjustable in any kind of environments.

Adaptive application control is an intelligent, automated end-to-end application whitelisting solution from Azure Security Center.

It helps you control which applications can run on your azure and non-azure VMs (windows and linux) which, among other benefits, helps harden your VMs against malware.

Security Center uses machine learning to analyze the applications running on your VMs and helps you apply the specific whitelisting rules using this intelligence.

This capability greatly simplifies the process of configuring and maintaining application whitelisting policies, enabling you to:

1. Prevent specific software tools that are not allowed in your organisation.
2. avoid old and unsupported apps to run.
3. avoid unwanted software to be used in your environment.
4. Block or alert on attempts to run malicious applications.


reference:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security-center/security-center-adaptive-application