An image forming apparatus in which programs are installed, comprising: a configuration information storing unit configured to store configuration information about the installed programs; an operation inhibition information acquiring unit configured to transmit the configuration information to an operation inhibition information providing apparatus, and configured to receive operation inhibition information that is transmitted from the operation inhibition information providing apparatus in response to the configuration information; an operation inhibition management unit configured to store the operation inhibition information, which indicates on a program-specific basis whether an operation to modify a configuration of a corresponding one of the installed programs is allowed; and an operation unit configured to inhibit modification operations on the installed programs based on the received operation inhibition information stored in the operation inhibition information management unit, characterized in that the operation unit is configured such that if a requested operation to modify a configuration of one of the installed programs is not indicated as prohibited in the operation inhibition information management unit, the operation unit performs the requested configuration modify operation and, in response to performing the configuration modify operation, the operation unit: i) is configured to use the configuration information storing unit to generate device configuration information; and ii) is configured to transmit a request to acquire operation inhibition information to the operation inhibition information providing apparatus, the request including the device configuration information; wherein the operation inhibition information acquiring unit is configured to receive operation inhibition information retrieved by the operation inhibition information providing apparatus in response to the request, the retrieved operation inhibition information corresponding to the device configuration information included in the acquisition request, and to update the operation inhibition information stored in the operation inhibition information management unit with the received operation inhibition information a configuration information storing unit configured to store configuration information about the installed programs; an operation inhibition information acquiring unit configured to transmit the configuration information to an operation inhibition information providing apparatus, and configured to receive operation inhibition information that is transmitted from the operation inhibition information providing apparatus in response to the configuration information; an operation inhibition management unit configured to store the operation inhibition information, which indicates on a program-specific basis whether an operation to modify a configuration of a corresponding one of the installed programs is allowed; and an operation unit configured to inhibit modification operations on the installed programs based on the received operation inhibition information stored in the operation inhibition information management unit, characterized in that the operation unit is configured such that if a requested operation to modify a configuration of one of the installed programs is not indicated as prohibited in the operation inhibition information management unit, the operation unit performs the requested configuration modify operation and, in response to performing the configuration modify operation, the operation unit: i) is configured to use the configuration information storing unit to generate device configuration information; and ii) is configured to transmit a request to acquire operation inhibition information to the operation inhibition information providing apparatus, the request including the device configuration information; i) is configured to use the configuration information storing unit to generate device configuration information; and ii) is configured to transmit a request to acquire operation inhibition information to the operation inhibition information providing apparatus, the request including the device configuration information; wherein the operation inhibition information acquiring unit is configured to receive operation inhibition information retrieved by the operation inhibition information providing apparatus in response to the request, the retrieved operation inhibition information corresponding to the device configuration information included in the acquisition request, and to update the operation inhibition information stored in the operation inhibition information management unit with the received operation inhibition information