Endpoint security solutions have become a focal point for all businesses today, especially for those that have transitioned to remote working as a response to the pandemic. Having the most effective security measures on all endpoints has become vital. Primarily, this is because of the large increase of devices connecting to a corporation’s network and accessing sensitive data. We can no longer ignore the serious risk that this causes.
But What Exactly is Endpoint Security?
To put it simply, it’s all about looking at every possible entry point to a business’s internal network and applying the best security measures to them. So to avoid any unauthorised access.
What is Considered an Endpoint?
Well, it’s every device that employees use for work and access confidential data. Many types of devices are connected to a company’s network. This includes; laptops, desktop computers, mobile devices, cloud-based systems, IoT devices, network devices, and servers. The practice of endpoint security is looking at every possible route to your network and ensuring that it is secure and that no outsider can enter. Each connection is considered a threat to your endpoint security no matter what device it is.
Recently the number of these endpoints has increased because staff now use personal devices for work. These devices may not have the same or as extensive security measures that work devices have. Businesses need to fix this issue immediately to avoid serious consequences. Especially because statistics show that 70% of breaches originate at the endpoint.
However, securing every endpoint is difficult for a number of reasons. For example, employees may not be willing to have their devices controlled. Though, without control over all endpoints, you make your business an easy target for hackers.
Remote working has caused other serious risk factors. For instance, family members accessing the same devices that employees use for work. They could accidentally click on a link that contains malware, which will spread throughout the whole corporation and cause unrepairable damage. Unsecured home internet is another danger that needs to be taken care of immediately. It certainly does not help that there has been a huge wave of phishing attacks as cybercriminals take advantage of this situation.
When responding to the global changes, we understand that your priority was the continuity of business. However, the hasty response and attitude of ‘whatever works’ can have serious consequences in the long run. So, it’s time to reassess your endpoint security strategies as a business plan for 2023. Before we start thinking about long-term solutions let’s dive deeper into understanding endpoint security so that the best possible solution can be devised.
Is a Firewall Endpoint security?
No, it’s not. And in fact, we see many businesses make the grave mistake of assuming that a strong firewall can serve as a comprehensive endpoint security solution. But this is not the case, particularly if your company has many remote workers. While firewalls are a very useful tool in filtering out malicious entries, it is not enough when multiple devices have access to your network.
Is an Antivirus Endpoint security?
No, it’s not. An antivirus program, no matter how thorough it is, is designed to only run on a single device, whereas endpoint looks at the entire business’s network.
Cloud environment vs Endpoint security
Cloud technology has been very helpful for all businesses, allowing them to access and store files with ease. But every access level in your cloud architecture becomes a new endpoint that needs to be protected.
What are the different types of Endpoint Security Solutions?
Endpoint Protection Platform
EPP’s primary goal is to prevent any malicious attack and therefore protect the system. It does this by monitoring the endpoints and terminating any threats. Recently EPP has moved to the cloud which has created a huge advantage over cybercriminals. Now, data can be collected not only from a single company but globally and shared so that technicians can see attacker tactics more fully. This insight will help to create the most effective security solutions.
Endpoint Detection and Remediation
EDR is programmed to monitor and collect data from endpoints, which then analyses and identifies any threat patterns. It responds immediately and automatically to threats by removing or containing them. Failing to have good visibility on your endpoint and network events will cause you to miss an attack that can ruin your business.
EPP vs EDR
It’s important to understand that EPP and EDR are used in conjunction with a more comprehensive and effective security solution. EPP provides security capabilities such as anti-malware whilst EDR delivers advanced detection and investigation.
Extended Detection and Response
It’s difficult for organizations to proactively protect themselves when they are overwhelmed by so many false-positive threat alerts. It often gets very confusing. XDR resolves this problem by providing unified visibility across multiple attack vectors. The security team can see aggregated data from all the security solutions on a single dashboard. This creates a complete picture of the many threat alerts allowing the IT team to contextualise it into a single ‘incident.’ Having such clear visibility and insight will significantly improve your response and security against cyber-attacks.
3 Steps to have the best Endpoint Security
To have the best endpoint security you need to understand your business’s specific needs. Here are three steps to take when applying the most effective endpoint security:
1. Review all access points to your network; you won’t be able to defend your network from attack unless you have a complete insight into all access points.
2. Choose security solutions for every layer of technology. This includes all your hardware, software, cloud, and network security.
3. Now, you must track everything. Ensure that all endpoint security solutions are working as expected. If not, research and apply a new method. Full-scale endpoint security needs a dedicated IT team to monitor and maintain it regularly. It is not enough to apply and forget about it. Attacks are changing and becoming more advanced. So you have to have your security tuned and adjusted all the time.
