Endpoint security is the way of securing endpoints or entry points of end-user digital devices from being exploited by malicious and accidental insider threats. It represents one of the key protections practices that organisations look for to secure their networks.
What is considered an endpoint?
In IT Endpoints can be all devices connected to a network such as:
- Desktops
- Laptops
- Tablets
- Servers
Why is endpoint security important?
Endpoint security plays an essential part in all-size businesses cybersecurity strategies. Every remote endpoint can be the entry point for a malicious attack. The landscape of endpoint security is continually changing, and all-size enterprises are at risk of cyberattack. In the past year in the UK, data breaches cost UK enterprises an average of £2.94 million per breach, according to IBM and Ponemon's Cost of a Data Breach Study. Moreover, with technology that moves faster than ever before, hackers are developing new and more sophisticated ways to enter businesses most valuable data, steal information and even threaten and manipulate employees into giving out sensitive documentation.
How does endpoint security work?
Endpoint security works by enabling system administrators (using business applications) to control security for corporate endpoints using policy settings, depending on the types of web access employees use and required systems.
- To start with, the most important step in the process of endpoint security is information gathering. To detect and protect your network from suspicious activities you have to gain full information on all of the access points that connect to it.
- After collecting all the information you need, you will need to decide on what security solution will best suit each layer of technology that functions in your business. This can include:
- hardware protection
- software protection
- cloud protection
- network protection
Ideally, this should be consulted and reviewed with your IT team or outsourced IT specialists.
When the selected protection solutions are in place, then you are ready for the monitoring phase. At this stage, you will need to measure how each solution performs, and determine whether your endpoint protection is fully succeeded in responding. There can be times, that you will need to remodel your endpoint security strategy, depending on how rapid your business is expanding and what risk you may be potentially exposed to in the future.
What is the difference between antivirus software and endpoint security?
The difference between antivirus software and a full endpoint security solution is down to the features sets and capabilities. An antivirus programme runs on a device and scans its contents. It looks and detects known malware or other suspicious files that are linked to previous viruses. Most antivirus software runs frequent updates and automatically quarantines files that have been in potential contact with a virus.
An endpoint security solution can protect the entire organisation’s network, rather than just a single computer. It can scan files like AV does but also provide network protection against known exploits. It is likely to use machine learning and AI to interpret, detect and neutralise potential ransomware and malware attacks based on behaviours and actions that are known to be the footprint of these types of attacks even if the exact exploit has not been seen previously. This new information is shared centrally and is then applied to other devices being monitored. A key part of Endpoint Security is a remediation of the detected threat, this can range from killing the process or quarantining the file to rollback and removal.
How to manage endpoint security?
Endpoint security should be managed by your IT specialists because it will generate many incidents that require analysis and mitigation steps to ensure it is working to optimal levels.
As a business, you need to think of the endpoint security process as a work in progress that is always learning how you work and reacting to new threats it faces. Detecting one piece of malware or suspicious IP address is not enough to keep your data fully protected. Technology is continually evolving, and cybercriminals are constantly finding new forms of attack therefore, to stay fully protected, you need to deploy endpoint security solutions that are run by a team of IT specialists.
Which endpoint security is best for your business?
As an organization, you should have at least a baseline of IT security in place. Although, if you are looking to implement the full endpoint security process, you need to consider whether you want to use your current toolset and add individual components, or to fully reinvest in a brand new suite.
Costs of endpoint security can vary and mainly depend on the number of devices in your company. It may also depend on the type of industry or sector your business operates in because some are more desirable targets than others although all businesses are targeted.
The other factor to consider is whether to invest in cloud-based endpoint security or on-premises solutions. A cloud-based option is generally more flexible and easier to adapt to your current business model, however, depending on your business function, your security solutions might reside on-premises at all times.
Endpoint security should be capable of isolating network devices that are infected, this is especially important during a ransomware attack as it can drastically limit the damage. It is the frontline of cybersecurity preventing hackers from breaking into your organizations' network.
If you are keen to discuss how to implement an endpoint security solution step by step, or you are concerned about your current security software, our dedicated team of IT specialists can help to find the best technology solutions tailored to your business.
ADT Systems has been providing expertise and great customer service since 1993. We have plenty of great advice that we can share with you! Call us on 0330 333 7439 or simply drop us an email at sales@adtsystems.co.uk