Malware attacks are increasing and becoming more advanced of late. Organizations are saddled with the challenge of constantly protecting their IT networks against cyber threats.
Traditional solutions like antivirus software have become an inadequate defense as they focus only on a small part of network security. You have to implement more advanced security controls that cover your entire network.
This is where endpoint security comes in as an essential tool in advanced cybersecurity. In this article, you'll understand endpoint security and how it works.
What Is Endpoint Security?
Endpoint security, also known as endpoint protection, is the practice of securing the entry points connected to networks from malicious attacks. It plays a crucial role in ensuring that sensitive data and intellectual property are protected from malware, phishing, ransomware, and other cyberattacks on the network or cloud.
Endpoints are the entry points of your IT networks, including desktops, laptops, tablets, mobile devices, servers, and printers.
The two most persistent threats of endpoints have been revealed to be ransomware and phishing attacks.
Ransomware is a big threat to computer networks. Here, attackers gain unauthorized access to the endpoints and proceed to lock and encrypt the data stored in the device. Then they go ahead to demand a ransom before releasing the data.
In phishing attacks, legitimate applications are used to dupe targets into opening an email or text message where they will click malicious links, which will lead to malware installation or freezing of their systems. It's usually used to steal data, login details of users, and credit card numbers.
As antivirus solutions can't prevent advanced persistent threats alone, it becomes necessary to make endpoint protection a component of security solutions.
Endpoint security captures the entire security details of individuals and organizations via methods such as data leak protection (DLP), device management, network access control, encryption, threat detection, and response.
Why Endpoint Security Matters
Today's world of business has evolved. Organizations are now incorporating bring-your-own-device (BYOD) and remote work policies which promote data access.
Although these workplace policies are important for increased productivity, they pose a security threat to the enterprise—which can result in data and financial loss.
Data is your organization's most valuable asset. And losing it or not being able to access it may likely sabotage the existence of your organization.
Endpoints are now easy targets because they are vulnerable through browsers, which happens to be where many malicious attacks occur. To this effect, new layers of security need to be put in place through endpoint protection solutions. This security solution is organized and designed to quickly detect, examine, and block malicious attacks that are in motion.
How Endpoint Security Works
The objective of endpoint security is to help you secure your networks from unauthorized access. This is achieved through the use of advanced security programs that monitor and secure every entry point. These security programs include the following.
1. Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)
An endpoint protection platform makes use of integrated entry point technologies to detect and stop perceived threats at the endpoint. Here, every file that comes into the internal system of an enterprise is analyzed. And with the use of a cloud-based system, EPP examines the information stored in the file to ascertain where there might be potential threats.
As a user, you are expected to own a main area console that's built into your operational system.
Doing this makes your system familiar with every endpoint that connects to it while making provision for upgrades to the devices. It can also request login verification of individual endpoints and administer your company's procedures from one place.
2. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
This is another cybersecurity tool that continually monitors and responds to advanced cyber-attacks. Endpoint detection and response detect high-level threats, such as file-less malware and zero-day exploits, which evaded the front-line defense and found their way into the organization’s system. It serves as the second layer of protection after EPP has been deployed.
Endpoint detection and response tools examine the entire life cycle of a cyber threat. They closely investigate how the threat got in, where it has been and how to prevent it from spreading.
Most of these advanced threats can wreak havoc on private and corporate networks. For instance, ransomware encrypts sensitive data at the expense of the data owner. The attacker then goes ahead to demand a financial ransom before the data is released.
As a result of rising malware attacks, you have to protect your network more than ever. EDR can help detect, contain and eliminate the threat quickly so your data can be secured on endpoints.
3. Extended Detection and Response (XDR)
Extended detection and response monitor and prevent cybersecurity threats. In this case, it collects and correlates data across numerous network entry points such as cloud, network, email, servers, and endpoints.
This security tool analyzes the correlated data, and grants visibility and meaning to it to reveal the advanced threat. After the disclosure, the threat can now be focused on, scrutinized, and separated to prevent data loss and security collapse.
XDR is a more sophisticated endpoint protection tool and a progression of the EDR. It provides a holistic view of the network system of an organization as it has to do with cybersecurity.
With the XDR system, organizations are exposed to a high level of cyber security. Also, online security experts can identify and get rid of security vulnerabilities.
Implementing Round-the-Clock Endpoint Security Is Crucial
Endpoint security is crucial for every individual or organization, regardless of their status or size. It’s the first line of defense against cyberattacks which have become more sophisticated with time.
Due to the connectivity of endpoints to networks, they have become an easy target. It's important that you protect your endpoints from cybercriminals that want to gain unauthorized access to them.
Deploying endpoint security starts with surveying your network systems as well as the endpoints that are connected to them. It's also important to know the kind of data that is passing through the devices to detect threats early.
Remember that implementing cybersecurity is a continuous activity. Keep an eye on your endpoint devices so you can detect even the tiniest threats early enough and stop them on their tracks.