What Is Endpoint Security?

Endpoints of an organization’s devices are highly vulnerable to cyberattacks. Endpoint security tools are used to safeguard these endpoints from malicious activity. These tools run on a network or in the cloud. Such a practice of preserving endpoints or entry points is known as endpoint security.

Why Is Endpoint Security Important?

Endpoint devices run on the internet. They are the entry point and easy targets for cybercriminals to exploit for stealing or accessing sensitive data. With the advancement in technology, many types of endpoints came into existence. Similarly, with remote work culture, the number of endpoint devices in an organization is rising too. With the proliferation of endpoint devices and their many types, cyber thieves have more options to commit security breaches and data hacking.

Data is the most critical asset for all businesses, regardless of industry or size. If a company loses data or access to data, it will face several repercussions. To begin, the organization will need to fund threat mitigation strategies. People’s trust and, as a result, the company’s reputation will suffer. The firm will lose customers/clients, leading to decreased revenue. The company will be at risk of going bankrupt. Finally, the company will have to pay a non-compliance penalty.

As a result, a company must protect its crucial data from the hands of malevolent people. Because of the evolving cyber breach tactics, installing a firewall and purchasing antivirus software will be ineffective. A more comprehensive and modern security tool is necessary to guard the company’s network of endpoint devices. And what better way to protect a business from not just known but also potential security breaches than with endpoint security services?

Endpoint protection will serve as a barrier for any organization susceptible to deliberate crimes, malicious acts, hacktivists, unfortunate insider attacks, nation-states, or anything else. The EDR system will quickly and effectively identify, investigate, prohibit, and mitigate in-progress threats.

How does Endpoint Protection Works?

A company employs endpoint protection to secure all of its endpoints, whether on-premise, remote or both, from a central location. These defenders for endpoints examine every file, system activity and process for any malicious signs. Such examination is done with the help of a centralized managed console. The responsible professionals connect this console to their enterprise network. Let’s understand three approaches to this security model.

• Traditional – Installing on-premise EDR security is the conventional technique. Here a locally hosted data center provides the security.
• Cloud is a cloud-native approach when endpoints are managed using a cloud-based console.
• Hybrid – The hybrid approach integrates traditional and clouds EDR solutions.

All three EDR security approaches operate in the following manner.

• The EDR system equips the authorized professional with a centralized dashboard.
• The consoles are mounted either on-premise, cloud or both.
• The cybersecurity managers gain control over all the endpoints in one place.
• Each endpoint gets a client software as SaaS for remote control, and for on-premise or hybrid, the software is installed directly on the device.
• Finally, client software will start managing and controlling an organization’s endpoints.

The system safeguards endpoints in various ways, including stopping users from using unsafe apps, issuing updates to endpoints, validating log-in attempts from every endpoint, enforcing corporate rules, and encrypting data, all of which prevent data loss and security breaches.

What’s Considered An Endpoint?

An endpoint is any device connected to the network. With work from home and bring your own device culture, the number and types of devices connected to the network range from tens to thousands. The endpoint devices include the following:

• Computers
• Laptops
• Smart Phones
• Tablets
• Wi-fi Routers
• Servers
• Workstations
• Internet of Things Devices
• Navigation System
• Point of Sale Systems
• Digital Printers
• Navigation Systems
• Health Trackers
• Medical Devices
• ATM Machines
• Smart Systems and Devices
• Cloud Applications
• Network connected sensors

Endpoint Protection Platforms Vs. Traditional Antivirus

Endpoint protection platforms differ from standard antivirus in several ways. Let’s look at the differences between the two.

• The primary distinction is that traditional antivirus is only one component of endpoint protection, whereas endpoint is a comprehensive security solution.
• Antivirus caters to just one endpoint device. Alternatively, EDR security solutions safeguard all the endpoints of an organization’s network, whether on-premise, on the cloud, or both.
• Antivirus software is only helpful for clearing known malware. Antivirus relies on signature-based identification. It periodically examines the device and its contents for patterns that match the virus signatures stored. If one is found, it is mitigated. On the other hand, endpoint security products leverage sophisticated tactics such as threat hunting, endpoint detection, and response to address known and unknown threats proactively.
• Antivirus software requires manual updates, implying that if a company is using an older version, it is more likely to miss malware and thereby inefficiently preventing cyber-attacks. Luckily, EPPs are built to receive automatic upgrades, ensuring comprehensive cyber security.

Core Functionality Of An Endpoint Protection Solution

The core functionality of an endpoint protection solution, as you already know, is to protect the endpoints irrespective of the count and type of business. But for EPP to be effective, it must integrate several practices, as explained below.

Next-Generation Antivirus (NGAV)

Traditional antivirus software depends on signature-based viruses that are updated in the system whenever a new malicious practice is discovered. As a result, it defends the endpoint against known threats; if it is outdated, it is likely to miss even half of the known dangers.

NGAV, on the other hand, leverages newer technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze endpoint content and aspects such as IP, file hashes, URLs, and so on, actively detecting both known and unknown threats. Such foresight assists any organization in implementing thorough cybersecurity protection.

Endpoint Detection and Response

As technology advances, cybercriminals develop new data breach strategies. In such a context, protecting isn’t viable because malicious people can effortlessly bypass the defenses and eventually the organization’s network.

EDR successfully detects such intrusion and prevents attackers from lurking around the network and breaching it. EDR monitors the network in real-time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, utilizing advanced detection, investigation, and response mechanisms.

If malicious behavior is detected, EDR will automatically notify the cybersecurity team while also containing the attack and protecting network endpoints.

Managed Threat Hunting

An EDR can miss malevolent behavior, putting the business in jeopardy. This is where controlled threat hunting comes in useful. This is a process in which security experts use their knowledge to identify and detect modern-day attacks. This highly dedicated team has learned from previous security breach instances and public data. With such expertise and understanding, they offer advice on adequately dealing with data breaches.

Threat Intelligence Integration

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are speedy and lethal. The cybersecurity team must be current and competent to defend the company’s endpoints from such advanced malicious activities. A threat intelligence integration combines algorithms to evaluate attacks in minutes by producing data leak indicators straight from endpoints. This activity stimulates the pre-emptive defense against potential attacks. Thus, both automation and human experts are used to synthesize threat intelligence integration.

SharkStriker’s Advanced Endpoint Protection

Cybercriminals and their innovative attack strategies flourish in the twenty-first century. There have been several cases of firms going bankrupt due to it. They must either pay the ransom or risk having their reputation damaged. If you don’t want your company to suffer in the same way, it’s time to introduce modern endpoint security that is both quick and efficient. SharkStriker adheres to the ORCA philosophy of observing, responding, compliance, and awareness, which cutting-edge technology reinforces.

We leverage artificial intelligence, machine learning, automated detection, threat intelligence, incident management, compliance management, and security awareness to provide comprehensive security solutions. You can trust us to discover vulnerabilities and resolve them quickly before they impact your business. Make use of SharkStriker’s robust technical solutions to protect your firm.