Endpoint Security: What It Is and Why You Need It

Protecting a network can be a daunting task. A typical network can consist of a mix of desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Every one of these endpoint devices can be a point of entry for an attacker. Therefore, securing the endpoints should be the first security measure for any organization.

Traditional methods such as antivirus and firewalls are often not enough to defend the perimeter against sophisticated endpoint attacks. However, endpoint security can provide protection where traditional methods can’t. Read on to learn more about what exactly endpoint security is and how it can help you secure your endpoints.

What Is Endpoint Security?

Endpoint security is comprised of a collection of tools and security practices used to protect endpoints. Endpoint devices are pieces of computer hardware that can be connected to the Internet on a TCP/IP network. Endpoint security solutions aim to lock down any component in a network that can provide internal access to attackers.
The main types of endpoint security are:

• Internet of Things (IoT) Security—IoT devices are becoming more common. However, these devices usually have only the most basic security. Endpoint security solutions can provide improved visibility of IoT devices, and provide a stronger layer of cybersecurity.
• Antivirus Solutions—the most known type of endpoint security. Antivirus and anti-malware solutions protect identify signature-based attacks and quarantine or disable associated files.
• Endpoint Detection and Response—EDR solutions monitor files and applications accessing or stored on endpoints. These solutions offer threat investigation and granular visibility.
• URL Filtering—this basic solution restricts web traffic to trusted websites, preventing users from accessing malicious URLs. These solutions can also prevent suspicious downloads.
• Network Access Control—this type of endpoint solution secures access to network nodes, often overlapping with Identity and Access Management.

Endpoint Security vs Traditional Methods

In the past, networks were often protected only by antivirus and firewalls. However, these security methods cannot protect against many modern attacks, such as fileless malware or advanced persistent threat campaigns.

The main difference between an antivirus and endpoint security is the scope. Antivirus software is designed to safeguard a system from worms, viruses, and malware. Some programs offer a basic level of network protection and automatically quarantine suspicious data. These programs are limited to the physical device they protect.

Endpoint security solutions, on the other hand, search the entire network. Endpoint security tools run scans of the network perimeter to detect and block potential malware. When a new device is added to the network, it is automatically added to the endpoint protection solution.
Firewalls work by monitoring incoming traffic and weeding out IP addresses from a user-set policy list. The difference between firewalls and an endpoint security solution is that the latter is more comprehensive. Endpoint security solutions constantly scan your network and can use behavior based rules to block or allow traffic.

Why Is Endpoint Security Important?

When criminals want to launch an attack, one of their first steps is to look for an entry point to exploit. This could be a website or a device connected to the network. That is why securing connected devices is critical.

Today’s networks are more diversified, with more companies shifting to cloud hosting. A typical network will include employees, partners, and vendors connecting to it from their devices, often remotely. Endpoint security solutions can increase visibility across your systems and enable you to secure even complex networks.

While cloud computing has made business global, it has also introduced security risks to the daily operations of organizations. For example, global companies often have remote workers and let employees bring their own devices. This practice is risky if security can’t monitor devices or ensure all devices are up to date. Endpoint security solutions can help manage risks associated with these devices by limiting devices network access.

How to Implement Endpoint Security

The process of implementing endpoint security consists of three main steps.

1. Information gathering
The first step you should take is to collect information about your network structure and access points. You should classify the endpoints in your network according to their level of exposure. Understanding how the network is structured and who has access to what resources can help you determine which areas need more protection.

2. Choose the right tools
Once you have mapped the various endpoints on your network, you should choose the appropriate tool for each layer of technology. That means hardware and software protection; cloud and network protection. There are solutions available in the market that cover several layers of technology as well as tools that can be integrated to form a solution.

3. Test for vulnerabilities
Once you implement the tools you choose, you should test regularly for vulnerabilities. You should test and measure the performance of each tool, and evaluate if there are still vulnerabilities present in the network. This can help you adjust your security policies and configurations for better protection.

Wrap Up

As your organization grows, you are likely to add more endpoints to your network. If you don’t take the proper precautions, this could mean granting attackers more options to enter your systems. Without a comprehensive security strategy that covers all endpoints and network connections, your system and data are at risk. Hopefully, this article helped you understand how endpoint security solutions can provide the comprehensive security you need to avoid these risks.