Important Things You Should Know About Endpoint protection

 

End point protection

Endpoint protection involves monitoring and protecting endpoints against cyber threats. Protected endpoints include desktops, laptops, smartphones, tablet computers, and other devices. Various cybersecurity solutions can be installed on and monitor these devices to protect them against cyber threats regardless of where they are located on or off of the corporate network.

Why is Endpoint Protection important?

The transition to remote and hybrid work models has transformed businesses’ IT infrastructures, moving corporate endpoints outside the enterprise network and its perimeter-based defences. As endpoints become organizations’ first line of defence against cyber attacks, they require endpoint security solutions to identify and block these threats before they pose a risk to the company.

Endpoints are the target of many cyber attacks, and, with shifts in corporate IT infrastructure, are becoming more vulnerable to attack. Increased support for remote work moves corporate endpoints outside of the enterprise network and its protections. Bring your own device (BYOD) policies allow employee-owned devices to connect to the enterprise network and access sensitive corporate data.

Endpoint protection has always been important for defence in depth, but the blurring of the enterprise network perimeter due to remote work and BYOD policies has made it even more important. Endpoints are companies’ first line of defence against cyber threats and a major source of cyber risk.

How Does end point protection Work?

Endpoint protection works via a combination of network and device-level defences. At the network level, the organization may restrict access to the enterprise network based on a device’s compliance with corporate security policies and least privilege. By blocking insecure devices from accessing the corporate network and sensitive resources, the organization restricts its attack surface and enforces its security policies.

Organizations may also install software directly on an endpoint to monitor and protect it. This includes both standalone solutions and ones that use an agent installed on the device to allow it to be centrally monitored, controlled, and protected. This allows an organization to monitor and protect devices that may not always be connected directly to the enterprise network.

What are Endpoint Protection Software?

Endpoint protection (EPP) software is a cybersecurity solution that protects your endpoint devices (PCs, mobiles, laptops, tablets, routers, etc.,) against malware, phishing, harmful files, and suspicious activity.

EPP solutions are typically deployed via a software agent, which is installed directly onto the end user’s device and managed by admins from a central dashboard. From here the admins can configure policies, respond to incidents, and track endpoints connected to the network.

3 Types of endpoint protection software

1. Endpoint Detection And Response (EDR)?

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions are an evolution of endpoint security that continuously monitors end user devices to detect and respond to advanced threats. While endpoint protection solutions would traditionally scan user devices periodically (as well as scanning new files and web downloads), EDR solutions will continuously scan for suspicious activity, recording, and analysing endpoint behaviours at the system level. EDR solutions can automatically block malicious endpoint activity and provide high levels of contextual data and remediation actions for IT admins.

2. Extended Detection And Response (XDR)?

Extended detection and response (XDR) tools are an evolution of the EDR solutions detailed. They are SaaS-based solutions that provide threat detection and incident response across multiple security products, including your endpoint protection and EDR solutions.

3. Managed Detection And Response (MDR)?

Managed Detection and Response (MDR) covers EDR solutions that are managed by a security vendor directly on behalf of the organization. Security tasks such as incident investigation, alert triaging, threat hunting, and remediation are outsourced to the EDR vendor, saving valuable time for IT admins and SOC teams. There are many benefits to going with the MDR approach – it can help teams with a lack of resources internally and bolster in-house talent with external expertise. 

Endpoint Protection Features (Components):

An endpoint protection solution should offer comprehensive protection to the endpoint and to the corporate network. Some essential features of an endpoint security solution include the following:

Anti-Malware: Endpoint protection solutions should detect and prevent infections by viruses, worms, and other malware.

Behavioural Analytics: Ransomware and other malware variants have unique behaviours that make them detectable without the use of signatures. By monitoring these behaviours, endpoint protection solutions can detect and respond to zero-day attacks.

Compliance: The ability to enforce compliance with enterprise security policies is increasingly important with the growth of remote work and BYOD. Endpoint solutions should evaluate devices and only allow connections to the corporate network if they are compliant with corporate policy.

Data Encryption: Encryption is the most effective way to protect data against unauthorized access and potential breach. Endpoint security solutions should offer full disk encryption (FDE) and support encryption of removable media. 

Firewall and Application Control: Network segmentation is essential for managing access and cybersecurity risk. Firewall and application control functionality enables network segmentation and blocking of traffic based on security policy and application-specific rules.

Sandbox Inspection: Endpoints can be infected with malware via various means such as phishing, vulnerability exploitation, and more. Endpoint security solutions should extract and inspect files in a sandboxed environment to identify and block malicious content from reaching an endpoint.

Secure Remote Access: Secure remote access is essential for employees working under a remote or hybrid model. Endpoint security solutions should incorporate a virtual private network (VPN) client or other secure remote access solution.

URL Filtering: Malicious links are a commonly used technique in phishing attacks, and inappropriate web usage on corporate devices impedes productivity and puts the company at risk. URL filtering helps prevent these threats by blocking malicious and inappropriate websites.

Endpoint Protection with Harmony Endpoint: 

As remote work and BYOD become more common, endpoint protection is an essential component of a corporate cybersecurity strategy. Many potential solutions exist in the endpoint protection space, and choosing the right endpoint security solution is essential to preventing attacks against endpoints and the corporate network. 

 

Malwares

Malware" is any kind of software that's designed to harm a computer. Malware can steal sensitive information from your computer, gradually slow down your computer, or even send fake emails from your email account without your knowledge. Here are some common types of malwares you might have heard about:

• Virus: A harmful computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer.
• Worm: A malicious computer program that sends copies of itself to other computers via a network.
• Spyware: Malware that collects information from people without their knowledge.
• Adware: Software that automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements on a computer.
• Trojan horse: A destructive program that pretends to be a useful application but harms your computer or steals your information after it's installed.

How malware spreads:

Malware can get onto your computer in several different ways. Here are some common examples:

·        Downloading free software from the Internet that secretly contains malware.

·        Downloading legitimate software that's secretly bundled with malware.

·        Visiting a website that's infected with malware.

·        Clicking a fake error message or pop-up window that starts a malware download.

·        Opening an email attachment that contains malware.

There are a lot of different ways that malware can spread, but that doesn't mean you're powerless to stop it. Now that you know what malware is and what it can do, let's go over some practical steps you can take to protect yourself.

How to prevent malware: 

Keep your computer and software updated: 

Microsoft and Apple often release updates for their operating systems, and it's a good idea to install these updates when they become available for your Windows and Mac computers. These updates often include fixes that can improve the security of your system. Some operating systems also offer automatic updates, so that you can automatically get updates soon after they're available.

Windows users can install updates using a feature called "Windows Update," while Mac users can install updates using a feature called "Software Update." If you're not familiar with these features, we encourage you to search the Microsoft and Apple websites for more information on how to install system updates on your computer.

Use a non-administrator account whenever possible: 

Most operating systems allow you to create multiple user accounts on your computer, so that different users can have different settings. These user accounts can also be set up to have different security settings.

For example, an "admin" (or "administrator") account usually can install new software, while "limited" or "standard" accounts usually don't have the ability to do so. When doing day-to-day web browsing, you probably don't need to install new software, so we suggest that you use a "limited" or "standard" user account whenever possible. Doing this can help prevent malware from getting installed on your computer and making system-wide changes.

Think twice before clicking links or downloading anything: 

In the real world, most people would probably be a little suspicious about stepping into a shady-looking building with a sign that says, "Free computers!" in flashing lights. On the web, you should adopt a similar level of caution when entering unfamiliar websites that claim to offer free things.

We know it might be tempting to download that free video editing program or role-playing game, but do you really trust the website that's offering it? Sometimes it helps to leave that website and search for reviews or information about that website or program before downloading or installing anything. Downloads are one of the main ways people get malware, so remember to think twice about what you're downloading and where you're downloading it from.

Be careful about opening email attachments or images:

If a random person sends you a box of chocolates in the mail, would you open it and scarf it down without any hesitation? Probably not. Similarly, you should be wary if a random person sends you a suspicious email containing attachments or images. Sometimes, those emails might just be spam, but other times, those emails might secretly contain harmful malware. If you use Gmail, report those emails as spam so that we can better weed out emails like this in the future.

Don't trust pop-up windows that ask you to download software:

When surfing the web, you might come across sites that show pop-up windows, making you believe your computer has been infected and asking you to download some software to protect yourself. Don't fall for this trick. Just close the pop-up window and make sure you don't click inside the pop-up window.

Limit your file-sharing:

Some sites and applications allow you to easily share files with other users. Many of these sites and applications offer little protection against malware. If you exchange or download files using these file-sharing methods, be on the lookout for malware. Malware can often be disguised as a popular movie, album, game, or program.

Use antivirus software: 

If you need to download something, you should use an antivirus program to scan that download for malware before opening it. Antivirus software also allows you to scan your entire computer for malware. It's a good idea to run regular scans of your computer to catch malware early and prevent it from spreading. Google doesn't make any antivirus software, but the following article contains a list of antivirus software that you might want to consider.

Data Breach

Imagine your personal information, like credit card numbers, health records, or even social media logins, exposed to the world. That's the chilling reality of a data breach, a security incident where sensitive data is illegally accessed or stolen. In today's interconnected world, data breaches are a rampant threat, impacting individuals, businesses, and organizations alike.

Understanding the Breach:

Data breaches come in many forms, from physical theft of laptops to sophisticated hacking attacks exploiting software vulnerabilities. Hackers may target individuals for financial gain, businesses for confidential information, or even entire government agencies for national security secrets.

The Fallout of a Breach:

The consequences of a data breach can be far-reaching. Individuals face risks like:

• Identity theft: Stolen personal information can be used to open fraudulent accounts, make unauthorized purchases, or damage your credit score.
• Financial loss: Exposed financial data can lead to fraudulent charges or even bank account takeover.
• Reputational damage: Leaked personal information can be used to embarrass or blackmail individuals.

Businesses, on the other hand, can suffer:

• Financial penalties: Regulatory bodies may impose hefty fines for data breaches.
• Loss of customer trust: Breaches can damage brand reputation and erode customer loyalty.
• Operational disruptions: Businesses may have to invest heavily in remediation efforts and security upgrades.

 

Protecting Yourself:

While the threat of data breaches is real, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk:

• Use strong passwords and enable multi-factor authentication.
• Be cautious about sharing personal information online.
• Keep your software and devices up to date.
• Be wary of phishing scams and suspicious emails.
• Regularly monitor your financial accounts and credit reports.

Staying Informed:

Data breaches are complex issues with ongoing developments. Stay informed by:

• Following reputable cybersecurity news sources.
• Subscribing to data breach notification services.
• Consulting with cybersecurity experts for personalized advice.

By understanding data breaches and taking proactive steps, you can better protect yourself and your valuable information in the digital age. Remember, vigilance is key in navigating the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.

How to Prevent data beach.

Instruct your representatives.

Battling obliviousness is one of the most mind-blowing ways of forestalling information breaks. It is essential to teach your representatives on the most proficient method to shield information from being compromised.

You can do this by assisting them with understanding how to make solid passwords, how frequently they ought to change their passwords, and by assisting them with spotting, keep away from, and report phishing tricks and other dubious movement.

2. Make and update strategies

You can make strategies connected with information security principles and update them reliably. This will clarify what your organization's assumptions are as it connects with information. This will likewise show to your representatives that you treat information in a serious way and advise them that they ought to view it in a serious way too.

Furthermore, it is shrewd to consider utilizing jobs and authorizations with regards to getting to particular sorts of information. With PaySimple, for instance, you can set clients to have fluctuating access and survey authorizations. This component gives a proactive way to deal with implementing information systems inside your business.

3. Remote observing

Remote checking gives nonstop observing of your organization.

You can work with an oversaw IT administrations supplier, so you don't need to staff IT individuals nonstop to screen your frameworks for you.

4. Information reinforcement and recuperation

Now and again information breaks can vindictively erase the entirety of your information. It's essential to have your information supported with the goal that it can undoubtedly be recuperated if there should be an occurrence of information misfortune, a server crash, or even a cataclysmic event.

Your IT group ought to have robotized distant reinforcement frameworks set up consistently to shield you from losing significant information.

5. Keep just what you really want:

Monitor the data you keep on your PCs and periodically take out what is pointless. It is likewise critical to limit the quantity of spots that you store secret information and monitor where those spots are.

 

Note: In every case intently observe any information maintenance guidelines for your organization or industry as these may expect you to store information temporarily.

6. Annihilate before removal:

Before you discard whatever might have secret data on it, ensure it is appropriately annihilated.

For instance, cross-cut shred paper records. Additionally, ensure you use programming intended to forever clear information off gadgets like old telephones, PCs, or hard drives. Basically erasing the documents or reformatting doesn't completely delete information.

7. Shield actual information:

Since actual activities can cause information breaks, it is vital to shield all information, including actual documents.

Ensure actual records are put away in a got area and that entrance is limited to just the representatives that need access.

8. Engage workers with best practices:

Representatives ought to have a firm comprehension of sites that can open work PCs to chances, for example, record sharing sites. The equivalent goes for cell phones they use throughout work.

Particularly with remote work, you ought to urge them to just involve work PCs for business uses and hold different exercises to their PCs.

9. Keep up with exceptional security programming:

It is critical to ensure you play it safe to keep away from a security break. You can buy security programming and mechanize it to run consistently.

Firewalls, hostile to infection programming, and hostile to spyware programming are significant devices to safeguard your business against information breaks. Work intimately with a web security group or supplier to set these up accurately.

10. Encode information:

Assuming you send classified information by email, ensure that they are scrambled before they are being sent.

If utilizing a Wi-Fi organization, guarantee you have a devoted organization for your group that general society can't get to. For the most delicate information, you might expect workers to not involve Wi-Fi by any means as it can permit digital lawbreakers to block information.

11. Safeguard convenient gadgets:

Streak drives, cell phones, tablets, and other convenient gadgets are not difficult to lose or take. Ensure that convenient gadgets have hard-to-figure passwords set up, against robbery applications introduced, and other safety efforts taken so they must be gotten to by approved clients.

12. Employ a specialist:

Dealing with a private company is tedious and pondering information breaks may not be right up your alley.

 

Endpoint protection solutions

Endpoint protection solutions protect endpoints, such as PCs, laptops, servers, mobiles, and IoT devices from malware, phishing, malicious applications, and zero-day attacks. They also enable IT teams to triage, investigate, and remediate security incidents, respond to alerts, and configure device policies. They differ from commercial anti-virus solutions as they allow admins to manage all devices from a single admin console and perform complex investigations against threats, with the ability to carry out remediation activities.

Endpoint protection is a fundamental pillar of a cybersecurity plan that will protect users and data. They are crucial to any organization, and one of the most effective ways of protecting devices against harmful web downloads, ransomware, and malicious applications. Endpoint protection solutions should be easy to install across your endpoints. They should be lightweight and provide you with a comprehensive management portal where you can monitor endpoints, deploy updates, and view reports.

However, the endpoint security market today is extremely crowded. There are a dozens of vendors on the market with different technologies and approaches designed to stop threats from reaching your corporate devices. Some of these solutions are designed around specific device fleets (Mac or PC) or different approaches to endpoint protection like machine learning powered extended detection and response (XDR) solutions. These will be designed for particular company types, such as SMBs or large corporate enterprises.

ESET

ESET: is a market-leading vendor in endpoint security and antivirus software, known for their powerful yet lightweight cybersecurity solutions. ESET Endpoint Security is their cloud-based endpoint protection solution, designed to protect organization of all sizes against known and zero-day threats such as malware, ransomware and fileless attacks. The solution offers multi-layered protection, which admins can control with a single centralized management console. ESET Endpoint Security protects computers, mobile devices, file servers and virtual environments. It’s available as a standalone product and as a part of a wider enterprise cybersecurity bundle, ESET PROTECT Enterprise, which also includes file server security, disk encryption, a cloud sandbox and EDR.

ESET Endpoint Security combines machine learning technologies and crowdsourced threat intelligence to detect and prevent targeted malware and ransomware attacks. The solution monitors all executed apps for malicious content, based on their known behaviours and reputations. It also scans the behaviours of malicious file processes in each endpoint’s memory to discover and eliminate fileless threats. The combination of technical and human threat intelligence means that ESET’s solution has excellent detection rates before, during and after execution. ESET Endpoint Security also offers web browser protection, preventing users from downloading malicious files and enabling admins to blacklist known malicious URLs, and list URLs that need specific protection.

Heimdal™

Heimdal™ Threat Prevention Endpoint provides endpoint security by going beyond antivirus capabilities. It ensures safe browsing for all users, whether they’re working from home, in the office, or both by scanning traffic in real-time and blocking any suspicious or harmful domains and stopping any malicious communication. This is particularly helpful for employees on the move who may need to connect to unprotected or already infected networks, as well as protecting end users from sudden redirects to other web pages when browsing.

The product leverages endpoint DNS threat hunting capabilities, which help it detect and process any malicious URLs before tracing the threat back to the source. It also utilizes DarkLayer Guard™, a traffic filtering engine that works on inbound and outbound traffic. This feature can be customized, with admins able to set listings for the engine to refer to.

Heimdal™’s Threat Prevention Endpoint offers a complex but navigable and easy solution for endpoint security, offering a new approach in the form of AI-driven DNS. We would recommend the product for small to medium sized businesses looking for something different.

Avast

Avast are a global leader for providing cyber security solutions to businesses and consumers. Avast’s Small Business Solutions protect customers against malware and ransomware threats, alongside VPN and patch management capabilities. Avast has one of the world’s largest threat detection network and threat database, protecting over 440 million endpoints and 10,000 servers globally. This enables them to use to collect and analyze huge quantities of threat data and create machine learning technologies to stop threats against the endpoint in real-time.

Avast provides a fully-cloud based endpoint protection solution with an online management platform where you can easily configure device protection, monitor endpoints, and add new devices. Avast operate a leading anti-virus solution, offering advanced protection against ransomware and data theft. Avast also provide leading customer support, with 24/5 support delivered by experienced technical engineers. In addition, Avast also offers identity protection, with password and webcam security designed to prevent workforce accounts and devices from compromise.

The Avast Small Business Solutions platform is available in three different packages: Essential, Premium, and Ultimate Business Security. This allows businesses to choose the protection most suited to their needs. The Essential, Premium, and Ultimate Business Security tiers provide the same endpoint protection engine with antivirus and firewall components. The Premium Business Security adds a VPN and USB protection to the package. Ultimate Business Security encompasses everything from the previous packages, along with patch management.

Bitdefender GravityZone

Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security Enterprise is an all-in-one endpoint protection solution monitors your endpoints, provides effective response, and advanced risk analytics. Bitdefender uses advanced, cross-endpoint correlation technologies to deploy protection across your entire organization, enabling it to identify emerging threats faster and more efficiently if multiple endpoints are compromised. Bitdefender is a trusted endpoint protection provider, protecting millions of consumer and business endpoints worldwide.

The platform is easy to manage and deploy, with support for endpoints running Windows, Linux, and Mac. It can easily integrate with third-party security tools, allowing teams to manage endpoints and track threats more effectively. In addition, GravityZone also contentiously assess and logs security misconfigurations and user behaviours, helping you to create baseline profiles and identify anomalies more easily.

Check Point

Check Point is a leading cybersecurity solution provider, used by more than 100,000 organizations globally. Check Point Harmony is their unified security platform, which provides comprehensive protection against advanced endpoint attacks. The platform comprises a secure web gateway, email security and phishing protection, secure access service edge (SASE), intrusion prevention, and endpoint security in a single, unified security bundle.

Crowdstrike is a market leader in the endpoint security space. They offer a comprehensive suite of endpoint protection solutions under the “Falcon” name; this also includes integrations with Crowdstrike’s other enterprise security tools like cloud security, endpoint detection and response, managed detection and response, vulnerability management, and identity protection. Crowdstrike are one of the leading vendors for endpoint protection, operating in over 176 countries and continue to grow rapidly.

Trellix

Trellix (formerly McAfee Enterprise) is a global cybersecurity provider protecting more than 40,000 business and government customers worldwide. Trellix offers an integrated, centrally managed endpoint protection suite, which includes endpoint security with threat hunting and device security controls. It also provides EDR tools with threat insights and continuous threat monitoring.

Trend Micro are a global enterprise cybersecurity leader, protecting hundreds of thousands of organizations globally, and stopping hundreds of millions of threats daily. Cloud One Endpoint Security is Trend Micro’s cloud-based endpoint security solution and is delivered as a single SaaS service with visibility and management in a single integrated admin console. The solution is deployed to endpoints as a lightweight agent, which provides protection against malware and ransomware. Additional admin controls (such as device management and application control) are also provided.

Microsoft Defender

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a cloud-based enterprise endpoint security solution developed by Microsoft and integrates closely with the Microsoft 365 eco-system. The solution protects endpoint devices against malware, device compromise, and emerging endpoint threats. The solution is powered by threat detection engines to carry out vulnerability management, endpoint detection, and investigation capabilities. Supported endpoint include laptops, smartphones, tablets, PCs, access points, firewalls, and routers.

SentinelOne

SentinelOne is a leading provider of AI-powered security solutions and is best known for their ‘Autonomous AI’ platform which defends against advanced and emerging endpoint threats. Singularity Complete is SentinelOne’s fully AI powered SaaS platform for endpoint protection, detection, and response solution. The platform provides powerful protection, comprehensive visibility, and automated remediation across your entire endpoint, cloud, and identity ecosystem. All these areas can be managed from a single unified admin console.

Broadcom Symantec

Broadcom Symantec Endpoint Security includes endpoint security, sever security, and endpoint management capabilities. The suite is powered by Symantec’s Global Intelligence Networks – one of the largest threat intelligence networks globally. This single agent solution provides powerful protection for enterprise workforces, with flexible deployment options and comprehensive management capabilities. Broadcom is a global technology company that acquired Symantec Enterprise Security in 2019 and have positioned the service to focus primarily on the Global 2000 market.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or professional advice. Always conduct your own research before making any purchase decisions.