The Evolution of Endpoint Security

The endpoint security space has evolved over the last several years away from limited antivirus software and into a more advanced, comprehensive defence. This includes next-generation antivirus, threat detection, investigation, and response, device management, data leak protection (DLP), and other considerations to face evolving threats.

Organisations of all sizes are at risk from nation-states, hacktivists, organised crime, and malicious and accidental insider threats. Endpoint security is often seen as cybersecurity's frontline, and represents one of the first places organisations look to secure their enterprise networks.As the volume and sophistication of cybersecurity threats have steadily grown, so has the need for more advanced endpoint security solutions. Today’s endpoint protection systems are designed to quickly detect, analyse, block, and contain attacks in progress. To do this, they need to collaborate with each other and with other security technologies to give administrators visibility into advanced threats to speed detection and remediation response times.

What’s considered an endpoint?

An endpoint is any device that connects to the corporate network from outside its firewall.
Examples of endpoint devices include:

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  Laptops
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  Tablets
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  Mobile devices
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  Internet of things (IoT) devices
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  Point-of-sale (POS) systems
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  Switches
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  Digital printers
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  Other devices that communicate with the central network

Why is Endpoint Security Important?

Increasingly, enterprises and their employees are incorporating practices to make access to data more fluid. The increase in BYOD (bring your own device) policies, in addition to threats targeting mobile device access and networks, create multiple endpoint vulnerabilities. In addition, employees working from home or connecting to Wi-Fi networks to work on-the-go means that the enterprise network security perimeter is more porous than ever.In the past, most security breaches came in through the network. Today, however, threats are increasingly coming in through endpoints, which means centralised network protection does not go far enough. Shifting security perimeters that lack clear definition require new layers of security through endpoint protection. Security must maintain greater control over access points to prevent the vulnerabilities that can arise through the use of remote devices.

Endpoint Protection Platforms

An endpoint protection platform (EPP) is a solution deployed on endpoint devices to prevent file-based malware attacks, detect malicious activity, and provide the investigation and remediation capabilities needed to respond to dynamic security incidents and alerts. Several vendors produce systems converging EPP systems with endpoint detection and response (EDR) platforms – systems focused on threat detection, response, and unified monitoring.

Endpoint security software protects endpoints from being breached – no matter if they are physical or virtual, on- or off-premise, in data centres or in the Cloud. It is installed on laptops, desktops, servers, virtual machines, as well as remote endpoints themselves.

Fundamental Elements of An Endpoint Security Solution

1. Prevention: NGAV

Next-generation antivirus (NGAV) uses advanced endpoint protection technologies, such as AI and machine learning, to identify new malware by examining more elements, such as file hashes, URLs, and IP addresses.

2. Detection: EDR

An Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution needs to provide continuous and comprehensive visibility into what is happening on endpoints in real time.

3. Managed Threat Hunting

Managed threat hunting is conducted by elite teams that learn from incidents that have already occurred, aggregate crowdsourced data, and provide guidance on how best to respond when malicious activity is detected.

4. Threat Intelligence Integration

A threat intelligence integration solution should incorporate automation to investigate all incidents and gain knowledge in minutes, not hours. It should generate custom indicators of compromise (IoCs) directly from the endpoints to enable a proactive defence against future attacks.

Endpoint Security vs. Network Security