Security for businesses comes in all shapes and sizes, and these days one of the most important forms of security that you can employ comes in the form of cybersecurity. A crucial part of this is endpoint security which now provides comprehensive protection from a range of outside threats when they reach the devices that we all use every single day.
However, many businesses still do not understand what endpoint security really means and what its value can be, which is why, in this article, Luke Watts, Managing Director of RoundWorks IT, shares his insight into what endpoint security is and why your business needs it.
What is endpoint security?
The endpoints in your computer network are things such as laptops, desktops, tablets and mobile phones, as these are the things that can create entry points into your business networks. Endpoints could also take the form of Internet of Things devices such as smart speakers, servers, digital printers, wearable technology, scanners, point of sale systems, ATM machines and even medical devices. If a device is capable of communicating with your central network, then it is thought to be an endpoint.
Often, a business might concentrate on securing networks and ensuring without fully realizing that these endpoints are the point of entry into your business for most cyber criminals and their threats. These endpoints are therefore easily exploited by cybercriminals through things such as malware and ransomware which form malicious attacks designed to steal data or bring your business to a halt.
Endpoint security works to protect these devices from such attacks, therefore preventing cybercriminals from getting further into your organization and causing untold levels of damage.
How does endpoint security work?
Endpoint security works by checking the files, processes and systems on an endpoint device in order to identify any suspicious activity. This helps to prevent cyber criminals from using malware, viruses and other tools to infiltrate the systems of a business. An endpoint protection platform is often used in conjunction with other security tools to try and provide comprehensive security.
In most endpoint security situations, businesses will have access to a centralized management console which allows them to monitor and investigate potential threats, and this can be done in different ways. The security software itself will often include machine learning so that the system can detect zero-day threats, and integrated firewall and an email gateway to prevent hostile attacks from outside the network.
It should also be able to guard against threats from within the business and will include advanced antivirus and anti-malware protection. Many endpoint security solutions will also include various forms of encryption to prevent data from being extracted and security to allow safe web browsing.
An on-location approach means that there is a locally hosted data center on site which reaches out to the necessary devices but can cause security silos as administrators are only able to manage endpoints that are within their perimeter.
An alternative option is cloud endpoint security, which means that endpoints can be monitored and managed through a system based in the cloud. Devices can connect to this cloud remotely, which allows administrators to enhance their reach. It means that information does not need to be stored locally, and the maintenance of updates is much easier. Cloud based security is also more scalable, as growth can be achieved at the click of a button.
A hybrid endpoint system brings together the best of both worlds, allowing businesses to adapt their existing systems to incorporate new remote ways of working. This also means that larger businesses can benefit from a cloud-based solution but can also have an on-site system if regulations dictate it.
The importance of endpoint security
Since the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a significant rise in the number of people working from home and connecting to public wi-fi. This means that most businesses now have an increasing number of endpoints and very little security to protect them, which has led to a rise in attempted cyber-attacks. In 2019, the FBI reported an increase in complains of more than 300,000, and losses that totalled a frightening $4.2 billion, and this is thought to be growing on a yearly basis.
Generally, cybercriminals are targeted small and medium-sized businesses who they feel probably have less protection in place and are therefore easier targets. One of the biggest results of these attacks is data breaches, and it is thought that as many as 70% of data breaches originated on endpoint devices.
This can lead to some hefty penalties for the business as well as huge reputational damage that it can take years to recover from, so the cost of these attacks can be massive. One study has estimated that each data breach costs an average of $3.86 million globally, with 40% of that cost coming from lost business as a result of this breach. These are costs which are hard to ignore and are difficult for any business to simply suck up, making protection from attacks essential.
Often, a business will only think to provide endpoint security cover after a data breach has occurred, focusing instead on networks and infrastructure rather than the endpoint devices themselves. The technology employed by these cybercriminals is becoming more and more sophisticated, meaning that the challenges to protect businesses from them get ever greater.
As endpoint security tends to be the weak link in most businesses cyber security, it is something that needs much closer attention if a business wants to remain protected.
Endpoint security might not be a term that you are too familiar with, but it is essential for almost any business. Data is one of the most valuable assets that your business now holds, and so cyber attacks are on the rise to enable criminals to steal it, abuse it or simply destroy it, and it can bring businesses to their knees. It is therefore vital to ensure that you have thorough and comprehensive endpoint security in place to keep your business, and everyone who works with it, as safe as possible.
Visit RoundWorks IT for more endpoint security information.
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