6 Ways to Protect Endpoints

Em Blog Endpoint Protection

Protecting entry points prevents attacks

Endpoints have an oversized footprint

The importance of the edge and endpoint is evident. By 2023, cloud-delivered endpoint protection platform (EPP) solutions will exceed 95% of deployments.1 About 91% of IT decision makers believe that endpoint security has become as important as network security.2

The need for more robust endpoint security stems from corporate IT protection’s failure to adequately cover fast-growing endpoint segments, except for protecting company-owned devices. For example, companies protect only 35% of employee-owned mobile devices and cover 41% of IoT devices.3

The urgency of endpoint protection

Internal threats account for more than 50% of all data loss incidents and have increased by 50% over the past four years.4

Internal threats account for more than 50% of all data loss incidents and have increased by 50% over the past four years.4 These threats will persist, with about 23% of office workers expecting to continue to work remotely in the future.5 At the same time, 64% of organizations desire threat detection for IoT devices, and 75% of companies consider endpoint malware and antivirus protection core capabilities.6 Things assume more significance when we add the impact of ransomware, which prompted 79% of enterprises to make data encryption the top priority.7

Six ways to protect endpoints

A disciplined approach to endpoint protection is necessary for threat reduction and success.

  1. Eliminate internal threats. Internal threats ranging from opening a suspect email to granting access to unauthorized persons pose serious threats. The theft of one password triggered the recent Colonial Pipeline.8
  2. Implement zero-trust. Access to devices and data should be limited to authorized people using role-based policies. Trust no one and nothing without multifactor authentication. Only 35% of enterprises report that they have zero-trust companywide.9
  3. Educate and train employees. Lack of security awareness is a risk factor that can be fixed with regular training and testing. Security-conscious people are less likely to cause disruptions.
  4. Deploy intelligent XDRs. Extended detection and response (XDR) solutions will be adopted at an increasing pace for advanced analytics and critical threat detection by 46% of firms.
  5. Automate with AI/ML automation. It is no longer viable for humans to inspect incoming cyber threats. AI/ML learning is the best fit for the job as it can direct severe threats to IT while saving human resources for severe threats.
  6. Centralize visibility and management. One can only protect things they can see. Implementing complete and centralized visibility and management solution is a cornerstone of successful endpoint protection. Closing blind spots and eliminating data silos reduce risks that continue to exist in 62% of enterprises.10

Take nothing for granted

The risks to the endpoint are increasing with the expansion of IoT networks and hybrid work models. IT security teams can lower overall cyber threats by adopting a zero-trust strategy and role-based multifactor authorization. AI/ML learning makes cyberthreats manageable and reduces IT overhead to focus resources on more valuable initiatives. Centralized visibility and management are necessary for unified data and apps to be monitored and protected in real-time. Discipline and increased security awareness are vital for avoiding the next cyber-attack.

  1. 1. Gartner May 2021. “Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platform.”
  2. 2, 5. HP Wolf Security 2021. “Blurred Lines and Blind Spots.”
  3. 3, 6, 7, 9. ESG 2021. “Endpoint Security Trends.”
  4. 4. Code42 2020. “The Usual Suspects.”
  5. 8. Reuters June 8, 2021. “One password allowed hackers to disrupt Colonial Pipeline, CEO tells senators.”
  6. 10. Ponemon Institute June 2020. “The 2020 Study on Closing the IT Security Gap: Global.”