What Are Endpoints and Why Protect Them?

Summary: A primer on device management, including answers to: What are endpoints? What is endpoint detection and response? and What is endpoint protection?

Why Do Small Businesses Need to Worry About Endpoints?

The growth of remote access work has forced many small and midsized businesses (SMBs) to scramble. Most smaller companies don’t have the IT expertise to lock down the expanding list of devices connected to their business networks. In fact, many didn’t even realize that every remotely connected device represents an endpoint in their system. And each new endpoint affords hackers a potential entryway.

Q: What is endpoint detection and response (EDR)?

A: EDR is a cybersecurity technology that monitors devices such as computers, laptops, and servers for suspicious activity. It helps detect threats like malware, ransomware, and unauthorized access. EDR tools continuously collect data from endpoints, analyze potential threats, and help businesses respond quickly to security incidents.

What Are Endpoints?

An endpoint is any device connected to your network, including cell phones, laptops, tablets, printers, and other networked smart devices. Over the past few years, endpoints have significantly contributed to cybercrimes. The FBI has reported a more than 400% increase in cybercrime in this decade. As a result, securing vulnerable endpoints has become a crucial part of cybersecurity and device management.

What is Endpoint Protection for SMBs?

Endpoint protection is the cybersecurity measures that protect every networked device in your business from cyberattacks. It’s estimated that more than 70% of cyberattacks are launched through a networked device endpoint. Therefore, device security is of paramount importance.

Unfortunately, the truth is daunting: One unprotected remote access device can give hackers an entry point to your entire network and all your hard-earned business data. What makes matters worse is that an unsuspecting employee can open the endpoint to an attack simply by not following cybersecurity best practices.

Despite this, many SMBs have not taken endpoint protection seriously enough at a time when cybercriminals are creating increasingly more robust malware to help them breach your data.

Q: How is EDR different from traditional antivirus software?

A: Traditional antivirus software mainly looks for known malware using signature-based detection. EDR goes further by monitoring device behavior in real time and identifying suspicious patterns that may indicate an attack. This allows EDR tools to detect new or unknown threats and provide detailed insights into how an incident occurred.

What is Endpoint Detection and Response?

Endpoint detection and response (EDR) is endpoint security combined with continuous monitoring and collection of endpoint data with an automated, permissions-based response and event analysis. Unfortunately, most SMBs are unaware of their endpoint vulnerabilities and, when attacked, cannot trace the incident and respond quickly enough to contain such a breach.

The primary purposes of EDR are:

• Real-time monitoring and storing of endpoint activity data that might indicate a potential threat to a network through that endpoint
• Analysis of data to determine if threats exist
• Response to potential threats through deletion or quarantine
• Sending alerts to IT personnel or the point person in charge of cybersecurity

Q: What types of threats can EDR help detect?

A: EDR systems can detect a wide range of threats including ransomware, fileless malware, credential theft, and suspicious user activity. By monitoring processes, network connections, and system changes, EDR tools can identify unusual behavior that may indicate a cyberattack and alert administrators before serious damage occurs.

IT Experts Can Help Secure Your Endpoint Devices

You might need to call in experts to secure all endpoints, but there are many issues to identify at the user level before enlisting professional IT support. Here is the shortlist of some of the actions to be taken:

• Identify and List All Endpoints – By making a comprehensive list of all your network’s endpoints, you can ensure that only approved devices with consistent cyber protections are allowed on the network
• Automate Your Endpoint Security – Automated alerts and early detection and responses can mitigate cyber threats before they invade your entire network
• Create Unique, Complex Passwords and Customized Administrative Permissions – In this area, users must all follow unified, company-wide cybersecurity protocols. The essential components include requiring complex passwords from all users and allowing administrative permissions for only those whose jobs require those permissions. For example, an accounting administrator might need permissions to access bank statements, while someone in the graphics department does not need access to those files and therefore should not be granted that permission. Permissions must be based solely on the job requirements for specific employees
• Ensure Employees Comply with Best Practices – Untrained, non-tech employees are unwittingly a significant threat to endpoint security. Without proper training and defined best practices, employees might not stop and think before opening an attachment in a suspicious email or clicking on an embedded link. Your corporate culture must promote a “Think Before You Click” approach to online work. Malware used in tandem with phishing emails is becoming a favorite of cybercriminals. Therefore, your team must be taught to work together to protect your company’s network

Q: How can small businesses implement EDR effectively?

A: Implement EDR by choosing a trusted security provider and deploying the software across all company devices. Regular monitoring, proper configuration, and employee awareness are important for success. Many organizations also work with managed security providers to help monitor alerts and respond to threats quickly.

What Is the Best Way to Protect Small Business Networks?

Online technology now encompasses so many areas of our personal and business lives. Cybercriminals love that there are so many new endpoints being added every day, all over the world. Each vulnerable endpoint device is an opportunity for them to breach your company’s data. What is endpoint protection if not a means to stop such hackers? Unfortunately, many SMBs have neither the time nor the budget for a full-time IT department, leaving their cyber vulnerabilities exposed.

Proactive protection is far less expensive and time consuming than a single data breach. Reach out to discuss device management, endpoint security, and managed cybersecurity services for small business.