What Is Endpoint Security Management
The greater the number of endpoint devices connected to a corporate network, the greater the number of entry points available to cyber criminals. Endpoint security management is a software-based technique that is often centralized and allows network managers to identify and regulate end users’ device access over the corporate network. This includes employees’ personal devices.
Two iSync.io services come to mind when strategizing a endpoint security management solution.
- SyncBox is a secure file synchronization and sharing service that offers continuous backup. This means that your endpoint devices and file sharing service, including both PCs and Macs, are continuously backed up. SynBox is also a rock solid Ransomware prevention service.
- With iSync’s managed Trend Micro Worry-Free endpoint security service, you can control all endpoint security from a single web interface.
The following are some examples of endpoint security management, but the list is not exhaustive:
- Virus protection software with managed updates
- Web filtering
- Management of applications and patches
- Controlling the network access based on a “need to know” basis
- Software for a virtual private network (also known as VPN)
- Encryption of both data and emails
Administrators can restrict network access for any devices that do not adhere to the organization’s established security policy by configuring access permissions. They also have the ability to define policies so that end users can only access those parts of the network that are necessary for them to complete the responsibilities of their jobs (also known as “need to know”).
Because of this, they contribute to ensuring that the business is protected from potential endpoint security risks despite how many devices are connected.
Why Is the Management of Endpoint Security So Important?
When companies expand, they typically begin to amass a more significant number of endpoints. As the system grows, the number of users rises, and additional endpoints are required to support it. This results in a greater degree of accessibility to the resources of an organization.
Sadly, it also expands an organization’s attack surface and provides attackers with more entry points to a system. This is because it offers more entrance points.
If an attacker successfully breaches these entryways into your system, they will be able to steal valuable data, abuse system resources, and inflict other damage. Strong endpoint security management is one of the most effective strategies to stop attackers from taking advantage of your endpoints as a potential target.
This management encompasses remote devices, such as those that are permitted under policies known as bringing your own device (BYOD). In the absence of adequate management, these devices have the potential to introduce vulnerabilities into your systems and give attackers access to endpoints that would otherwise be secured.
The Mechanisms Behind Endpoint Security Solutions
Typical endpoint security solutions integrate several levels of security technology into a single unified platform. These solutions give teams visibility into endpoint devices and traffic, enable remote control of devices, aid in standardizing policy applications, and correlate event information from devices.
Most of the time, these platforms communicate with one another using proxies or agents installed on endpoint devices. These agents are responsible for gathering event data and reporting it to the central console. Specific agents can also control the behavior or configuration settings of endpoints.
There are features that may or may not be available to you, depending on the platform that you use. The following are some of the most critical characteristics to search for in a solution for endpoint security:
Monitoring of endpoints- requires that solutions offer continuous monitoring and include options for alerting users. Monitoring ought to encompass all endpoints and incorporate device discovery capabilities to guarantee that no connections will go unnoticed.
For example, AI techniques like user and entity behavior analysis (UEBA) should be incorporated into any solutions aiming to detect sophisticated threats. Examples of this include attacks as well as sophisticated, persistent threats. These attacks are able to circumvent conventional detection methods, but dynamic safeguards such as UEBA can identify and stop them.
Security teams frequently utilize integration with System information and event management (SIEM) solutions in order to monitor activities that occur within the confines of a network’s perimeter. Integration of endpoint security solutions with these tools enables teams to keep operations centralized and end-to-end threats tracking. Endpoint security solutions should interact with these products.
Automated response – A solution should be able to automatically react to threats based on the policies established in advance. As an illustration, sandboxing files posted or downloaded to endpoints and restricting connections when suspicious activity is discovered are examples of this.
Deception technology – designed to trick attackers into thinking that they are accessing authentic resources while, in fact, they are accessing decoys. Following that, these decoys are used to alert teams to the activities of attackers, isolate attackers, or collect information on attack actors or techniques.
The Most Effective Methods for Endpoint Security Management
When it comes to maintaining the security of endpoints, there are a few different best practices that you may implement. These best practices can help guarantee that your rules are effective and that your endpoints have the highest level of security available.
The following are some best practices to think about.
- If you utilize solutions that support bandwidth throttling, you may prevent users from misusing connections without having to cut them off totally. This saves you time and money. This is beneficial in situations where you have customers legitimately wanting a lot but slowing down the system.
- Think about using cloud-based services, as these allow you to remotely patch a device even if it isn’t actively connected to your network. This helps to ensure that devices exposed to the Internet are patched proactively and decreases the risk of infection or compromise.
- Choose solutions that can be scaled up; it would not be wise to invest in a solution that would not be able to keep up with the expansion of your business. The solutions you choose should be able to support a greater number of endpoints than you now have without significantly impacting performance or using significantly more resources.
- Consolidate your tools and make an effort to keep them as centralized and ubiquitous as possible. This involves giving attention to tools that can be utilized across various contexts, devices, and operating system configurations. When managing your perimeter, the fewer tools and agents you have to learn, install, and keep an eye on, the easier it will be.
Auditing your data regularly is important since numerous parameters are always shifting, and the only way for your solutions to be successful is if they take these shifts into account. You should regularly audit your monitoring data and alerts to confirm that real-time visibility is being provided and that all of your assets are being monitored.
