As the workforce evolves, becoming increasingly mobile and distributed, a wide range of endpoints are accessing the corporate landscape from outside of the traditional firewall.
Although flexibility is important for the modern workforce, it’s also creating an ever-expanding attack surface for hackers to exploit. Increasingly, traditional antivirus tools are struggling to handle the increase in attacks. Indeed, various reports confirm endpoints are increasingly being used as an entry point for cyber-attacks.
As endpoint attacks increase, companies need to reconsider the solutions they use to fight back against the latest threats.
Updating the Security Strategy for 2022
Organizations are quickly learning that traditional tools for endpoint security may no longer be effective. Significant updates are often necessary to handle the delays between finding an issue within the security landscape, and implementing a patch or fix.
In the past antivirus software has traditionally been the solution of choice for endpoint security. However, legacy solutions simply can’t keep up with evolving threats. According to the third annual Ponemon Institute study into endpoint security risk, 68% of IT security professionals say their companies experienced at least one endpoint attack in 2020.
What’s more, many companies struggle from issues like complex management tools, high false positives, and inadequate overall protections. More advanced EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) solutions are necessary to bridge the gap.
Intelligent EDR tools, like RAV antivirus can constantly monitor endpoints and investigate suspicious activity. Information can be captured and stored in a database where it can be examined for anomalies like unusual connections or processes. EDR solutions like RAV Antivirus feature extensive threat hunting and incident response capabilities to prevent one compromised endpoint from harming the entire network.
With RAV Antivirus, companies also gain access to machine learning capabilities. Without this technology, investigators would only be able to use the raw data collected from and investigated by its research arm to track issues. With machine learning, the system can essentially become more effective at pinpointing threats, by separating normal actions from abnormal or unusual ones.
Top Tips for Improving Endpoint Protection
Endpoints and end user devices are becoming critical security concerns in all organizations. Any device offering access to a corporate network and the resources within it could be a target for hackers. IT teams and security networks have to deal with the emerging trends of BYOD, remote work environments, and mobile work.
To ensure you’re prepared for the rising issue of endpoint attacks:
- Identify endpoints: Start by cataloging all endpoints which could pose a threat to your company. Once you have this data, you can enable network access to only the approved devices in your ecosystem and determine which tools you need to pay more attention to.
- Data access policy: Many businesses don’t have the correct protocols in place for data storage, access, and usage. It’s important to define which departments, employees, and endpoints should have access to specific kinds of data.
- IoT Security: IoT printers and devices often have default passwords and settings, making them a much easier target for attackers. To limit vulnerability, it’s important to change passwords and regularly release software updates.
- Data encryption: Encrypt restricted and critical data stored in the cloud or on-premises. You can also secure all of your data in transit, update web communications, and encrypt using a range of other valuable tools.
- Policy creation: Depending on the strategies you’re using in regard to endpoints, it may be important to establish specific policies. BYOD policies, for instance, can be particularly useful for people using their own endpoints in the modern world. These policies can highlight what kind of websites a user should access.
- Advanced automated protections: Basic solutions for endpoint protection, like firewalls and antiviruses, have been in the marketplace for a number of years. While antiviruses are great in catching known threats, they also struggle to detect sophisticated types of malware. Implementing advanced endpoint protection tools is crucial.
- Awareness: Ensure your team members know what kind of security threats they’re likely to face in the current landscape, and what their responsibilities are when it comes to staying safe. Companies should invest in educating their employees about the right security practices, such as how to secure their devices with multi-factor authentication.
Managing Endpoint Security in 2022
Today, as the workplace continues to evolve and the number of attack vectors facing companies continues to increase, it’s more important than ever to be aware of which threats your business might face. With the right endpoint security solutions, you can improve your chances of maintaining a high-performing workplace, no matter where your teams are distributed.
With the right endpoint protection, you add an extra layer of security to your company, and ensure you’re prepared for an environment where employees are spending more time outside of the office. Don’t underestimate the power of endpoint security.