The Most Effective Endpoint Security Technologies
1. Platforms for protecting endpoints (EPP)
Endpoint protection platforms are usually made up of a lot of different security technologies that are all managed through a single console. These solutions are meant to protect an organization’s endpoints from a wide range of threats. Many EPPs use the cloud to do analysis, which means there is no processing hit on the endpoints. Endpoint protection software can be delivered as a service and managed from afar. They can also be installed on devices that have central management software on a server that can be used to control them.
EPP solutions usually run scans of files through an advanced AV/antimalware engine that protects against attacks that use signatures. This engine also uses behavioural analysis to protect against more threats. EPPs usually have endpoint firewalls that help to control network traffic through specific ports on each endpoint. These solutions may also have basic app control (whitelisting and blacklisting), sandboxing, and machine learning features.
2. Management of endpoints
As a whole, endpoint management refers to a wide range of solutions and processes for managing the endpoints’ lives. Endpoint management solutions may be able to find, onboard, register, provision, update, monitor, and troubleshoot endpoint devices all at once. It includes mobile device management (MDM), which is also known as enterprise mobility management (EMM), and unified endpoint management (UEM) (which may integrate a number of capabilities, including MDM, EMM, etc.). One-size-fits-all solutions like MDM and EMM only work with certain types of mobile phones. UEM solutions, on the other hand, try to wrap lifecycle management tools around a wide range of devices. It’s possible for UEM solutions to cover servers, desktops, mobile phones, IoT, and more.
Endpoint management solutions play a big part in improving the performance of devices, making sure they’re set up correctly, and setting a standard for how clean they should be. These solutions can also be managed from afar. Wrap security controls (like data wipes and anti-tampering) around the devices that they make. This is a safety measure in case a device is lost or stolen.
3. EDR solution is for endpoint detection and remediation.
Endpoint detection and remediation tools keep a close eye on files and applications that enter a computer to protect it from threats that aren’t just simple signature-based threats. As a result, this protects against some types of ransomware as well as zero-day threats and fileless malware. It also protects against more advanced attacks.
There are two types of security solutions: EPP and EDR. EDR solutions can detect intrusions and provide more advanced threat analysis and forensics than EPP solutions can. It is because of this that EDR tools become more important when a security breach or incident has already happened. The downside to EDR solutions is that there can be a lot of false alarms and security alerts.
Many IT service providers are now offering managed detection and remediation (MDR), which gives the customer tools backed by a team of analysts. In the last few years, EDR has been changing into XDR. XDR solutions use data sources that go beyond the endpoint, like traffic analysis, so they take a more holistic and context-aware approach than EDR.
4. Encryption, as well
Encryption is the process of making data so that it can’t be read or used without the right decryption key. As encryption cracking tools have become more powerful, encryption methods have had to change in order to keep data safe from being stolen. Encryption is an important part of many endpoint security or endpoint protection solutions (including PAM, DLP, and endpoint firewalls). They also play a big role in the device’s firmware and software. It’s common for endpoint encryption software to protect only a few files, or to encrypt the whole hard drive, which is called full disc encryption.
5. Solutions for controlling applications
Application control solutions protect endpoints, such as end-user devices and servers, by stopping them from running unauthorised applications. When these solutions were first made, they made use of allow lists (whitelists), black lists (black lists), and grey list options. There are some applications that have been found but haven’t been added to allow or block lists. Security rules may be put in place so that greylisted applications can run in certain situations, as needed.
Also, some application control solutions may be able to give very specific control over how applications are used. Application control, for example, could let a certain user or endpoint do a certain thing in an application. At the same time, it can stop or stop other applications from working for that person or endpoint. Cloud-based reputation services can also be used to see if an app is safe to run.
If you want to sell application control as a standalone product, you can do so. It can also be part of other products, like endpoint privilege management or next-generation firewalls (NGFWs). Integration with these other platforms often allows for a natural expansion of the advanced application protection capabilities that these other platforms already have. Application control solutions must be very well-tuned. They need to make it easy for people to use approved apps for legitimate reasons while still protecting them from malware, ransomware, and other threats.