What Is Endpoint Security?

Definition, Key
Components, and Best Practices
Endpoint security is the process of securing computer networks and all the endpoints
that are bridged to the network.

Vijay Kanade AI Researcher

Last Updated: August 5, 2022

Endpoint security is defined as a security practice that is used to

safeguard endpoints on a network, including user devices such as PCs,
laptops, servers, smartphones, tablets, and virtual environments from
malware, spyware, computer viruses, and online/offline threats. This
article explains the fundamentals of endpoint security, its key
components, and its benefits for enterprises. It also shares the top 10 best
practices for the implementation and management of endpoint security
in 2021.
Table of Contents

 What Is Endpoint Security?

 5 Key Components of Endpoint Security
 Key Benefits of Endpoint Security for Enterprises
 Top 10 Endpoint Security Best Practices for Implementation and
Management in 2021

What Is Endpoint Security?

Endpoint security is a security practice used to safeguard endpoints on
a network, including user devices such as PCs, laptops, servers,
smartphones, tablets, and virtual environments from malware,
spyware, computer viruses, and online/offline threats.

Endpoint security refers to the protection of organization networks against

threats that originate from on-premise or remote devices. An endpoint can
be any device such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, server, PC, or IoT
device that serves as an entry point to the assets and applications of an
enterprise. These devices represent attack vectors that cybercriminals use
to exploit potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

With businesses adopting the remote work culture, mobile applications,

and cloud services, their network perimeters have become even more
vulnerable than ever before. Also, there has been a sharp rise in device
theft, which has resulted in a huge loss of enterprise-sensitive data.
Additionally, cyber attackers are using sophisticated solutions that can
easily bypass many of the traditional security measures that enterprises use.

To address these problems, organizations are implementing endpoint

security via advanced tools equipped with features similar to machine
learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, virtual private network
(VPN), encryption, and granular application control. These tools are up-to-
date and secure companies from the ever-evolving threat landscape. They
safeguard organizations from malware attacks, zero-day vulnerabilities,
and other potential cyber threats.

The main objective of an endpoint security solution is to monitor and

secure every operational endpoint in a network. This is achieved via a
centralized management console installed on the enterprise network or
server. These endpoint security tools offer features such as vulnerable
endpoint detection, multi-factor authentication, real-time monitoring, user
behavioral analysis, and others to detect advanced security threats and, in
turn, manage them.

According to a 2021 report by Statista, the global endpoint security market

is expected to reach a valuation of $9.51 billion in 2021. The report also
projects that the market will continue to grow rapidly with a valuation of
$15 billion by 2024.

How does endpoint security work?

To go down the endpoint security path, it is important for businesses to

understand how endpoint security tools interact with other security
elements that are already in place. Let’s dive into the elementary process of
endpoint security implementation that enterprises need to consider,
irrespective of their industry type.
 Process of Endpoint Security

 Step I: Gather information.

In the first step, a company needs to gather all the relevant information. To
better defend your network from potential attacks, you need to be aware of
all the access points that it connects to. This also involves making a note of
sensitive and private data along with identity and access management
(IAM). This activity will make you aware of what information you need to
protect and who is given access to what kind of data.

 Step II: Choose security solutions.

After surveying and gathering relevant information about various

endpoints, you need to choose an appropriate security solution for every
endpoint layer. This can include cloud protection, network protection, and
hardware & software protection.

 Step III: Implement security solutions.

In the final step, you can implement the selected security solution and start
monitoring the endpoints. Here, you need to measure the performance of
the selected solution and determine if any network vulnerability still exists.
If the answer is yes, you need to begin the entire process all over again. To
do so, you can test all the vulnerabilities and adjust the security solution as
needed.

Now we’ll move to the key components of endpoint security and how they
interact to provide complete security to organization networks.

See More: What Is Data Security? Definition, Planning, Policy, and

Best Practices

5 Key Components of Endpoint Security

With the growing popularity of the ‘bring your own device (BYOD)’
culture and the rising number of mobile IoT devices in use, it is important
for organizations to consider whether the endpoint security solution is
comprehensive enough to tackle threats on all fronts. As such, businesses
need to understand the fundamental components of an endpoint security
solution. Let’s understand the main elements of an endpoint security
solution.

Components of Endpoint Security

1.Device protection

The device protection component identifies and investigates suspicious

activities on endpoint devices. These include endpoint detection and
response (EDR) tools that track endpoint events, right from monitoring and
recording to analyzing the events. It helps IT security teams to effectively
detect and tackle potential threats well in advance.

Endpoint security solutions provide antivirus (next-generation) and

malware protection for all kinds of devices to remove new forms of
malware. As next-generation antiviruses use advanced analytics and ML,
tackling emerging ransomware and advanced phishing attacks that evade
traditional antivirus software becomes easier.

2. Network control

The network control component tracks, monitors, and filters all inbound
network traffic. It provides a comprehensive firewall-like facility that helps
detect, identify, and handle potential security risks that can infect the
organization’s network.

3. Application control

The application control component refers to the kind of control that

endpoints have over applications leveraged on the network. This is
characterized by integration with application servers as it helps determine,
monitor, and limit the endpoint access to these very applications.

Additionally, this component also involves application patching, where the

security risks associated with individual software applications are
completely eliminated. Enterprises can thus enjoy improved security cover
by keeping all endpoints, including desktops, servers, and apps, up to date.

4. Data control

The data control component manages how the data is handled over a
network. This includes data in transit as well as stored data. The data
control tool prevents data leaks and improves overall data security by
encrypting sensitive or valuable data. Encryption makes the data
unreadable and remote to cyber attackers.
5. Browser protection

Endpoint security systems enable browser protection by employing web

filters. These filters allow you to choose what your users can access or
which sites they can visit while they are connected to your network.

This component offers privilege management features, also known as the

principle of least privilege (POLP). It allows businesses to grant users and
processes the bare minimum set of resources necessary to accomplish their
tasks. POLP restricts access privileges to authorized users and applications
by removing local admin rights on servers and PCs. This significantly
reduces the security risks of the enterprise network.

See More: What Is a Security Vulnerability? Definition, Types, and

Best Practices for Prevention

Key Benefits of Endpoint Security for Enterprises

Endpoint security plays a crucial role in protecting enterprises from the
rising number of security threats that are being witnessed today. Some of
the key benefits of endpoint security for enterprises include:
 Benefits of Endpoint Security for Enterprises

1. Provides a unified platform

Installing individual security solutions can be cumbersome. Endpoint

security provides a single security system that connects to all devices and
servers. This unified characteristic allows the security solutions to update
dynamically, thereby countering zero-day and multi-vector threats
effectively.

2. Offers greater visibility

Endpoint security is a security tool for all devices, networks, and the data
exchanged between them. The tool allows you to track and monitor
applications across networks continuously. This gives businesses greater
visibility into the happenings over their networks.

3. Supports dynamic updates

Endpoint security utilizes the cloud’s power to enforce security across all
devices. This implies that any small update on the cloud is bound to reflect
on all devices and networks linked to it.

4. Provides a safe virtual environment

Endpoint security creates a local user interface that resembles the original
applications on a network. Although these interfaces are null and void, they
act as a sandbox that redirects any threats that breach the firewall of the
security solution. The advantage of such a sandbox setup is that it secures
the enterprise’s servers and devices, and attackers can cause no harm to it.

5. Prevents data loss

A database is an important asset to any organization. Compromising it can

expose all the company’s valuable data, thereby hampering its business
prospects and damaging its reputation in the industry. Endpoint security
provides an end-to-end data encryption feature that secures the company’s
data and keeps it safe from cybercriminals. Thus, data loss prevention is
one of the prominent benefits of endpoint security.

6. Reduces security costs

Endpoint security uses a centralized security system to manage all the
devices operational in a network. This reduces the requirement to hire an
IT security team specialized in handling or managing individual devices.
Thus, centralized operations significantly reduce security costs under
endpoint security.

7. Ensures better user experience

Multiple security procedures can drive customers away from your business
offerings. However, endpoint security is known to monitor applications
and user behavior in a manner that lets them navigate through a minimum
number of security processes. As such, it allows users to enjoy a seamless
experience.

See More: What Is Web Application Security? Definition, Testing, and

Best Practices

Top 10 Endpoint Security Best Practices for Implementation

and Management in 2021
After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies have started
embracing remote work on a large scale. As a result, more people are
working outside traditional offices. Such a working environment is
exposing more and more endpoint devices that are now acting as the
biggest potential weaklings in secure networks.

According to a 2020 report released by the Ponemon Institute, around 68%

of companies suffered more than one endpoint attack in the last 12 months
alone.

Endpoint devices provide a backdoor entry to unauthorized access by

external actors. Thus, the system is of paramount importance for
organizations that want to safeguard their networks from potential security
breaches. Here are the top best practices that companies need to employ
while deploying endpoint security.
 Endpoint Security Best Practices

1. Secure every endpoint on the system

Endpoint devices act as a gateway to your network. Hence, securing and

keeping track of each and every device that connects to your system can
serve your enterprise well.

Organizations can maintain an inventory of all endpoints in a network and

update it when new devices are connected to it. Additionally, they need to
ensure that each endpoint device is equipped with the requisite safeguards
to keep them safe from security threats and thereby apply the latest patches
as per the need.

2. Enforce stronger password policy & endpoint encryption

Once the endpoint devices become secure under the ambit of endpoint
security measures, companies need to encourage their users to
exercise good password practices.
Companies can make long and complex passwords a mandate for all their
users. They can also encourage the practice of periodic password changes.
Also, the habit of reusing old passwords should be banned by
organizations. Beyond passwords, companies may need to add an
additional layer of protection through encryption.

One of the best practices could be to encrypt the endpoint’s disk or

memory. This ensures that the device data remains unreadable or
inaccessible when it is transferred to another device or is safe even if the
device is stolen or lost.

3. Enforce least privilege access

Limiting access and device privileges is a good practice to ensure the

security of the endpoints. Admin privileges should not be assigned to
regular users. Such a least privilege access policy can prevent unauthorized
users from loading executable code onto the endpoints.

4. Leverage SIEM tools and run endpoint scans regularly

Endpoint security solutions should readily leverage security information

and event management (SIEM) tools to enable real-time monitoring of the
network. With the growing count of endpoint devices, SIEM solutions are
now a part of company standards to enforce overall security. A good SIEM
solution should log all network events. It should also have policies in place
that can flag potential incidents and take action against them immediately.

Besides, regular endpoint scans can allow organizations to keep track of all
devices connected to the network in real-time. This can be further
enhanced by employing constant location awareness practices for endpoint
devices such as smartphones and tablets that are vulnerable to loss or theft.

5. Implement automated patching

Endpoint security is effective with automated patching practices. With

these, you can dynamically push patch updates during downtimes.
Organizations need to take care that such automated systems also apply to
third-party patches.
According to a study by the Ponemon Institute, 60% of breaches identified
in 2019 were due to unpatched software. Here, the vulnerabilities were
known, but the required patches weren’t applied.

6. Practice strict VPN access policy along with MFA

Today, as the task force turns to the remote work model, VPNs are being
extensively used by most corporate companies. However, VPNs remain
exposed to spoofing, sniffing, DDoS, and other external attacks.

Thus, it is more appropriate to limit VPN usage, thereby allowing VPN

access only at the application layer. This can narrow down the network-
level security risk considerably.

Besides, implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) can prevent

account theft from different sources. Also, introducing a secondary layer of
verification, when the system identifies a log-in from unrecognized or
unknown locations, can enhance overall security.

7. Manage BYOD cases judiciously

While allowing employees to use their own devices, companies should

have policies that outline the requisite security protocols. Organizations
can also consider utilizing a guest access account policy in many cases.

Enterprises should emphasize and focus on making end-users aware of

their responsibilities and remind them of the rules pertaining to device loss
or theft. A weak or faulty BYOD policy can cost companies billions of
dollars as users can hack into the organization’s network using their own
devices.

A similar case was observed in 2017 when a data breach of South Korea’s
largest bitcoin exchange occurred. An unclear BYOD policy led to this
incident, where $30 million (in cryptocurrency) was stolen in just a few
hours and compromised the data of around 32,000 users.

8. Practice system hardening and use cloud storage cautiously

Organizations can limit access to the device’s configuration and settings to

cut down on IT vulnerabilities, attack surfaces, and potential attack vectors.
System hardening can set a benchmark for different devices and operating
systems. It can also define traffic pathways between endpoints and the
network. As a consequence, all the other open ports (UDP or TCP) can be
closed.

Additionally, companies need to remember that the cloud acts as another

endpoint that is easily accessible to external entities. Hence, providing
distinct credentials for each user is essential. Also, using TLS (HTTPS) to
transport data should be standard practice.

9. Implement granular application control

Implementing this security practice will allow you to focus on restricting

unauthorized application executions that present a risky element to the
organization’s security.

Companies can use application control programs that limit app executions
based on factors such as hash, path, or publisher. They can maintain a list
of programs, files, and app executions that are permissible. Besides, while
an application is granted access, ensure that you also implement rules that
block communication to other irrelevant network segments.

10. Practice network segmentation

The overall performance of an endpoint security solution can be doubled if

you split your network into sub-networks.

This can be started by setting up a privileged area and establishing a well-

defined system with a privilege hierarchy. You also need to be mindful of
interpersonal, interdepartmental dependencies, and organizational factors
while segmenting the network. This will ensure that regular business
processes are not affected. Also, managing and updating privileged
resources should be done regularly.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security regards network segmentation

as a standard security practice that plays a pivotal role in any
organization’s network security.

See More: What Is Network Security? Definition, Types, and Best

Practices

Takeaway
Today, endpoint security solutions have come a long way from traditional
antiviruses and firewalls. They provide a broader set of defenses to tackle
known and unknown malware attacks, security exploits, and post-intrusion
consequences.

With a substantial rise in the number of remote and mobile workers, more
endpoints are being exposed to attackers. This is increasing the ‘protect
surface’ from traditional office environments to endpoints distributed
across the globe. Thus, by implementing an endpoint security system, you
can ensure that all endpoints, including employee-owned devices, are
protected against unauthorized access and potential cyberattacks. This will
safeguard your company’s valuable data and help maintain its reputation in
the industry.