Endpoint Security

An endpoint is always a potential entry point for threats. Endpoint devices, including smartphones, desktop, laptops, and tablets can be used by cyber criminals to attack networks with malware that could help them steal data from the network systems. Today, the risk is even bigger as enterprises all over the world adopt practices like BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and personal devices- smartphones, tablets etc- are connected to enterprise networks. Mobile threats have shown an increasing trend in recent times. People even connect to organizational networks using their home computer. In such a scenario endpoint security gains significance since it supplements centralized security solutions with additional protection and prevents threats to secure the network. Endpoint devices would need to meet security standards before being granted network access; this would help prevent threats to a great extent.

Endpoint security is the process of securing the various endpoints on a network, often defined as end-user devices such as mobile devices, laptops, and desktop PCs, although hardware such as servers in a data center are also considered endpoints. Precise definitions vary among thought leaders in the security space, but essentially, endpoint security addresses the risks presented by devices connecting to an enterprise network.

Endpoint security or endpoint protection is an approach to the protection of computer networks that are remotely bridged to client devices. The connection of laptops, tablets, mobile phones and other wireless devices to corporate networks creates attack paths for security threats. Endpoint security attempts to ensure that such devices follow a definite level of compliance to standards.

Usually, endpoint security is a security system that consists of security software, located on a centrally managed and accessible server or gateway within the network, in addition to client software being installed on each of the endpoints (or devices).  The server authenticates logins from the endpoints and also updates the device software when needed.

Complacency and Risk

According to research by PricewaterhouseCoopers1, the vast majority of small and medium-size businesses (83 percent) suffered a security incident in the last year. Nearly half of them (43 percent) were virus infections. So, clearly there is a difference between what companies say they do about security and the results they actually achieve. How do we explain this gap between needs and results?

It comes down to several factors:

• IT management bandwidth: Without large IT departments, it is hard for companies to check continuously that every PC has the latest patches, the correct anti-virus software and a fully up-to-date firewall.

• More flexible and mobile workforce: The increase in flexible and mobile workers have changed the nature of security. More than 63 percent of SMBs give their staff remote access to company systems. If security software doesn’t allow for remote management and remote updating, these users are at greater risk of infection.

• Lack of integration: Only large companies with large IT departments have a fully-integrated, coherent, multilayered defense against security threats backed up by in-house security expertise. When you multiply best-of-breed point solutions for security what you get is a mongrel.

• Fast moving security threats: The traditional model of a perimeter-based firewall and client-resident endpoint security provides a degree of security but also the risk of complacency. After all, the attacks continue, online criminals get smarter and new patterns of work create new risks. For example, targeted trojans and zero-day attacks are on the rise.

In short, businesses have got the message that they need anti-virus software and firewall protection on all their PCs (or ‘endpoints’) but they don’t always have the right technology to do it well. The result is a false sense of security. They think they are safe, but they’re not.

Business Challenges

Companies are facing challenges that make good security tough:

• Lack of IT resources. Most smaller companies rely on a handful of individuals, some with other responsibilities, and often a third party IT consultant to manage their infrastructure. Without the resources and scale or a large IT department, it can be a struggle just dealing with routine user problems, let alone proactively defending the company against security threats.

• No in-house expertise. It is unlikely that a growing company would have a specialist IT security expert on staff. Most IT support firms do not have this expertise either. Instead, companies have to rely on the credentials and track record of software vendors.

• Ad-hoc PC management. Growing companies often have limited or non-existent PC management systems. This makes it harder to ensure that software installations and PC configurations are consistent and it makes it harder to solve problems when they occur, especially for remote users.

• Focus on more important tasks. Quite rightly, companies tend to focus on growing the business rather than growing their IT overhead.

Clearly, growing businesses need to take a new approach to ensure they stay protected, to look after remote users and to do all these things while keeping costs down and reducing the administration overhead.

Endpoint Security Management

Endpoint security management is a policy-based approach to network security that requires endpoint devices to comply with specific criteria before they are granted access to network resources. Endpoints can include PCs, laptops, smart phones, tablets and specialized equipment such as bar code readers or point of sale (POS) terminals.

Endpoint security management is a software approach which helps to identify and manage the users' computers access over a corporate network. This allows the network administrator to restrict certain website access to specific users in order to maintain and comply with the organization's policies and standards. The components involved in aligning the endpoint security management systems include a Virtual private network (VPN) client, an operating system and an updated antivirus software. Computer devices that are not in compliance with the organization's policy are provisioned with limited access, to a virtual LAN.

Endpoint security management systems, which can be purchased as software or as a dedicated appliance, discover, manage and control computing devices that request access to the corporate network. Required elements may include an approved operating system, a VPN client and anti-virus software with current updates. Devices that do not comply with policy are given limited access or quarantined on a virtual LAN (VLAN). Endpoints that do not comply with policy can be controlled by the system to varying degrees. For example, the system may remove local administrative rights or restrict Internet browsing capabilities.

Endpoint Security is Important?

The need for effective endpoint security measures has increased substantially, particularly in light of the rise in mobile threats. With employees relying on mobile devices and home computers and laptops to connect to company networks and conduct business, a centralized security solution is no longer adequate for today’s ever-shifting and undefinable security perimeter. Endpoint security supplements centralized security measures with additional protection at the point of entry for many attacks as well as the point of egress for sensitive data.

By requiring endpoint devices to meet security standards prior to being granted network access, enterprises can maintain greater control over the ever-growing number of access points and more effectively block threats and access attempts prior to entry. Beyond simply controlling access, endpoint security tools also provide capabilities such as monitoring for and blocking risky or malicious activities. 

Difference between Endpoint Security and Anti-Virus Software

Endpoint security software, it's not an individual device that's protected; it's the network as a whole that is secured. The endpoints or endpoint devices, on the other hand, bear some amount of responsibility for their own security as well. This means that even when there is an endpoint protection software to safeguard a network, it's always necessary also to protect endpoint devices like laptops, smartphones etc with antivirus or antimalware tools.

Endpoint security products may contain features and functionality such as:

• Data loss prevention
• Insider threat protection
• Disk, endpoint, and email encryption
• Application whitelisting or control
• Network access control
• Data classification
• Endpoint detection and response
• Privileged user control

Endpoint security isn’t solely conducted from devices, however. Typical endpoint security solutions provide a two-pronged approach, with security software installed on a central server or management console along with software installed on individual devices.

Still, some simpler forms of security fall under the endpoint security umbrella by some definitions. For instance, anti-virus software and personal firewalls could be described as simple forms of endpoint security, according to TechTarget. That said, modern endpoint security definitions generally describe more advanced methodologies, encompassing intrusion detection and behavior-blocking elements that identify and block threatening actions and behaviors, either by end users or intruders.

How Endpoint Security differs for Consumers and Enterprises

Endpoint security is available both for consumers and for enterprise networks, with some key differences in configuration, according to TechRepublic. For consumers, there’s no centralized management and administration, signature and application updates are received from the developer’s control servers, delivered over the Internet. The security applications are configured on each individual computer or endpoint, and individual alert and log entries are available on respective endpoints.

In the enterprise endpoint security model, centralized administration always exists. A single sign-on interface streamlines the configuration of endpoint security software on individual endpoint devices, and log entries and alerts are sent to the central administration server for evaluation and analysis. Signature and application updates are downloaded once, and the central server pushes updates out to endpoints configured within the network. This enables the setup and enforcement of a network-wide usage policy.

How Endpoint Security Works

The Endpoint Security Solutions works on a client-server model. Within the network there would be the security software, located on a centrally managed and accessible server or gateway. On each endpoint or endpoint device would be located the client software. The security software authenticates logins made from the endpoints and simultaneously updates client software when needed.

Endpoint Security Solutions also works as a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) model; here the security programs and the host server are both maintained remotely by the merchant.

Features of an Effective Endpoint Security

Ensure to feature-full Security Protection

An antivirus and a firewall are not just enough to protect any corporate-owned or BYOD devices. A multi-layered approach is all you need to protect the devices connected to the corporate network.

The security suite should be equipped with the following

• Firewall
• Antivirus solution
• Internet Security
• Encryption
• Device Firewalls
• Mobile Device Management
• Mobile Security Solutions
• Intrusion Detection Techniques
• Application Controls

Centralized Security Management Portal

Its beyond human’s potential to manage thousands of devices, computers and other terminals with bare minds, just with manual intervention. Hence an integrated security solution would be a robust schema to avoid redundancy and human errors.

A centralized security management system is all what you need to control and manage the integrity of the network and endpoint security.

• User friendly features to wreck the havoc
• Lesser security issues
• Affordable
• Instant response in case of suspicious interference

Complete Device and OS Protection

More than half of the companies encourage BYOD, while the new trend is on – Choose Your Own Device CYOD – the organization network is all connected with devices operating different operating systems. Sharpen your endpoint security system to maintain the functioning of the network under the radar.

Data Security

An endpoint security strategy is complete with an effective data protection system. Restrict access to endpoints to specific users to ensure only the concerned user is allowed to access the data and hence not exposing the data to any unauthorized user. Organizations are to ensure

• Segregation of Network
• Encryption of Data
• Prevent Data Loss
• Control File Integrity
• Monitor the Data access
• The endpoint security management system should be well equipped to handle data asset protection.

Improve Security Performance

With security the biggest challenge, organization should impose security measures to control, react to maintain a strategic distance from occurrences. By understanding your benchmark and objectives, you can improve measures in managing threats.

Awareness on Security Measures

Employees are to be educated on how to secure endpoints. They are to know the difference between a malicious mail and an authenticated one. Equipping the employees and users with sufficient knowledge on the security measures would prevent data loss and prevent the vulnerability exploits.
Employees are to be trained on how to accept security updates, stay away from wireless networks. Ensure that employees implement positive security behaviors and approach.

Mobile Threat Management

Security experts are to work on new and innovative security measures to arm the mobile devices from security threats. Ensuring a management systems to manage and defy threats would be definite to safeguard the endpoints. The mobile threat management system should wrap up the following features

• Effective Validation of Devices
• Managing third party Content
• Containerization of Mobile Apps
• Penetration Testing

A tough and specific security at a right measure would be a perfect console to protect the enterprise and its customer data from massive security breaches.

Continuous Detection

A well-organized endpoint security strategy with continuous detection mechanism would ensure to detect changes instantly. This would prevent the company’s network from being a victim of a security breach. The system should enforce Data exploration, instant detection if there exists any malware activity.

Incident Response Approach

The organizations are to implement effective incident response approach by enforcing a centralized, automated tool to enable response that can encounter threats instantly.

Remediate Incidents

Endpoints should be equipped with an integrated security management tool to ensure remediation of incidents much instantly at the time of detection. This would improve the visibility of possible threats and ensure to prevent any malware attacks even before it tries to attack the network.

Conclusion

Like a digitized watchdog, properly implemented endpoint security is often the last line of defense between a destructive threat ecosystem and the security of organizations. However, confusion surrounding endpoint security — defined by IDC as centrally managed client security — is leaving some organizations vulnerable to the malware, malicious code, and destructive spam that criminals are bent on pushing.

Exposed through increased numbers of uniquely different mobile devices and a widening variety of networking environments, IT organizations must be prepared to embrace EPS. The complexity of the EPS problem will have profound and far reaching effects throughout an organization. Therefore, senior management, as well as IT and business unit leaders, must see the big picture to address concerns about security, mobile device use and employee productivity, remote access, and centralized access control.

Reference

1.       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endpoint_security

2.       https://digitalguardian.com/blog/what-endpoint-security-data-protection-101

3.       https://www.comodo.com/endpoint-protection/endpoint-security.php

4.       https://www.webopedia.com/TERM/E/endpoint_security.html

5.       https://blog.comodo.com/endpoint-security/ten-best-features-of-effective-endpoint-security/

6.       http://www.pwc.co.uk/eng/publications/isbs_survey_2010.html

7.       Meeting the Challenges of Endpoint Security, A Whitepaper by Symantec.cloud

WHITE PAPER, The New Security Challenge : Endpoints, Sponsored by: F-Secure