The Importance of Endpoint Security
As remote work becomes more common, endpoint security is more important than ever. Remote workers’ computers may not be consistently protected by an organization’s perimeter-based defenses, leaving them more vulnerable to phishing attacks, malware, and other threats.
Endpoint security solutions can protect endpoints regardless of where they are located. Security solutions installed on remote workers’ computers can identify and respond to threats as devices move between corporate and public networks.
Endpoint Security Threats
Corporate endpoints face a range of threats. Some of the leading threats to endpoint security include:
- Ransomware: Ransomware has become a top-of-mind security concern for businesses as attacks have become more common and involve greater ransom demands. A successful ransomware attack can cripple an unprotected organization by encrypting critical files.
- Phishing: Phishing attacks are a common attack vector because they are relatively easy to perform but are frequently successful. A phishing attack can be used to accomplish various goals, including delivering malware, stealing user credentials, or breaching other sensitive information.
- Malware and Fileless Attacks: Ransomware is not the only type of malware that poses a threat to an organization’s endpoints. Computers can be infected with data stealers, rootkits, and malware designed to achieve other malicious purposes.
- Credential Theft: Access to legitimate user accounts can be invaluable to an attacker because it provides access to corporate resources or other online accounts. Attackers may install keyloggers on an employee’s device or use other means to collect a user’s login credentials or otherwise take advantage of their legitimate account’s access and permissions.
Endpoint Security Best Practices in 2022
Some of the ways in which an organization can manage its endpoint security risk include implementing the following best practices:
- Deploy Anti-Phishing Solutions: Many cyberattacks start with a phishing message that leads to a malware infection or theft of sensitive information. Deploying anti-phishing capabilities on endpoints can reduce the risk of a malware infection or data breach.
- Protect Against Ransomware: Ransomware has become one of the most expensive and damaging threats to the business. Endpoint security solutions should detect and remediate a ransomware infection before it can encrypt the files on an endpoint.
- Leverage Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR): The potential for malicious content can leave organizations making a tradeoff between employee productivity and security. Deploying CDR can eliminate this tradeoff by stripping malicious content from files before forwarding it to its intended recipient.
- Defend Against Malicious Bots: Malicious bots implement command and control infrastructure and carry out automated attacks. Deploying anti-bot protections for endpoints can help to eliminate these automated threats.
- Automate Post-Breach Actions: After a breach, the cost and impact to an organization are determined by how quickly the organization can detect, remediate, and respond to the attack. Automating incident response on endpoints can enable an organization to minimize the attacker’s access and ability to do damage.
- Implement Zero Trust: The zero trust security model states that users and devices should only have the access that they require based on their role. Implementing zero trust throughout the enterprise can limit the impact of a compromised endpoint by restricting the access and permissions that the attacker has on the enterprise network.
- Employee Education: Phishing and other social engineering attacks are some of the most common ways by which an attacker gains access to a user’s computer. Training employees on phishing threats, corporate security policies, and cybersecurity best practices can help to reduce the risk of infection.
- Define BYOD Policies: As remote work becomes more common, employees are increasingly using personal devices for business purposes. Defining and training employees on bring your own device (BYOD) policies is essential to ensure that personal devices do not pose a threat to the organization.
Endpoint Security with Check Point
Some endpoint security best practices involve implementing certain programs and policies within an organization. However, others require an organization to select and deploy endpoint security solutions designed to manage certain threats. To learn more about what to look for in an endpoint security solution, check out this buyer’s guide.
Check Point Harmony Endpoint provides comprehensive protection against a wide range of threats to corporate endpoints. To learn more about Harmony Endpoint and see its capabilities for yourself, you’re welcome to sign up for a free demo.
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