Simple Guide to Follow for Better Endpoint Protection

Endpoints make up much of a company’s network and  IT infrastructure. This is a collection of computers, mobile devices,  servers, and smart gadgets. As well as other IoT devices that all connect to  the company network.

The number of endpoints a company has will vary  by business size. Companies with less than 50 employees have about 22 endpoints. Small  businesses with 50-100 employees have roughly 114.  Enterprise organizations with 1,000+  employees average 1,920 endpoints.

Each of those devices is a chance for a hacker to  penetrate a company’s defenses. They could plant malware or gain access to  sensitive company data. An endpoint security strategy addresses endpoint risk  and puts focused tactics in place.

64% of organizations  have experienced one or more compromising endpoint attacks.

In this guide, we’ll provide you with  straightforward solutions. Solutions focused on protection of endpoint  devices.

Address Password  Vulnerabilities

Passwords are one of the biggest vulnerabilities  when it comes to endpoints. The news reports large data breaches all the time  related to leaked passwords. For example, there is the RockYou2021 breach. It  exposed the largest number of passwords ever – 3.2 billion.

Poor password security and breaches make  credential theft one of the biggest dangers to cybersecurity.

Address password vulnerabilities in your  endpoints by:

·          Training employees on  proper password creation and handling

·          Look for passwordless  solutions, like biometrics

·          Install multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all  accounts

Stop Malware  Infection Before OS Boot

USB drives (also known as flash drives) are a  popular giveaway item at trade shows. But an innocent-looking USB can  actually cause a breach. One trick that hackers use to gain access to a  computer is to boot it from a USB device containing malicious code.

There are certain precautions you can take to  prevent this from happening. One of these is ensuring you’re using firmware  protection that covers two areas. These include Trusted Platform Module (TPM)  and Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) Security.

TPM is resistant to physical tampering and  tampering via malware. It looks at whether the boot process is occurring  properly. It also monitors for the presence of anomalous behavior.  Additionally, seek devices and security solutions that allow you to disable  USB boots.

Update All  Endpoint Security Solutions

You should regularly update your endpoint  security solutions. It’s best to automate software updates if possible so  they aren’t left to chance.

Firmware updates are often forgotten about. One  reason is that they don’t usually pop up the same types of warnings as  software updates. But they are just as important for ensuring your devices  remain secure and protected.

It’s best to have an IT professional managing all  your endpoint updates. They'll make sure updates happen in a timely fashion.  They will also ensure that devices and software update smoothly.

Use Modern  Device & User Authentication

How are you authenticating users to access your  network, business apps, and data? If you are using only a username and  password, then your company is at high risk of a breach.

Use two modern methods for authentication:

·          Contextual  authentication

·          Zero Trust approach

Contextual authentication takes MFA a step  further. It looks at context-based cues for authentication and security  policies. These include several things. Such as, what time of day someone is  logging in, their geographic location, and the device they are using.

Zero Trust is an approach that continuously  monitors your network. It ensures every entity in a network belongs there.  Safelisting of devices is an example of this approach. You approve all  devices for access to your network and block all others by default.

Apply  Security Policies Throughout the Device Lifecycle

From the time a device is first purchased to the  time it retires, you need to have security protocols in place. Tools like  Microsoft AutoPilot and SEMM allow companies to automate. They deploy healthy  security practices across each lifecycle phase. This ensures a company  doesn't miss any critical steps

Examples of device lifecycle security include  when a device is first issued to a user. This is when you should remove  unnecessary privileges. When a device moves from one user to another, it  needs to be properly cleaned of old data. And reconfigured for the new user.  When you retire a device, it should be properly scrubbed. This means deleting  all information and disconnecting it from any accounts.

Prepare  for Device Loss or Theft

Unfortunately, mobile devices and laptops get  lost or stolen. When that happens, you should have a sequence of events that  can take place immediately. This prevents company risk of data and exposed  business accounts.

Prepare in advance for potential device loss  through backup solutions. Also, you should use endpoint security that allows  remote lock and wipe for devices.

Reduce Your  Endpoint Risk Today!

Get help putting robust endpoint security in  place, step by step. We can help! Contact us today for a free consultation.

Article used with permission from The Technology Press.

‍