Endpoint Data Protection: Challenges & Best Practices

Are your endpoints well-secured against cyber threats? Today, businesses are relying more and more on diverse, remote, and interconnected devices to provide to employees as well as enhance productivity. The International Data Corporation (IDC) reports that  70% of successful breaches begin at endpoints. So each new device serves as a new entry point for data breaches. The rise in remote work has led to more exposure, as employees with access to information from different locations are less secure. In light of this, this article discusses the major threats and challenges associated with Endpoint Data Protection security and the critical role of endpoint protection solutions to safeguard sensitive data. On top of this, it also details the best practices for protecting your company’s endpoints from data breaches.

What Is Endpoint Data Protection?

Endpoint data protection refers to the comprehensive strategies and technologies employed to secure endpoint devices such as laptops, desktops, cell phones, servers, printers, IoT devices, and more from unauthorized access or security breaches.

Need for Endpoint Data Protection

In the past, endpoint protection was relatively simple, focused mainly on antivirus software and basic firewalls. Old endpoint security was limited to signature-based detection techniques, and network perimeter security, and couldn’t block attacks that would evade traditional endpoint security measures. For regular updates, organizations would issue and track devices and keep a patching program. However, as today’s IT infrastructure continues to evolve rapidly and devices are connecting to networks from across the globe, they are becoming high-priority targets. These devices connect to public networks and are subject to various security attacks like DDoS, phishing, and ransomware.

In the event of a security breach, a company may:

• Accidentally expose their sensitive information like customer data, intellectual property, and financial records
• Break customers’ trust and incur heavy fines from regulatory bodies
• Go through business downtimes, delays, and operational failures
• Be exposed to new malware variants, worms, trojans, and unknown threats
• Suffer from shadow IT attacks, delayed alerts, and a lack of security awareness training from employees
• Advanced persistent threats, insecure device security policies and standards, macro and script attacks, and business email compromise

How Does Endpoint Data Protection Work?

Endpoint protection uses both software- and hardware-based measures to protect endpoint devices (laptops, phones, etc.). It checks files, processes, systems, etc. for anything that might appear suspicious or malicious and responds with necessary actions in case it finds a threat.

Organizations today manage a diverse array of endpoints through endpoint protection solutions that often include antivirus software, firewalls, encryption, and more advanced solutions such as endpoint protection platform (EPP), endpoint detection and response (EDR), and data loss prevention (DLP). In general, the solution is a combination of software, monitoring systems, and security policies. Here is a breakdown:

• Endpoint protection starts with installing security software in each endpoint (mobiles, laptops, desktops, etc.) that connects to an organization’s network
• The IT team configures policies that define which data are sensitive, how they are to be handled, and who will have access to it
• Firewalls and cloud security are also put in place to protect all the endpoints
• Users interact with endpoint protection solutions by way of secure logins, passwords, multi-factor authentication, and even fingerprints. This ensures that only those who have been authorized have access to company data
• In case a user tries to access restricted data, the system will alert with a warning and block the action

By using real-time monitoring and detection tools, endpoint protection blocks malware and restricts phishing and unauthorized access. If any suspicious activity is identified, it will alert the IT team, isolate the device, and stop the threat. This significantly reduces the risk of data breaches

To summarize, endpoint protection refers to a suite of security tools and strategies designed to protect, monitor, investigate, and respond to incidents from a centrally managed security framework. Each technology constituent addresses different aspects of endpoint security that, when combined, make a formidable, comprehensive defense strategy.

Top Endpoint Data Security Risks

Endpoint devices, which include, laptops, servers, IoT devices, etc., store massive amounts of sensitive data and are crucial to a company’s operations. Since they are vulnerable to cyber breaches, it is important to be able to detect these so that they can be timely mitigated.

Below are some of the top endpoint security risks organizations may encounter:

#1. Malware Threats

Cyber experts discover thousands of new malware strains on a daily basis. Recent ones include the likes of SocGholish, CoinMiner, and ArechClient2.

The key types of malware threats are:

1. Viruses: Attach to legitimate programs or files and replicate when executed.
2. Ransomware: Locks users out of their systems or encrypts data, demanding payment for release.
3. Spyware: Secretly gathers user information and sends it to a third party without consent.
4. Trojans: Disguised as legitimate software, they create backdoors for unauthorized access.
5. Worms: Spread across networks, self-replicating without needing to attach to files.

#2. Phishing Attacks

Phishing targets users via fraudulent emails, messages, or fake websites. The attacker presents itself as a trustworthy entity and attempts to steal sensitive information such as login credentials or financial data. Phishing attacks can steal credit card and social security numbers, and bank records, and bait victims into exposing sensitive details. They can support other malicious attacks like cross-site scripting and on-path attacks. Account deactivation scams are notoriously becoming common where attackers trick people into giving away their login credentials, claiming their accounts will get deactivated unless they take action quickly. They instill a sense of urgency and trigger victims into clicking on links that redirect them to malicious websites or website forgery scams.

#3. Insider Threats

Insiders are usually trusted individuals who have authorized access to restricted resources. They may betray the organization and leak sensitive data after quitting their jobs. For example, an employee who leaves the company may sell valuable data to third parties or auction it on the dark web. Insider attacks are a real danger because you never see them coming. It is impossible to predict who will act and when. Some examples of insider threats include intentionally abusing user credentials to escalate user privileges, leaving devices exposed, and sabotaging company data as an act of hatred or revenge.

#4. Unpatched Security Flaws

Unpatched security flaws can be labeled as security issues that have not yet been addressed; they create loopholes in the enterprise and hackers can exploit these blindspots. They may attempt to gain unauthorized access, run malicious programs remotely, and disrupt business operations. When software is not updated daily, it introduces a wide array of vulnerabilities, thus further exposing systems.

#5. Malware Ads and Drive-by Download Risks

These threats make use of users’ web surfing activities. Malvertising involves malware planted in real-looking ads on legitimate websites, whereas drive-by downloads happen when users visit compromised websites hosting harmful software. The malware often automatically downloads without the user’s approval.

#6. Data Loss

Data loss is a serious endpoint security risk as sensitive data is targeted across various endpoints.  This includes data stored on devices such as laptops, mobile phones, desktops, individual devices, and any electronic systems connecting to the enterprise network.

Best Practices For Endpoint Data Security

The most important thing is vigilance – users and companies need to be vigilant all the time when they are handling sensitive information. They cannot take security for granted. We don’t think twice about connecting to the WiFi at Starbucks when we are working remotely but have to remember that just because it hasn’t happened yet, doesn’t mean it won’t happen at all.

In light of this, below are some best practices that can be implemented to secure endpoints and protect an organization’s data:

• Security audits: Security audits should be a regular component of the endpoint data protection process. It should systematically look for signs of vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with upcoming regulations.  Frequent security audits and vulnerability checks will help to identify if there are any gaps in endpoint security, such as outdated software or policy noncompliance. Timely identification will help to not only contain and eliminate current threats but also prevent such issues in the future.
• User awareness and training: Authorized users are the only ones who should have access to an organization’s endpoints. However, sometimes, an employee may inadvertently expose information, such as by misconfiguring databases, which can allow cybercriminals to breach systems. In a 2022 report, Verizon stated that 82% of data breaches were caused by human error.

Organizations, thus, must educate employees about phishing and hacking and train them on how to access their devices safely by enforcing strong passwords, verification codes, and other authentication methods to reduce risks. Training should also include recognizing potential endpoint security risks, such as identifying emails that have suspicious attachments or malware, and immediately reporting this

• Incidence response planning: This practice ensures that there is an immediate response if there is a cyberattack. It involves laying down protocols on how to handle such events, training employees to identify potential threats and report them to the IT team, ensuring software is updated, monitoring the organization’s network in real time, and containing and mitigating the threat upon detection
• Implementing data encryption: Always encrypt endpoint devices and memory as an extra layer of protection. This ensures that in case someone gains access to company data without authorization or if a device gets stolen or lost, the data remains unreadable and hence inaccessible. To safeguard the device’s storage unit, full-disk encryption helps, while file-level encryption is used to protect specific sensitive data.
• Timely updates and automated patches: It is important to update applications and software regularly and patch systems as notified by vendors. Overlooking this crucial practice would create loopholes in endpoint security, making it vulnerable to cyberattacks. Using an automated patching tool can help here by ensuring patches are applied promptly. But sometimes users forget to implement them which is why automated alerting features are also important.
• BYOD security policies: The “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) approach allows employees in an organization to use their own laptops and smartphones for work purposes. This, however, introduces endpoint security risks as there are now more endpoints to secure. In this scenario, organizations should lay down clear and strict BYOD security policies that should be implemented both inside and outside the office. With this, employees can continue to have flexibility with their device usage and organizations can control potential risks
• Mandate MFA and strict VPN policy: Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to avoid account theft and a strict VPN access policy to reduce the risk of network-level attacks such as spoofing, sniffing, or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Other methods such as using smart card for authentication, next-generation antivirus (NGAV) to catch and mitigate both unknown and known threats and OTPs for secure logins can bolster endpoint security

Challenges of Traditional Endpoint Data Protection Solutions

With cybercrimes becoming more sophisticated in today’s digital landscape, traditional endpoint protection solutions such as antivirus installation data loss prevention, and data backup software are failing to keep up. As a result, threats can reach endpoints undetected and easily breach systems. Below are some of the common endpoint security challenges faced by traditional data protection solutions:

• Implementation challenges: It is not easy to implement traditional endpoint protection solutions across diverse environments. This could be due to: compatibility issues (for instance, if the device is old or software outdated); their complex configurations (which can be time-consuming to align with company regulations and require expert understanding); and a decentralized environment.
• Difficulty in securing legacy devices: A legacy device is an old computer or hardware that is no longer supported by its manufacturer. Such systems often have outdated operating systems and may not support the security standards adopted today. This makes it challenging for older solutions to safeguard legacy devices.
• Complexity of network topologies: The work setup today is a mix of on-premises workers, cloud computing, remote workers, smartphones, laptops, etc. This means diverse devices and multiple entry points for vulnerabilities, which might even involve segmentation of the network. It is tricky for traditional endpoint solutions to cover such a modern organizational environment.
• Poor defense against advanced threats: Traditional endpoint protection solutions primarily depend on signature-based detection to protect against the latest threats. This leaves devices vulnerable to newer, more sophisticated threats.
• Inability to detect encrypted channel threats: As encrypted web applications become more prevalent with channels such as hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS), hackers are resorting to new methods to evade network-based inspections. For instance, they can take advantage of secure sockets layer (SSL) or transport layer security (TLS) encryption to implant malware within encrypted traffic that seems legitimate.
• No centralized management: Traditional solutions lack centralized management and visibility, which can lead to fragmented security, delayed threat response, and inconsistent compliance. This, in turn, can complicate operations in an organization.
• Failure to locate critical security issues: Due to the complex nature of the interconnection of devices and applications, traditional endpoint protection platforms often fall short in identifying security flaws. This impacts decision-making on whether to continue applying patches or replace vulnerable applications for good.

Discover, Protect, And Evolve Every Endpoint With SentinelOne’s Endpoint Security Solution

• AI-Powered threat detection: SentinelOne’s AI-powered threat detection leverages generative AI within its Singularity platform to continuously analyze data across endpoints. It prioritizes and contextualizes threats with Storylines, and enables faster, and more accurate detection and responses. Understand the root causes and progression of attacks, regardless of skill level. Augment detections with threat intelligence, without human intervention.
• Dynamic device discovery: Automatically identifies and protects unmanaged, network-connected endpoints that may introduce new risks. SentinelOne reduces false positives and increases detection efficacy consistently across OSes with an autonomous, combined EPP+EDR solution.
• Static and behavioral detections: Neutralize both known and unknown threats. Build further, customized automations with one API with 350+ functions. Eliminate analyst fatigue with automated responses to suspicious behavior. SentinelOne automatically remediates threats by isolating affected endpoints, removing malicious files, and rolling back changes where needed in real-time.
• Centralized management and visibility: Administrators can monitor and manage the security status of all endpoints from a single console, enhancing visibility and streamlining policy enforcement
• Singularity Ranger: It is a real-time network attack surface control solution that finds and fingerprints all IP-enabled devices on your network. You will understand the risks they pose and be able to automatically extend protections.
• Effective threat hunting: SentinelOne’s solution continuously analyzes data and behavioral patterns across endpoints, identifying subtle indicators of compromise (IOCs) that traditional methods might overlook.
• Integration and scalability: Designed to integrate seamlessly with existing IT infrastructure and security tools, such as security information and event management (SIEM) and security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) solutions, SentinelOne’s solution is scalable to protect organizations of any size while maintaining its efficacy

Conclusion

Effective endpoint protection is essential to maintaining a robust cyber security posture. Organizations must protect their data, devices, and networks from advanced endpoint security threats and continuously evolve their latest measures. Comprehensive endpoint security solutions must be tailored to meet your organization’s specific security and business needs. Staying vigilant is also key to ensuring you prevent data leaks. If you are a user, the most impactful thing you can do is not connect to public networks and ensure that your systems are up-to-date with the company’s policies. If you are working as a team member within the organization, you should focus on carrying out incident response planning and regular audits. There’s a lot of work involved but by implementing endpoint security solutions like SentinelOne, you can dramatically speed up the process.

Be proactive and aware. Understand the risks you are up against. Sign up for a free live demo and find out more.

Faqs:

1. What is considered endpoint protection?

Endpoint protection is vital to enterprise cybersecurity, as it secures devices like desktops, laptops, printers, mobile phones, workstations, and IoT devices from cyberattacks. Its key components include antivirus and anti-malware solutions, endpoint detection and response for continuous monitoring, firewalls, and more. Together, these technologies dismiss any network intrusion attempt by an unauthorized individual targeting endpoint devices.

2. What is the difference between endpoint and EDR?

An endpoint is any device that connects to a network, such as a desktop, laptop, smartphone, or server. On the other hand, endpoint detection and response (EDR) is a security solution specifically designed to monitor, detect, and respond to threats on these endpoints in real-time. While endpoints are simply the devices needing protection, EDR actively defends those using advanced threat detection techniques and generating automated responses to contain and mitigate threats.

3. What is the difference between DLP and endpoint protection?

Data loss prevention (DLP) prevents sensitive data from being stolen, exposed, or misused by blocking unauthorized data transfers after an endpoint is compromised. It enables your organization to monitor and secure sensitive information across on-premises systems, cloud-based environments, and endpoint devices. Additionally, it supports compliance with regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Meanwhile, endpoint protection is about safeguarding endpoints (desktops, laptops, mobile devices, servers, etc.) from a wide range of cyber threats, including malware and unauthorized access. While DLP protects data, endpoint protection safeguards the entire device and its operations from security risks.