In modern digitized IT infrastructure, endpoints are the most critical components of an organization. A study revealed that 90% of cyberattacks originate or are initiated through endpoints, making them the primary entry point for cybercriminals. Whether it is ransomware, trojan, or phishing attacks, the majority of the breaches begin at the device level. This makes endpoint security non-negotiable.
In this blog, we will explore various endpoint security tools and technologies that help safeguard these endpoints from modern cyber threats.
Understanding Endpoint Security
Endpoint security refers to safeguarding the devices that connect to a network, such as desktops, laptops, servers, and mobiles against cyber threats. In simple, endpoints are gateways to networks, and it is highly susceptible to cyberattacks.The goal of endpoint security is to uphold the CIA triad(Confidentiality, Integrity, and accessibility) of the systems connected to the organization’s network.
Need For Endpoint Security
Endpoint security is very important because every endpoint is a potential entry point that can be exploited by threat actors for remote attacks. The transition from remote to hybrid models has increased the number of endpoints massively, and in 2025, remote workers will be 25% of the U.S. total workforce. This increase in remote work may put sensitive data at risk due to the usage of home networks. Due to this, organizations are struggling to protect their systems.
Endpoint Security Tools and Technologies
Given the variety of threats that target endpoints 24/7, organizations must implement a multi-layered defense strategy to protect their network. Below are some widely used endpoint security tools and technologies that work together to secure endpoints.
1. Endpoint Detection and Response(EDR)
EDR is an advanced and powerful security solution built to detect, investigate, and respond to threats, particularly across endpoints. Unlike antivirus solutions, which only focus on detection, EDR tools focus on detecting threats and investigating them.EDR monitors endpoint activity and collects data on behavior patterns and logs to detect anomalies to identify the breach.
Key Features:
✅Continuous monitoring and data collection.
✅Threat detection based on behavioral analysis.
✅Security incident and forensic capabilities.
✅Automated threat containment.
Popular Solutions- SentinelOne, Carbon Black and Crowdstrike Falcon.
2.NAC and Firewalls
Firewalls play a vital role in protecting endpoints from cyber threats by filtering incoming and outgoing network traffic based on the protocols. In simple, firewalls prevent unauthorized access to devices or networks by blocking traffic before it reaches the endpoint.
Network Access Control(NAC) solutions work along with firewalls to ensure that only compliant devices are allowed to interact with the network. NAC solutions enforce security policies by verifying the endpoints based on the security standards before granting access
Key Features
✅Filtering network traffic to block malicious access.
✅Remote access VPNs to protect mobile endpoints.
✅Logging and monitoring networking activity.
✅Access control based on compliance and security standards.
Popular Solutions- Cisco Firepower and Fortinet FortiGate.
3.Data Loss Prevention(DLP) Tools
Data Loss Prevention(DLP) solutions prevent sensitive data from being leaked, stolen, or leaked. For endpoint security, DLP can monitor the device activity to prevent unauthorized copying, transferring, and printing of sensitive data. It can detect sensitive data sent over unsecured channels, such as email or file-sharing services.
Key Features
✅Monitoring data movement across endpoints.
✅Preventing the unauthorized sharing of sensitive data.
✅Enforcing encryption and data security policies.
✅Compliance with data protection regulations.
Popular solutions- Symantec DLP and Digital Guardian
4.Next-Generation Antivirus(NGAV)
Next-Generation Antivirus(NGAV) is a modern version of antivirus software that uses artificial intelligence(AI) and machine learning(ML) to detect and prevent malware. The traditional version of antivirus works based on signature-based detection, while NGAV detects malware based on behavior and predictive analytics to detect intrusion, ransomware, malware, and other types of attacks.
Moreover, NGAV systems could identify and detect zero-day threats and APTs(advanced persistent threats), which often bypass traditional signature-based tools. By using AI, NGAV can detect block malware that has never been seen before.
Key Features
✅Cloud-based threat intelligence.
✅Behaviour-based threat analysis.
✅Protection against malware and fileless malware.
Popular Solutions- Sophos Intercept X, Trend Micro Apex One and Microsoft defender ATP.
5.Zero trust security
Zero trust security is a cybersecurity model that assumes no devices or users should be trusted by default. With a zero-trust security policy, organizations can authorize users and devices to access specific resources only after proper verification.
Zero Trust tools give access to networks only after verifying user identities, device health, locations, behavior, etc. This approach is highly effective in mitigating insider threats and reducing the risks associated with the lateral movement of data within a compromised network.
Key Features
✅Continuation verification of endpoints.
✅Least-privilege access policies.
✅Integration with identity and access management(IAM).
Popular Solutions- Okta Zero Trust, Cisco Identity Services Engine and Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access.
Related Reading: Emerging Technologies shaping the Future of Zero Trust
Conclusion
As organizations become more digital and the number of endpoints expands exponentially, securing these becomes more critical due to the threats posed by APTs and ransomware. From antivirus software to modern solutions like EDR, NGAV, and zero trust, organizations leverage these tools to form a multi-layered defense strategy to safeguard their endpoints.
By adopting the right tools, business can better protect their endpoints, which in turn safeguard their entire network and IT infrastructure by acting as a guard.
