Endpoints make up much of a company’s network and IT infrastructure. This is a collection of computers, mobile devices, servers, smart gadgets, and other IoT devices that 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 device allows 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 the protection of endpoint devices.
Address Password Vulnerabilities
Passwords are one of the most significant vulnerabilities when it comes to endpoints. The news reports significant data breaches all the time related to leaked passwords. For example, there is the RockYou2021 breach. It exposed the most significant 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 cause a breach. One trick 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 is ensuring you’re using firmware protection covering 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 correctly. It also monitors for the presence of abnormal 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 crucial for ensuring your devices remain secure.
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 do you authenticate users accessing your network, business apps, and data? If you use only a username and password, 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 their device.
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 to access your network and block all others by default.
Apply Security Policies Throughout the Device Lifecycle
From when a device is first purchased to when 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 correctly 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 the company’s risk of data and exposed business accounts.
Prepare in advance for potential device loss through backup solutions. Also, it would be best to use endpoint security that allows remote lock and wipe for devices.
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This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.