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 organisations with 1,000+ employees average 1,920 endpoints.
Each of those devices is a chance for a hacker to penetrate a company’s defences. 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 organisations 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.
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:
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 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 behaviour. Additionally, seek devices and security solutions that allow you to disable USB boots. Better still – don’t allow them in your business.
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.
How are you authenticating users to access 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 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 to access your network and block all others by default.
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.
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 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.
Get help putting robust endpoint security in place, step by step. We can help. Contact us today for a free consultation.
You need the best IT support. Technology is complicated and expensive. It’s so hard to maintain everything and know what to do when something breaks or goes wrong. IT problems can really put a damper on your day. They’re frustrating, time-consuming, and can seem like a never-ending cycle of issues.
Penntech IT Solutions, a UK-based IT Service provider, is available to solve your issues proactively and reactively. We offer a range of services that will best suit your business needs — whether you only need someone to manage your server or want an entire IT department on call, we provide it all.
We’re always just a phone call away, and we live and breathe IT services. We’re here to help your business with anything that could go wrong with your systems or devices. We’re ready to solve any problem you throw our way!
Contact us today or explore the range of support packages on offer.
Article used with permission from The Technology Press.
6 Things You Should Do to Handle Data Privacy Updates
Once data began going digital, authorities realised a need to protect it. Thus, data privacy rules and regulations are created…
6 Steps to Effective Vulnerability Management for Your Technology
Technology vulnerabilities are an unfortunate side effect of innovation. When software companies push new updates, the code often has weaknesses….
Business owners often have to wear many hats, from handling HR and marketing tasks to managing the finances. One task…
Cool Windows 11 Features That May Make You Love This OS
Microsoft released the Windows 11 operating system (OS) over a year ago. It was well-received mainly with reviews as stable…
6 Ways to Prevent Misconfiguration (the Main Cause of Cloud Breaches)
Misconfiguration of cloud solutions is often overlooked when companies plan cybersecurity strategies. Cloud apps are typically quick and easy to…
4 Proven Ways to Mitigate the Costs of a Data Breach
No business wants to suffer a data breach, but unfortunately, it’s difficult to avoid them in today’s environment. Approximately 83%…
The benefits of AI include advancing our technology, improving business operations, and much more. Adoption of AI has more than doubled…
Leading Password Managers for Personal and Business
We hope that your business is already considering a password manager system, but there’s still the matter of finding the…
You often hear the words “digital transformation” and “collaboration.” But what do they actually mean? What do they mean for…
What’s Changing in the Cybersecurity Insurance Market?
Cybersecurity insurance is still a pretty new concept for many SMBs. It was initially introduced in the 1990s to provide coverage for large enterprises. It covered things like data processing errors and online media.
What to include in a Year-end Technology Infrastructure Review
When the year is coming to a close, it’s the perfect time to plan for the future. Most businesses begin…
What are the advantages of implementing Conditional Access?
It seems that nearly as long as passwords have been around, they’ve been a major source of security concern. Eighty-one…
Simple Setup Checklist for Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a lot of things. It’s a video conferencing tool, a team messaging channel, and a tool for…
Copilot for Microsoft 365: New Ways of Working!
Copilot is now part of the apps you use every day. It works alongside you to help out with tedious…
Cutting-edge AI Trends in Cybersecurity
AI trends in cybersecurity shouldn’t be ignored. In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, cybersecurity remains a paramount concern for individuals…
Leveraging AI: The Secret Weapon for Small Business Growth
In the dynamic landscape of modern business, where competition is fierce, and technology evolves at breakneck speed, small businesses constantly…
In today’s digital era, data is the cornerstone of business operations, driving decisions and facilitating customer engagement. Yet, amidst this…
Cybersecurity risks – Don’t be caught out!
Emphasising the importance of cybersecurity risks remains imperative, particularly amidst the digital advancements prevalent today. With businesses and organisations increasingly…
Navigating Dangerous Cyber Security Challenges
The ongoing struggle against cybersecurity challenges persists, with 2023 emerging as a crucial turning point for data breaches. This article…
Intelligent Productivity – Unleashing the Power
Microsoft 365 is a formidable suite of cloud-based intelligent productivity tools for more innovative and efficient work. With a consistent…
Cybersecurity Threats 2024: Navigating the Digital Landscape
The global financial impact of a data breach in the previous year amounted to USD 4.45 million, indicating a 15%…
9 Clever ways to use AI for SMEs
The unstoppable progression of AI is reshaping the technological landscape, with software companies rapidly integrating it into various business tools…