Why Endpoint Security Is Important
Data is the new oil, as we all know, and losing that data could mean losing your entire company. An IBM study found that the average cost of a ransomware breach is around $4.24 million, and this increased by $1.07 million when the data breach was tied to a remote work vulnerability. Businesses are struggling to host an increasing number of endpoints, all with different risks and configurations, and BYOD policies that aren’t as clear or comprehensive as they should be. Because of all these endpoints, the security perimeter is increasingly outmatched by the sheer number of endpoints. This is why endpoint security, and by proxy, endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions are critical in 2021.
What Threats Will Your Enterprise Face
Malware is a broad, catch-all term often used to describe a wide range of attack types, but malware is far from the only threat enterprises are facing. Phishing attacks continue to be a clear and present danger, and are often used with great success to deliver ransomware. Antivirus solutions struggle to keep up with new variants, and even next-generation application firewall can’t track everything – meaning more enterprises are turning to EDR solutions. The most common attacks were from big names in ransomware, including:
- CryptoLocker (52%)
- WannaCry (26%)
- Cryptowall (16%)
- Locky (13%)
- Emolet (10%)
- Petya (7%)
Modern Endpoint Security with EDR
Endpoint detection and response security, like that found with Sangfor Endpoint Secure, monitors and regulates data traffic to prevent data loss. It also monitors both incoming and outgoing connections for crucial data which could expose your enterprise. Endpoint security is especially great for email security, stopping malicious emails and links from reaching your employee. This type of email security works closely with next generation firewall, like Sangfor NGAF, to examine messages for potential malware and stop them from reaching the employee inbox.
Benefits of EDR Solutions
- Better Detection – This type of security solution is better able to identity incoming threat, creating earlier alarms and giving you a head start blocking malware, ransomware or malicious files from causing more damage.
- Threat Hunting – Machine learning and AI enable security solutions to better track and recognize most advanced malware and ransomware threats on sight.
- Containment – Stopping malicious files from doing damage as quickly as possible, and stopping malware before it can attack your network. These solutions control ransomware, malware and the spread of most cyber threats.
- Investigation – Sandboxing functions allow EDR solutions to “test” potentially malicious files in safe environments, without risk to the network or users.
- Elimination – Remove cyber threat quickly and totally. Remote malicious files and their copies and back-doors, and scan the network for similar files that might indicate a second attack.
Integrating EDR with NDR Solutions
Many enterprises are choosing to integrate their EDR solution with a network detection and response (NDR) solution, like Sangfor Cyber Command. This solution trolls the network for any malicious activity or suspicious activity that might indicate an endpoint has been compromised, while EDR protects the endpoints. By integrating these two powerful solutions, enterprises have more than doubled their protected area and taken the pressure off their IT security teams to hunt threats down in real-time, relying instead on alerts, comprehensive logs and machine learning.
How is SIEM different from EDR?
Security information and event management is, according to Gartner Inc. the “the security and information event management (SIEM) market by the customer’s need to analyse event data in real time for early detection of targeted attacks and data breaches, and to collect, store, investigate and report on log data for incident response, forensics and regulatory compliance.”
EDR solutions have similar functions to SIEM, yet reside in a different category of cyber security. EDR is responsible for monitoring endpoints and databases for potential malicious activity already within the system, alerting system administrators to any potentially malicious traffic, giving security teams a head-start in an attack scenario. The primary difference between the two solutions, is that one focuses on endpoints, rather than the network.
How to choose an EDR solution?
First, ask yourself a few simple questions about your needs.
- What operating systems am I using and need to work with?
- Am I worried about file-less malware attacks?
- How will this new solution integrate with my current network security?
- Do I need managed services like monitoring or incident response?
- Do I have the skills and resources to set up my own security solutions, in-house or will I need a managed cloud or security service?
You should also go to the source and ask the experts at Gartner, Forrester, or attend Webinars of conferences, to get an idea of what a company or solution could offer you. Your new provider should be more than willing to do a POC, or proof of concept test on your system, to show you how their solution works with your existing solutions.
For more information on EDR and Cyber Command, how they work, and solutions that might work for you, visitSangfor Technologies online, or email us directly, and see how Sangfor can make your IT simpler, more secure and valuable.
