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.
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Penntech’s average NPS score over 90 days is 84. The average Net Promoter Score (NPS) for IT Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can vary. Still, an NPS of around 50 is considered excellent in this industry, with scores above 70 exceptional and rare.
We offer our services on a trial basis for the first three months because we’re confident in our delivery and approach.
Penntech offers a wide range of IT services, from strategic project management to 24/7 remote support, ensuring all your IT needs are always covered.
We provide advanced cybersecurity measures and expertise, including penetration testing services and Cyber Essentials, to protect clients from cyber threats.
We offer Clients the ability to scale IT services up or down based on their needs. This flexibility is crucial for businesses that experience seasonal changes or rapid growth.
Other providers often enforce their preferred IT stack, but we don’t, as IT is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
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With experience in various verticals and industries, Penntech understands different businesses’ unique IT challenges and can provide customised solutions..
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Article used with permission from The Technology Press.
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