Today’s business has evolved differently from what it was 15 years ago. Businesses today have more devices (endpoints) connected to them in different locations. This has increased the potential of cyber attacks targeting vital data — customer information, business operations, financial data, proprietary records, etc. — stored in your endpoints. The best way to guard these endpoints is by implementing endpoint security detection and response. This article discusses why small businesses need endpoint security and response.
What Is Endpoint Detection and Response?
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is a security solution integrated to combine continuous real-time protection, monitoring, and collecting of endpoint data. EDR uses analytics capabilities and automated responses to monitor endpoint activities and data that might indicate or potentially cause threats. These endpoints can be devices such as:
- Laptops
- Phones
- Desktops
- Tablets
- Printers
- Servers
EDR solutions protecting cloud endpoints are called endpoint protection cloud. EDR watches for threats lurking within the network by monitoring all devices connected to the network for suspicious activities and automatically activates a response. Examples of Endpoint protection methods are:
- Device tracking
- Passwords
- Antivirus tools
- Two-factor authentication (2FA) or MFA (multi-factor authentication)
- Level authorization
- Url filtering
- Cloud access control or endpoint protection cloud
- Data share and copy protection
Why Do Small Businesses Need EDR?
At any given time and level, an organization’s data is under cyberthreat, either internally or externally. Examples of these threats are data breaches, malware, phishing attacks, unauthorized access, and more. Cyber threats target small businesses more frequently (69% more) than larger companies. 57% of database breaches in small businesses involve insider threats. Endpoint breaches also occur via multiple vectors, such as:
- Credential compromise and device loss/theft
- Web drive-by
- Social engineering or phishing attacks
Every attack or data breach undermines your consumer’s confidence, which worsens if you’re caught hiding it. The data above shows why small businesses need cybersecurity and EDR to protect endpoints and networks and prevent cyberattacks and potential data loss.
The nature of these cyber threats also continues to evolve as enterprise networks expand. This results in more endpoints making the business more vulnerable.
Emerging Endpoint Security Threats Small Businesses Should Protect
Endpoints can be servers, devices, and networks, which are what most small businesses focus on. However, there are some emerging endpoint security threats that many small organizations should be aware of:
- Remote workforces: As more people continue working remotely, there’s an increased proliferation of personal devices (endpoints) on company networks. The bring your own device (BYOD) culture creates cyber threats and data loss as employees expose the devices to unprotected networks, theft, or unauthorized access.
- Internet of Things (IoT): IoT goes beyond endpoints like printers, computers, watches, smartphones, and servers to cameras, sensors, closed-circuit television (CCTV), and environmental controls. These IoT devices transfer data over the internet and networks, and some store in the cloud. With more endpoints and data access points, there’s more potential for data breaches.
- Ransomware and phishing attacks: Research by IMB shows that over 80% of reported cybersecurity incidents are phishing attacks. Verizon also reported that 82% of organizations’ data breaches involve human elements, including errors, social attacks (such as phishing), and data misuse and errors. Phishing is a key cyber threat that continues every year, and small businesses need to protect their networks from these attacks using EDR.
Benefits of Endpoint Detection and Response to Small Businesses
Other than protection from cyber threats and data loss, here are other benefits of EDR to small businesses:
Real-Time Threat Alert and Reporting
EDR solutions have automated threat alerts in real-time for potential device breaches to initiate response deployment that mitigates the risk. They also provide important reporting on threats and endpoint protection. This can help businesses know their vulnerabilities and support future endpoint protection.
Automated Response Capabilities
EDR solutions provide users with advanced tools for keeping track of all endpoint security threats, assessing threat intelligence, and reviewing forensics as needed. They also incorporate the ability to automate responses, such as quarantining a threat, so there is no delay between an admin seeing an alert and the response to stop the dangerous activity.
Advanced Threat Blocking
Most EDR solutions include more advanced threat-blocking techniques than a standard antivirus application. These solutions can stop threats at detection on various endpoints and improve the organization’s security.
Proactive Threat Hunting and Detection
EDR solutions are designed with behavioral monitoring capabilities to identify suspicious activities, patterns, and anomalies called thread hunting. This proactively prevents threats at endpoints where they are within the network before they occur. Threat hunting is also important to help identify the types of threats the organization is attracting and how to prevent them in advance.
Single, Unified Monitoring and Reporting System
Having different antivirus programs on each endpoint in a business’ network can be challenging to monitor. EDR solutions help IT staff monitor and secure all business endpoints from a single command/control center and generate a report for all the endpoints. This saves time, money, and resources on threat monitoring and reporting.
Remote Threat Management
If you can monitor your endpoints from a single unified platform, you can manage them from the same point. EDR solutions allow remote connection and network monitoring, which makes them a better choice for managing remote workers. This means you don’t have to access all endpoints physically or within the same network to track and manage them from threats.
Easy Integration With Other Security Tools
EDR platforms are designed to work together or integrate with other security solutions in an enterprise. This allows businesses to coordinate the entire network cybersecurity strategy and get comprehensive cyber protection. IT staff can correlate their different IT infrastructure to get better insights into techniques and behaviors of cybercriminals and threat attacks on your business network.
Endnote
It’s important to install an EDR solution on all your business servers and key management systems that contain your business’s sensitive information. This will help prevent cybercriminals from locating your vulnerabilities and attacking your business. It will also help you know which endpoints are most vulnerable in your business and the types of attacks criminals use to access your business.
