Endpoint Security Overview
Endpoints are often central to a business' success because they provide a way to access
important files, processes, a variety of digital assets, and other people in the organization.
However, they can also be key to an attacker’s strategy. If a network is like the human
body, endpoints are the orifices through which cyber diseases can be introduced. Without
adequate protection and a strong cyber immune system, it is easy for disease to spread.
What Devices Are Classified as Endpoints?
Any device that people interact with while it is connected to your network is classified as an
endpoint. The various types of endpoint security software are designed to protect these
kinds of devices, including:
1. Laptops
2. Cell phones
3. Tablets
4. Printers
5. Servers
6. Medical devices
7. Handheld scanners
8. Robots
9. All Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices
Why Endpoint Security is Critical to Your Business
Your endpoints are all exposed to humans on a constant basis. In many cases, a breach is
accidental—a result of a simple error. A well-meaning employee may leave their device
unattended while they are still logged in to a sensitive area, leave a password on a desk, or
access an unsecure network, such as one at an airport or a public hotspot.
Endpoint security protects you from attacks resulting from both carelessness and
intentional, planned breaches.
What Are the Different Types of Endpoint Security?
There are several types of security you can implement to protect your endpoints. Here are
11 of the most effective examples of endpoint security.
Internet-of-Things (IoT) Security
Software that protects Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices is one of the most important types of
endpoint security for enterprises. The more IoT devices you have—including ones operated
by customers that may interface with your network— the more thorough you have to be
when it comes to your security fabric. Each one could be used as an access point to your
digital assets.
Network Access Control (NAC)
Network access control (NAC) focuses on managing which users and devices gain access
to your network, as well as what they do and which segments they interact with. It uses
firewalls that are positioned between users, devices, and sensitive sections of your network.
Data Loss Prevention
A data loss prevention (DLP) strategy focuses on ensuring that your most secure data
resources are protected against exfiltration. One of the best ways to safeguard these assets
is to keep employees informed about phishing tactics, as well as installing antimalware to
prevent data loss from malicious programs hackers install on your endpoints.
Insider Threat Protection
Insider threats come from those within your organization. Controlling who has access to
which area of your network, monitoring what they are doing, and ensuring all sessions are
properly terminated can protect your endpoints. It is important to use zero-trust network
access (ZTNA) tools to control who on the inside of your company can access sensitive
areas.
Data Classification
Companies use data classification to isolate the most valuable and vulnerable data and
then identify the endpoints that can be used to gain unauthorized access to it. For example,
an organization may have several customer service representatives who work remotely and
have access to sensitive customer financial information. In this situation, data classification
may help pinpoint a critical attack surface.
URL Filtering
Uniform Resource Locator (URL) filtering involves blocking potentially malicious websites so
internal users cannot access them. This is often accomplished using either a hardware or
software firewall.
Browser Isolation
With browser isolation, the sessions run by your users’ browsers are executed within an
isolated environment. This prevents any malicious code downloaded during the session
from impacting the digital assets you need to protect.
Cloud Perimeter Security
Cloud perimeter security in endpoints involves protecting your cloud resources from devices
and users that can access them. You can use a cloud firewall to control which people and
devices have access to your cloud resources. You can also use cloud-based web filtering
tools.
Endpoint Encryption
Endpoint encryption secures the data on your devices by ensuring anyone who does not
have a decryption key cannot read it. This works for many types of endpoints, providing
worry-free browsing and downloading and even access to sensitive financial information.
Sandboxing
With sandboxing, you create an environment that mimics your typical end-user operating
system while isolating it from sensitive areas of your network. This can work with most types
of endpoints because you can sandbox specific applications.
Secure Email Gateways
A secure email gateway (SEG) inspects the messages that go in and out of your email
system, checking each one for potential threats. When a suspicious link or file is detected,
the gateway prevents the email from being accessed.
How Fortinet Can Help
FortiClient automates the protection of your endpoints by:
1. Reporting device status information
2. Enforcing application control, Universal Serial Bus (USB) control, firmware
upgrading, and URL filtering policies
3. Providing malware protection
4. Facilitating secure and encrypted connections
5. Sandboxing suspicious files
In this way, FortiClient protects not only your endpoints, but also the users that interface
with them and the rest of the organization’s network. Your endpoints, the data on them, and
the other devices that they interface with are all kept safe with one solution.
FAQs
What are the key components of endpoint security?
Endpoint security protects the data on your devices as well as data users interacting with
those devices may access.
What is considered endpoint security?
Endpoint security includes the protection and monitoring of endpoints, which are any
devices that connect to your network. Endpoint security also involves shielding network
assets from potential threats introduced via endpoints.
What are the types of endpoint security?
The types of endpoint security include:
1. Internet-of-Things (IoT) security
2. Network access control (NAC)
3. Data loss prevention (DLP)
4. Insider threat protection
5. Data classification
6. Uniform Resource Locator (URL) filtering
7. Browser isolation
8. Cloud perimeter security
9. Endpoint encryption
10. Sandboxing
11. Secure email gateways
