Does Your Business Need an Endpoint Security Reality Check?

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Digital transformation and the changing workplace are shining a light on two intersecting trends: the variety and volume of endpoint devices, and the need to secure data and systems wherever they reside.

No surprise, then, that securing endpoints and the data they contain is becoming more urgent.

Organizations that are lagging are likely to fall further behind as the volume and scope of endpoint devices continue to grow.

Is your business taking the threat seriously enough?

You can start by considering the following questions for your Endpoint Security:

  • Are the hard drives on your laptops encrypted at the device level using keys in the TPM?

The most important device components are the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI).

TPM is a crypto-processor that is resistant both to physical tampering and the efforts of malicious software to change or interfere with it. TPM can generate, store, and control the use of cryptographic keys. It comes with a unique, embedded, and unchangeable RSA key that provides strong device authentication.

UEFI is a standard for a much more sophisticated version of what we used to call BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), the ROM in the PC used for booting and certain hardware access. The UEFI is a mini-operating system itself, whose job is to load the operating system.

Like all other modern technology, TPM and UEFI are updated from time to time. Because they are so important to the security of the system, it is essential that the manufacturer provides the means for applying updates and that administrators have the ability to distribute these updates.

So, the key takeaway here is to make sure your endpoint devices can be managed and updated down to the UEFI level efficiently to mitigate a critical vulnerability point.

  • Does signing into the device require multiple factors?

For most organizations, the primary protection for employee devices (and their email and other accounts) is a password.

New technologies make it possible for passwords to be required rarely, if at all. Eventually, you should be able to remove passwords from your identity directory entirely – eliminating a significant vulnerability.

Authentication is stronger when it involves more than one authentication factor, and in particular, more than one type of factor. Multifactor authentication dramatically reduces the risk of many forms of attack, including phishing, a common method for attackers to gain initial entry to a network.

A variety of other established methods provide strong authentication without the limitations of passwords. These include biometrics, smart cards, and authenticator apps.

  • Is the thief prevented from booting a new operating system from a USB drive?

If the hardware allows it, IT can enable or disable individual features as part of the setup. This includes the cameras, Micro SD card, Bluetooth, LTE, whether the computer can boot off of a USB device, and many more. The right tools have the capability to minimize the impact of remote-access Trojans and other methods that enable attackers to take control of device components.

And the most important consideration begs the question:

Is your endpoint security tool cloud-based, software-driven, and continually updated with the latest technology advancements?

To provide maximum protection, today’s security capabilities must stay one step ahead of the most innovative threat actors. If your products don’t have the latest advancements in endpoint protection, you may be unable to respond effectively to the new and emerging threats that are evolving daily across increasingly distributed IT environments and workforces.

Modern endpoint security has a long reach, from the device firmware up to the cloud, across all phases of the device lifecycle, with an emphasis on user privileges, prompt updates, and encryption of data in transit and at rest.

And the peace of mind that it brings makes it a no-brainer!

Mint SA Managed Services can provide you with complete Endpoint Protection with Microsoft Defender for BusinessClick here for more info.

Take advantage also and get real insights on A Modern Blueprint for Endpoint Protection with this [Free eBook] :

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