Three trends have converged to drive a dramatic increase in endpoint security threats:
Endpoint Security Threats Have Skyrocketed. Here’s Why
Endpoint Security Threats Have Skyrocketed. Here’s Why
· The Internet of Things has flourished. Organizations have increased their use of IoT devices, which not only introduces more endpoints but potentially gives hackers access to operational technology (OT) networks that used to be isolated from the Internet. The education, healthcare and manufacturing sectors have the largest numbers of IoT devices.
· The sheer number of endpoint devices has exploded thanks to remote and mobile workstyles. In the CRA survey, 63 percent of respondents said their organizations are managing more than 1,000 traditional and nontraditional devices. Respondents said they were struggling to keep up with the introduction of new devices and operating systems.
· The shift to remote and hybrid work models, coupled with the growing use of cloud-based solutions and services, expanded the attack surface significantly. Cybercriminals have exploited new vulnerabilities to launch a wide range of attacks on enterprise networks. In an August 2022 survey by the CyberRisk Alliance (CRA), 60 percent of IT and security professionals said the expanding attack surface was their greatest endpoint security concern.
Not surprisingly, 75 percent of IT and security professionals surveyed by CRA are at least moderately concerned about endpoint security risks. Almost half (43 percent) are very or extremely concerned.
Legacy Tools Aren’t Up to the Challenge
Traditional endpoint security tools were not designed to handle this triple threat. In many cases, various types of endpoints — such as Windows PCs/laptops and macOS and iOS devices — are managed using distinct sets of tools. IoT devices may not be managed holistically at all. IT teams lack visibility across all the endpoints in the environment, and struggle to mitigate vulnerabilities and manage devices holistically.
Another problem is that endpoint security has largely focused on antivirus, which is nowhere near enough to protect these devices and control access to the network. Additionally, most legacy endpoint security tools focus on prevention and do little to detect or respond to threats.
Furthermore, these tools do little to address the challenges of IoT and OT endpoints. More than half (54 percent) of respondents to the CRA said they are monitoring and managing smart devices, edge devices and building management systems, and 47 percent said they are responsible for operational technologies such as industrial control systems (ICSs) and SCADA systems. These numbers likely underrepresent the true number of IoT and OT endpoints. According to NIST researchers, many organizations are unaware of all the IoT devices in their environments. The healthcare sector in particular faces the risks associated with large numbers of unpatched legacy devices.
Improving Endpoint Security
The endpoint security market has grown, with a number of vendors introducing next-generation tools. Best-in-class tools are able to block unknown and polymorphic malware, as well as malware with known signatures. These tools can also monitor endpoints continually, analyze and correlate data from a variety of sources, and detect and investigate abnormalities across multiple devices.
Security tools are only part of the equation, however. Organizations need a well-developed strategy that includes well-defined policies and integrates endpoint monitoring and management with other aspects of the IT infrastructure.
The DeSeMa team has extensive experience in the development and execution of endpoint security strategies. We have tools that enable us to identify all endpoints in the environment, and a continual audit program that enables us to track every change. You gain access to a complete and up-to-date inventory of all your systems and devices through a web-based portal, giving you greater visibility and insight into potential vulnerabilities. We can also perform a thorough assessment, and help you use existing tools and make strategic investments to bolster your endpoint security.
Endpoint security threats have skyrocketed due to remote work, growing numbers of users and expansion of the Internet of Things. Let DeSeMa help you get a handle on these threats and implement a layered security strategy to protect your endpoints.