Network Security
Vulnerability Management
Privileged Access Management
Endpoint Security
Threat Hunting
Unified Endpoint Management
Email & Collaboration Security
Contents:
In an ever-changing cyberthreat scenario, endpoint security software with the correct mix of endpoint protection features can help protect your company’s critical resources. Here are the essential features of advanced endpoint security tools you need to look for!
10 Essential Features of Advanced Endpoint Security Tools
It’s true that there are so many choices available that picking the best security solution for your business can be challenging. Which of the primary features and capabilities that each vendor promotes for its endpoint security technologies are the most significant? I’ve listed my top 10 essential features of advanced endpoint security tools below.
Automated Detection and Remediation
As Heimdal’s CEO, Morten Kjaersgaard, notes in his article on How to Create a Successful Cybersecurity Strategy, “Technology automation and cybersecurity go hand in hand. In today’s world, there is simply no cybersecurity without automated technologies.”
Endpoint detection and response solutions must constantly monitor for incidents and behaviors that might indicate a security risk, then notify your IT team of the issue. In order to free up your security team to work on more significant problems, your endpoint solution should also be able to execute automated remediation techniques for low-level threats that don’t necessitate manual intervention.
Machine Learning
Today’s automated endpoint security solutions, which counter a rising number of also automated and well-orchestrated cyberthreats like viruses, malware, ransomware, trojans, keyloggers and so on, must include machine learning.
Machine learning enhances endpoint security products by analyzing massive volumes of data to identify regular endpoints or user behavior. The information can then be used for a variety of purposes, including the detection of unusual or malicious behavior, alerting security personnel, or starting automatic remediation procedures.
Threat Intelligence
Endpoint security solutions that leverage threat intelligence can quickly and effectively automate and simplify the data collection, organization, and enrichment process; monitor, detect and respond to security vulnerabilities in real-time and share threat intelligence data with other relevant parties via alerts, reports, and other means.
Device and Application Control
These features are crucial because they give organizations the ability to regulate which devices can upload or download data, access hardware, or access a database. With application whitelisting or blocklisting, they lessen the likelihood of shadow IT by ensuring that only authorized software and apps are installed on company endpoints.
Patch Management
Keeping every device in a business up to date is undoubtedly a challenging mission, especially when employing end-of-life operating systems or having staff that works remotely. In the past three years, patching vulnerabilities has gotten even more complex as employee-owned devices have spread across vast distances and while gaining access to corporate networks.
Because it automates the collecting and delivery of patches throughout the whole organization, patch management is thus an essential component of advanced endpoint security solutions.
Vulnerability Management
As my colleague Cristian explains in his article Patch Management vs Vulnerability Management: A Comparison, “Patch management and vulnerability management are processes that go hand-in-hand.”
Exploited vulnerabilities may make IT systems inoperable, which might result in pricey data breaches and service interruptions. A vital part of safeguarding any company against the acts of threat actors who could attempt to compromise its systems is vulnerability management. Based on the perceived threat level, vulnerability management rates potential risks and vulnerabilities and prioritizes their remediation.
Privileged Access Management
As Gartner notes, “Privileged access risks result from the proliferation of privileges, the potential for human error in using privileges (such as administrator mistakes) and unauthorized privilege elevation (techniques that attackers use to gain higher-level permissions on a system, platform or environment).”
PAM is an essential component of advanced endpoint security solutions since it helps to enable Zero Trust and defense-in-depth techniques that go beyond simple compliance considerations.
Data Loss Protection
DLP operates using user authentication, remote access, configurable rules, and encryption to stop staff members from sharing files via email or chat on the Internet. DLP stops deliberate or inadvertent data loss in the case of a system breach as well as access intrusions carried on by insiders.
The main benefits of DLP are data visibility and intangible assets.
Intelligent Alerting and Reporting
Top endpoint security products provide advanced alerting and reporting mechanisms that offer contextual data on incidents and notifications. You need reports that provide visibility into the endpoint security of your company, relevant warnings and notifications about vulnerabilities, and an easy-to-use interface.
Flexible Deployment
Because every business is unique, endpoint security products should be able to adjust to the requirements and environment of each company, enabling both on-premises and cloud deployment alternatives.
Since your system administrators may utilize configuration management to change and define policies, receive notifications, and check audit trails, management options are also valuable.
How Can Heimdal® Help?
When it comes to endpoint security, the Heimdal suite includes various options, that can be combined according to your business needs. Our Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Service and Extended Detection and Response (XDR/SOC Service) are such examples of unified endpoint security.
Heimdal’s Endpoint Detection and Response EDR Service
Our EDR service comprises some of our most critical modules (Threat Prevention, Patch and Asset Management, Next-Gen Antivirus, Ransomware Encryption Protection, Privileged Access Management, Application Control), ensuring many if not all the features listed above – automated detection and remediation, machine learning, threat intelligence, application control, patch and vulnerability management, privileged access management, intelligent alerting and reporting.
Heimdal’s Extended Detection and Response XDR/SOC Service
Our XDR/SOC Service “acts as a central hub for security intelligence, gathering and dynamically comparing input from multiple sources (endpoints, networks, cloud workloads) to detect threats faster and ramp up response times” (Morten Kjaersgaard, Heimdal’s CEO, in “Managed Security Service – What It Is and Why Does Your Company Need It“).
With Heimdal’s XDR solution, you’ll benefit from continuous monitoring, 24/7/365, real-time alerting on phone/email in case of infection/attack, and systemized, comprehensive reports on possible threats and vulnerabilities.
Final Thoughts
Endpoint security solutions nowadays have advanced significantly from old-school firewalls and antivirus programs. They offer a greater range of protection capabilities against known and unidentified threats, security flaws, and post-intrusion repercussions.
As we’ve discussed, some of the most important features of advanced security tools include automated detection and remediation; machine learning; threat intelligence; device and application control; patch management; vulnerability management; privileged access management; data loss protection; intelligent alerting and reporting; flexible reporting.
Feel free to contact us if you want to know more on this topic, our consultants would love to help you improve your company’s cybersecurity posture.
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Elena Georgescu is a cybersecurity specialist within Heimdal™ and her main interests are mobile security, social engineering, and artificial intelligence. In her free time, she studies Psychology and Marketing. Some of her guest posts on other websites include: cybersecurity-magazine.com, cybersecuritymagazine.com, techpatio.com
