In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, remote work has become the norm. Companies that never considered remote work now have employees working from home. This sudden shift means that endpoint security risks have increased, and organizations must address this issue proactively. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore how to manage and eliminate endpoint security risks with the help of industry leaders Watchguard Endpoint Security and Tanium.
Introduction
As decentralized work becomes more common, endpoint security risks are growing and evolving. Cyber attackers are savvy and are always finding new ways to attack company security. Cybersecurity concerns have been exacerbated by the shift to remote working, leaving organizations vulnerable to a variety of risks, including malware ads, phishing, data loss, and ransomware.
In this article, we will explore how to proactively manage and eliminate endpoint security risks. Using comprehensive risk assessment tools and prioritized recommendations, we will provide actionable solutions to the challenges posed by the evolving endpoint security threats. Our focus will be on two critical risk assessment tools: Watchguard Endpoint Security and Tanium. Using these tools, companies can assess their endpoint security posture, locate vulnerabilities, and develop an improvement plan.
Endpoint Security Risk Assessment with Watchguard Endpoint Security
Watchguard Endpoint Security is a comprehensive risk assessment and monitoring tool for computers in the network. It evaluates default risks on computers in the network, assigning risk levels based on the highest risk detected on the computer. Default risks can include out-of-date software, protection installation errors, disabled antivirus, unprotected devices, and more.
Some benefits of using Watchguard Endpoint Security for endpoint security risk assessment include:
- Automatic monitoring of the network for new device connections.
- Conducts an asset inventory to determine where to focus risk assessment efforts.
- Allows users to configure risks and change their default risk level based on their needs.
- Provides an overall risk level for a computer based on the highest risk level detected on it.
- Applies risk vector analysis to notify the security team of any active threats on the network.
By using Watchguard Endpoint Security, organizations can assess the risk level of their devices and take steps to reduce risk. However, it’s important to note that Watchguard Endpoint Security doesn’t provide “mean time to remediate” for critical-risk vulnerabilities.##Endpoint Security Risk Assessment with Tanium
Tanium is another industry leader in dynamic endpoint security risk assessment. Tanium scores each endpoint device against multiple vectors, including compliance, patch status, sensitive data, and susceptibility to large-scale breach patterns such as log4j. The result is an actionable improvement plan to help reduce and eliminate identified risk factors.
Some benefits of using Tanium for endpoint security risk assessment include:
- Provides dynamic scoring to assess risk posture in real-time.
- Conducts an asset inventory of every device connected to the network.
- Prioritizes risks and provides recommendations based on the severity of vulnerabilities.
- Offers a comprehensive view of endpoint risk posture, enabling organizations to take proactive measures to reduce risk.
- Provides recommended compensating controls to help reduce risk without reducing functionality.
By using Tanium, organizations can take proactive steps to reduce risk, identify and resolve vulnerabilities, and improve their endpoint security posture.
Types of Endpoint Security Risks
Endpoint security risks include a broad range of threats that have been growing and evolving as technology continues to advance and remote work becomes more common. Some common types of endpoint security risks include:
- Phishing: This risk involves fraudulent emails, messages, or phone calls designed to trick users into giving up sensitive information or clicking on a malicious link.
- Data loss: This risk involves the loss of sensitive data, whether through accidental deletion, data theft, or malware attacks.
- Ransomware: This risk involves malicious software that holds important data hostage until a ransom is paid.
- Device loss: This risk involves theft or loss of mobile devices containing sensitive data.
- Botnet attacks: This risk involves the use of automated software to gain control over a network of devices and conduct illicit activities, such as sending spam or carrying out distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
- Outdated patches: This risk involves software that hasn’t been updated with the latest security patches, leaving vulnerabilities open to exploitation.
- Advanced persistent threats: This risk involves sophisticated, long-term attacks aimed at gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data.
- Macro and script attacks: This risk involves manipulating the code in macros or scripts in applications such as Microsoft Excel to execute harmful programs on a computer.
It’s crucial that organizations are aware of these risks and take appropriate measures to mitigate them.
Challenges and Solutions in Endpoint Security
The main challenges in endpoint security stem primarily from human behavior, disjointed security solutions, limited resources, and evolving threats. Human behavior, for example, can be unpredictable, making it difficult to protect against. Similarly, the use of personal devices and remote working has made monitoring network activity more challenging. Disjointed security solutions and limited resources can also pose significant challenges.
However, it is possible to mitigate these challenges. Companies can overcome them by getting informed and organized. Using cybersecurity metrics such as cyber hygiene metrics, organizations can track their level of readiness and adjust as necessary. By using unified endpoint security software like Prey, organizations have access to a range of features, such as device security, data protection, tracking and location, and streamlined device management.
Conclusion
Endpoint security risks have become more critical than ever as remote work has become the norm. Organizations must take a proactive approach to address evolving threats. By leveraging robust risk assessment tools like Watchguard Endpoint Security and Tanium, companies can understand their risk posture and develop actionable plans to eliminate and reduce vulnerabilities, ensuring security for their data and network. By investing time and resources in endpoint security, organizations can protect their data and reap the benefits of remote work without putting their company at risk.