Endpoint Protection and Data Control are both holistic security fields that focus on different problems. They aren’t substitutes for each other—good organizations implement both. However, for different companies, the emphasis might be more on one than the other based on their risk profile.
Let’s breakdown the different in detail.
Endpoint protection is about securing individual devices—known as endpoints—from malicious actors and external threats. The goal of endpoint protection is to provide the first line of defense for the underlying system. If your infrastructure was a castle, then endpoint security is the drawbridge gate.
Notably, endpoint security isn’t any specific security measure. Instead, it’s a collection of precautions. For example, endpoint security includes malware protection software to block viruses and other harmful software. It also includes vulnerability patching to ensure that all systems remain up-to-date, addressing security gaps that could otherwise be exploited. It also includes firewalls that monitor and control network traffic between devices.
Robust endpoint security approaches include more niche precautions. For example, USB policies determine what access external storage devices have to system resources, preventing unauthorized data transfers. Additionally, device lifecycle management capabilities allow security teams to remotely lock, wipe, or recover devices that may be compromised or lost.
Endpoint security collectively protects devices (and their systems) from malware, hackers, and unauthorized access attempts.
Data Control focuses on protecting sensitive information at a granular level. It regulates how data is accessed and used throughout an organization. Specifically, data controls is about installing mechanisms that safeguard information irrespective of where it resides.
The first layer of data control is classification. Information needs to be organized based on sensitivity, business value, and regulatory requirements. For example, highly sensitive data (like Social Security numbers) and less critical information (such as product pricing) need to be segmented. Once classified, a data control monitoring systems tracks all data movement and access—creating detailed logs of who views, modifies, or transfers protected information. For instance, when someone accesses a secure S3 object containing hashed personal identifiable information, the system automatically records precisely who accessed it and when.
The second leg of effective data control is implementing a policy enforcement system (sometimes known as a policy engine, e.g. Oso) that determine which users, applications, and systems can access specific information. These policies are guided by the Principle of Least Privilege, ensuring that individuals and systems receive only the minimum access permissions necessary to perform their specific functions. By limiting unnecessary access rights, organizations significantly reduce the risk of internal data misuse or accidental exposure.
Both Data Control and Endpoint Control are needed for thorough protection. To understand why, consider adopting only one. Even the strongest data controls are ineffective if malware compromises the endpoint and directly exfiltrates sensitive information. Conversely, even with a secure endpoint, an authorized user could still inadvertently send confidential customer data to an unintended recipient.
Although implementing endpoint protection and data control can be done separately, many services offer security products that tackle both. For example, many SaaS solutions exist for Endpoint Protection and Data Contol (e.g. Crowdstrike Falcon).
From a DIY approach, to set-up endpoint protection, catalog all endpoints and identify which devices need protection. Then, define policies, determining which actions prevent what on each endpoint, flagging known malicious actors and establish firewall rules. Then, deploy this approach across all of your devices.
Meanwhile, from a DIY perspective, to set-up data control, first understand where all of your data is stored (databases, external systems, devices etc). For example, if your data is in S3, IAM policies provide excellent protection and can integrate service access logging. Crowdstrike offers DPSM for data control, providing visibility into sensitive data, tracking its movement, and monitoring access permissions.
Unfortunately, many startups typically neglect this security framework because it forces them to take an exhaustive security approach. It’s natural to struggle to balance security needs with development speed. However, the consequence to not focuses on security is over-provisioning of access, blindsided operations, and escalating attack vectors.
Products like Zip Security make it easy to choose solutions for endpoint protection and data control without having a dedicated security teams. Additionally, Zip Security provides a single pane of glass to monitor all of your security tools. Learn more today by signing up for a demo.
