The device continues to be the immovable service edge between users and corporate resources. The device was the medium for the first cyberattacks, and continues to be at risk of both automated and targeted attacks. While security threats and methods are constantly evolving, the requirement to protect devices remains constant.
In this article we’ll take a deeper dive into the role of device security in crafting your security strategy, and then breakdown some key topics in understanding the mechanics of device security tools, and how to select and rollout them out to your business.
Device Security focuses on protecting your business against attacks on your devices through tools like Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and antivirus software. When thinking about device security, it’s important to understand the types of threats it protecting against. The scope and nature of malware and ransomware attacks are ever growing and increasingly sophisticated, so it’s important our defense strategy matches this complexity.
Over the last decade there has been a shift from network security to identity security, but both these models remain mediated by device security. (For a deeper dive on identity security - check out one of our previous blog posts!). Overlooking the security of devices can expose vulnerabilities that malicious actors may exploit. A breach in device security could lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential disruptions to business operations. From unauthorized access to sensitive information to the compromise of critical systems, the implications of a security breach extend far beyond the compromised device itself. The IBM 2023 Data Breach reported that: The global average cost of a data breach in 2023 was USD 4.45 million, a 15% increase over 3 years.
Organizations are recognizing just how important it is to invest in security solutions, to reduce the significantly greater financial risk of a breach. IMB also reported the following stat: 51% of organizations are planning to increase security investments as a result of a breach, including incident response (IR) planning and testing, employee training, and threat detection and response tools.
Across all sectors, companies are recognizing the value of investing in security to prevent the extremely costly threat of cyberattack. And this leads us to our next section. Once you’re ready to invest in your security stack, and particularly an effective device security strategy, How do you choose and secure a good tool?
As organizations around the world increasingly move to remote working, the importance of robust endpoint protection has grown. Employees working from home may not be protected against cyber threats to the same degree as on-site workers and may be using personal devices without the latest updates and security patches. Employees who work remotely may be less vigilant about their cybersecurity than if they were in a traditional office setting. As a result, organizations and their employees are exposed to additional cybersecurity risks. Strong endpoint security is essential since it protects the employee from threats and can prevent criminals from using a remote worker’s computer as a way to attack the organization’s network.
The mechanisms of device security and endpoint protection have evolved in complexity over time, and the scope of what they’re able to execute on also has evolved. When we’re speaking about Device Security, the key tool to consider here is your EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response) tool, such as CrowdStrike and SentinelOne EDR is focused on visibility and threat response, and offers visibility into suspicious activities on endpoints, allowing for faster, more effective responses to threats. This takes the form of continuous monitoring of all endpoint connections, in an attempt to identify malicious activity in real time and develop rapid responses to deescalate threats. The best EDR tools have ridden the wave of cheaper enduser compute over the last decade. Today, these tools primarily work by inspecting the entire process tree on a device. Through a combination of process inspection, file scanning, and threat intelligence, these tools determine which activity may be malicious. And critically, these tools are often configurable to automatically kill processes they alert on. Below we provide a deeper dive into some of the key technologies and strategies and how they interact with each other:
Device security can be managed in multiple ways, and a lot of acronyms are thrown about. Let’s take a deep dive into what some of these key terms mean, and how some of these terms interact with each other in the context of security strategy.
EPP stands for Endpoint Protection Platform, and this primarily focuses on preventing known threats. EDR, which stands for Endpoint Detection and Response, on the other hand, steps in to identify and contain potential threats that surpass traditional security technologies. EPPs have evolved to include EDR capabilities, creating a complementary strategy that combines prevention with swift response.
Extended Detection and Response (XDR) and Managed Detection and Response (MDR) extend the scope and delivery of threat detection solutions. XDR integrates security tools across the entire hybrid infrastructure, offering a unified approach to prevention, detection, and response. MDR, as an outsourced cybersecurity service, provides round-the-clock threat monitoring and remediation, making it an appealing solution for organizations seeking expertise beyond their in-house capabilities or budget constraints.
Once you’ve selected your tool, an effective rollout is key in supporting uptake, ensuring minimal impact to users, and ultimately working towards the long-term success of your security strategy.
Here are some key tips to keep in mind:
Interested in learning more on this topic? Check out our latest article: What cybersecurity tools do you need to build and effective security strategy? and our other articles here.
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