One of the hackers’ preferred entry points into networks of enterprises is endpoints. Check out our list of the top 10 endpoint security best practises to keep you secure and aid in the defence against online threats.

Threat actors can use just one connected device as a point of entry to spread malware, conduct phishing scams, and steal data. Counting on your antivirus software to keep you safe should be a thing of the past. Since they only protect against known threats that have already infiltrated the network, antivirus software is a fantastic corporate endpoint security component of the solution.

Security challenges are growing in size and sophistication in a dynamic environment that is rapidly moving towards total digitalization. Therefore, be sure you are aware of what contemporary endpoint security corporate solutions have to offer in order to stay current and make the best judgments possible regarding the protection of the data belonging to your business, clients, and team.

No matter if they are online or offline, on-premises or off-premises, endpoints can be the target of known, unknown, and zero-day threats. Let’s now acknowledge the risks to corporate endpoint security that are now the most prevalent.

Most Common Endpoint Security Risks

All network-connected devices, including laptops, smartphones, printers, etc., have the potential to be attacked by endpoints at some time if they are not properly protected. And there are a lot of dangers that might be hiding in some inboxes, in data packets that try to mislead you by employing DNS tunnelling, or as zero-day vulnerabilities that are being exploited. We’ll only mention the most typical ones for the time being:

  • Ransomware attacks according to cyber researchers and the daily cyber security headlines, are increasing. Threat actors that successfully penetrate the system encrypt databases and other important files before showing up and asking payment for recovering the stolen material. If consumer personal information is included in the stolen data, this type of attack is either very expensive for the victim or poses an additional risk to the reputation or safety of the infiltrated organisation. Threat actors frequently advertise on the forums for hackers that they are selling personal data that they have managed to obtain.
  • Phishing: Aside from being quite successful, attacks are also quite common since they are simple to launch. They can be used to acquire access to login information, spread malware, monitor user activities, or establish a point of entry to a company’s network. This type of attack has already been used against many well-known brands. 130 companies, including T-Mobile, MetroPCS, Verizon Wireless, Slack, Twitter, CoinBase, Microsoft, Epic Games, etc., were affected by an Oktapus phishing campaign as early as August of last year.
  • Device loses yet another element that may result in data leaks. The repercussions of a lost or stolen employee gadget might be disastrous.
  • Malware and fileless infections: There are two more threats that your organization’s endpoints may encounter besides ransomware. Among the preferred tools of hackers are adware, trojans, worms, rootkits, and data thieves.
  • Unproperly managing patches will enable unscrupulous actors to quickly steal your data by taking advantage of unpatched system vulnerabilities.

Top 10 Endpoint Security Best Practices

LEAVE NO DOOR OPEN: PATCH & SECURE ALL DEVICES

Ensure that all of the hardware connecting to your network is expertly secured. If they are permitted to access the network of the business, you can follow any device, including laptops, smartphones, printers, smart watches, servers, and more. Every time a new device joins the network, the endpoints’ inventory should be updated.

Never skip a software update or the most recent patch, and improve your patch management procedures. Use a patching solution that is automated.

Observe every device that joins your network. Regularly update your inventory. Ensure that endpoints are running the most recent patches and software updates.

STRENGTHEN PASSWORDS

I can’t think of a circumstance in which the adage “the stronger, the better” wouldn’t hold true. Use it on your endpoints to: request that users create strong passwords. Another smart move to strengthen endpoint security is to use a multi-factor authentication system.

APPLY THE PRINCIPLE OF LEAST PRIVILEGE (PLP)

Enforcing a least privilege policy enables you to restrict damage and data loss, as well as track and determine where and how the breach occurred. It also enables you to stop a possible infection before it spreads throughout the entire system. Determine with stringent criteria which users actually require admin rights. You can avoid a lot of hassles by not allowing unauthorised users to put executable code onto the endpoints.

ENCRYPT ENDPOINTS

To provide your data an additional layer of security, use encryption. Even if the endpoint is taken or lost, the data on it is kept secure by encrypting the disc or memory of the device. It will either be impossible or inaccessible to read the data on it.

ENFORCE USB PORT ACCESS POLICY

An easy approach to propagate malware or steal corporate data is by using printers, cameras, external devices, and endpoints with USB ports. In order to prevent an attack, the least-privilege policy should cover access to USB ports.

This age-old tactic is still popular among hackers, and the Turla attack on Ukraine brought to light the dangers of infecting endpoints in this way.

ONLY USE VPN ACCESS FOR REMOTE ENDPOINTS

Enforcing a VPN access policy is essential as more businesses adopt remote or hybrid working practices. Unfortunately, external attacks like Man-in-the-Middle, DNS spoofing, and DNS tunnelling could still target your devices. Therefore, you should think about restricting VPN usage by only allowing access at the app layer in order to adhere to endpoint security best practices.

Multi-factor authentication will assist keep your data secure, as was already said when we discussed passwords.

ENFORCE A SAFE BYOD POLICY

BYOD has been more popular over the past few years in part because of remote or hybrid working arrangements. This necessitates an assessment of your internal security procedures.
Enforcing a guest access account policy and fortifying your protection by incorporating the fourth endpoint security technique we previously advised are the best ways to handle BYOD. In the event that the user misplaces the gadget, encryption will keep them safe.

WHITE/BLACKLISTING APPS

Keep it simple and uncluttered. It is preferable not to authorise the installation of an app if the user does not necessarily need it. As a result, there will be less chance of falling prey to threats and zero-day vulnerabilities.

Restrict an app’s ability to communicate with irrelevant groups whenever you grant it access.

GO WITH THE ZERO TRUST SECURITY MODEL

“Never believe; always verify.” Every user, endpoint, app, workload, etc. fall under this category. Only after thoroughly verifying a user’s identity and device should access be given. Use the least privilege principle in every situation. Network segmentation, which isolates and stops infection from spreading, workload security, data usage controls, and multi-factor authentication are your major instruments for creating a zero-trust policy, as we’ve already mentioned.

KEEP EMPLOYEES SECURITY-WISE

Education is the key, as it is in many other situations, and it is a fantastic preventative tool in cybersecurity. Education will let a user recognize spoofed communication and keep them safe from CEO fraud, phishing, smishing, and other attacks. They will be more likely to think twice about downloading an application that seems innocent by clicking on it if they are aware of the dangers involved. Long-term, this will relieve them of a great deal of worry and spare the business a great deal of cash it would have otherwise had to pay ransomware threat groups, for example.

How Can Prilient Help Upgrade Your Endpoint Security Practices?

The ideal endpoint protection combination is Dark Layer Guard TM and Vector N Detection TM. Reduce your vulnerability to Zero Hour exploits, Ransomware C&Cs, next-generation threats, and data breaches by using our cutting-edge 2-way traffic filtering engine. Additionally, White or Black Listing is totally customisable with Dark Layer Guards. Contrarily, Vector Detections is the only tool that effectively delivers a HIDS at the machine traffic layer while allowing you to detect 2nd generation malware strains.

While malware obfuscation methods are always evolving and getting more complex, relying just on conventional detection tools is dangerous. Malware is blocked at the traffic level by DarkLayer GuardTM and VectorN DetectionTM, preventing any interaction with potential threat actors. The Threat Prevention Endpoint from prilient is made to function for both on-site and remote teams.

Wrap Up

One should maintain and enhance their cyber security approach as hackers develop more inventive and effective attack techniques. It is no longer sufficient to protect endpoints only with antivirus software; security solutions that prevent attacks rather than just respond to them should be implemented as soon as possible.

The best way to prevent ransomware and other assaults that could harm your company’s assets and brand reputation is to use top security solutions that are current with the newest trends and techniques.