How important is Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) Protection?

Modern cyber threats to businesses are becoming more expensive, more complex and more intelligent. While the number of cyberattacks is increasing all the time, solutions to counter these threats are also evolving, and in this article, we look at the role of Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) Protection the mix of cybersecurity solutions.

Endpoint Security Monitoring uses proactive rather than reactive measures to combating evolving cybersecurity threats targeted at or present on end-user devices such as desktops, laptops and mobile devices.

Why is Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) Protection important to IT Security?

Key Takeaways

• 2021 saw the average cost of a data breach rising to the highest amount in 17 years, at $4.24million
• Endpoint Security involves securing the entry points of end-user devices including desktops, laptops and mobile devices
• The rise of remote work and policies based around employees bringing their own devices into the workplace (BYOD) have made it more difficult than ever for all the data within a business to remain protected across locations and devices
• Endpoint Security uses a proactive rather than a reactive response to combatting IT threats by detecting threats such as zero-day attacks in real time, analysing them, blocking them and containing them.
• SentinelOne Endpoint Protection acts to protect IT infrastructure by making use of advanced AI machine learning to stay ahead of new and variant malware and hacking attacks.

How costly are Data Breaches?

According to the 2022 IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report, 2021 saw the average cost of a data breach rising to the highest amount in 17 years, at $4.24million. The most common cause of data breaches was found to be stolen user credentials which, according to the report, gave rise to over 20% of all cyberattacks.

Where Do Attacks Originate?

The Verizon 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report found that social engineering attacks were responsible for 69% of all public administration breaches. It also reported that cybercriminals using phishing attacks could be seen tweaking their attack lines in response to the stories being featured in the news.

One more extremely worrying statistic, taken from the ESET Threat Report T2 2021, found that incidents of Android banking malware rose by a shocking 158.7% during the first quarter of 2021.

What is Endpoint Security protection?

Endpoint security involves securing the network entry points i.e. end-user devices including desktops, laptops and mobile devices.

Given the rapid evolution towards distributed workforces and the transition to hybrid and home-based working by many employers, the potential security vulnerabilities of multiple distributed devices has become more important, as some network-based controls are more difficult to implement.

Why is Endpoint Detection and Response necessary?

Rather than businesses having IT systems based in a single location, they now tend to have an IT infrastructure which is scattered across multiple devices in a range of locations. Productivity systems such as Microsoft365 and Teams as well as other cloud technologies are used to pull all of those devices together.

The rise of remote working and policies based around employees bringing their own devices (BYOD) have made it more difficult than ever for all the data within a business to remain protected.

Endpoint Security is designed to protect data and workflows across a range of devices and locations, analysing files as they enter or interact with the network, and responding on the basis of a constantly expanding database of information on external threats aimed at disrupting IT systems and infrastructure.

How does Endpoint Security provide better protection?

Endpoint Security solutions are designed to detect and mitigate issues before they arise, rather than the more traditional approach of detecting problems reactively and attempting to apply remedial solutions.

The Endpoint Security approach represents an evolution of the traditional anti-virus software approach and works particularly well as protection against ‘zero-day’ attacks, which are targeted at software vulnerabilities picked up by cyber criminals but not noticed or addressed by the vendors or users of the software.

Endpoint Security is placed in the frontline of IT security provision, working to detect attacks such as zero-day attacks in real time, analyse them, block them and contain them.

Whereas other, arguably more ‘traditional’ – yet still vitally important – IT security measures such as firewalls have tended to be focused at the boundaries of an IT network, Endpoint Security considers that these traditional boundaries are now breaking down as IT systems become less defined by remote and hybrid working behaviours.

SentinelOne Endpoint Protection

SentinelOne Endpoint Protection protects IT infrastructure by making use of advanced AI machine learning to stay ahead of new and variant malware and hacking attacks.

The sophistication of the endpoint protection is based on a combination of an AI analysis function which analyses header information and a behaviour analysis function which goes beyond simply checking on the content of files attempting to join a network and analyses malicious actions in real time as attacks or attempted attacks are taking place.

Not only are any anomalies reported immediately, but SentinelOne Endpoint Protection is also equipped with patented restoration technology which automatically disconnects any impacted endpoints from the wider network and returns them, in isolation, to a pre-infected state. 

The AI learning component enables the protection, once installed, to autonomously create a sealed security environment, with threat patterns automatically being detected, potential threats blocked and the relevant details collected and analysed.

Not only are the multiple negative impacts of IT security breaches avoided, but the autonomous nature of the endpoint security solution enables it to be operated with minimal impact in terms of cost and manpower once it has been installed. Everything can be monitored and run from a single screen by an individual security operative, freeing up time and resources for the rest of your business.

Learn more about Endpoint Security Solutions

If you’d like to know more about endpoint security solutions such as SentinelOne and how Alliance Solutions can protect your business against cyberattacks in an ever changing IT environment, please contact us on 0800 292 2100 or email contactus@alliancesolutions.co.uk.