WHAT IS ENDPOINT ANTIVIRUS?

Endpoint Antivirus is a type of software designed to help detect, prevent, and remove malware on devices, such as viruses, worms, bots, Trojans, and more.

Endpoint antivirus solutions are installed on endpoint devices both inside and outside an organization's firewall. These typically include desktop computers, laptops, and network servers, but can also include things like cell phones.

Traditional endpoint antivirus solutions have large databases of virus signatures and definitions. To find malware, they scan files and directories and look for patterns that match the virus signatures and definitions in the file. These systems can only recognize known threats. Therefore, endpoint antivirus vendors must constantly be on the lookout for new malicious programs to be able to add them to databases. Since new malware is being developed all the time, with endpoint antivirus, if you don't constantly update your software, it won't be able to detect the latest malware, leaving you open to attack.

In some cases, if malware is found on an endpoint, the software can automatically block it, quarantine it, or remove it.

Key Features Of Endpoint Antivirus Solutions

Most endpoint antivirus solutions include the following capabilities:

The ability to run scans both at scheduled intervals and manually

Internet security features, including warning when you are about to visit a malicious-looking site and blocking automatic and malicious downloads.

It updates automatically to ensure that the endpoint is protected against the latest threats.

The ability to identify the type of malware attacking the endpoint.

The Evolution of Endpoint Security Solutions

As threats have evolved from viruses and worms to more sophisticated forms of threat, the solutions responsible for protecting against these threats have also evolved. Traditional endpoint antivirus solutions, with their signature-based approach, are unable to detect file less and signature-free threats, which make up an increasing percentage of malware attacks. They are also not capable of protecting against any form of internal attack, such as data exfiltration. More importantly.

To combat the vastly expanded attack surface, a new type of endpoint protection has evolved. Often referred to as an Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP), this solution includes all the capabilities found in legacy endpoint antivirus, along with additional capabilities designed to protect the modern business.

What Is The Difference Between Endpoint Security (EPP) And Antivirus Security?

While both solutions were designed to protect your business and your data, they are not interchangeable. Rather, endpoint antivirus can be thought of as the predecessor of Endpoint Security (EPP) and also as a component of it. Here are some of the key differences:

Visibility and individual control in front of the entire company

Traditional endpoint antivirus solutions used to be isolated: if a threat was detected, only the user was notified. Worse, if the problem is too complex for the user to solve, a security professional should investigate the endpoint in person. However, endpoint protection solutions offer a centralized portal, allowing IT and security professionals the ability to remotely monitor activity, investigate suspicious traffic, install and configure software, manage patches / updates and solve problems. More importantly, administrators can apply updates and changes to multiple endpoints at the same time. This frees IT staff from the responsibility of managing devices individually,

Which Endpoint Security Solution Is Right For My Business?

If you're wondering which solution (endpoint antivirus or endpoint security) is the best option to protect your business, here are some factors to consider:

How many employees does your organization need to protect?

If there are only a handful of people in your company, managing devices at the individual level may not be a burden. However, more than that, you will see a tremendous increase in efficiency by adopting a centrally controlled endpoint protection solution.

Where Do They Work?

If all your employees are in one central location, it may not be difficult to personally access problematic endpoints to resolve any issues. But unless your cybersecurity team wants to start making home visits, companies that give employees mobile and remote work capabilities would be much better served by an endpoint protection platform that allows them to access affected devices from anywhere. .

Does Your Company Handle High-Value Intellectual Property Or Sensitive Data?

Endpoint antivirus software only protects your data against viruses, it does not protect the data itself. Unless your business is still reliant on messengers and filing cabinets, an endpoint antivirus-based security approach will leave your business open to data loss. In the case of sensitive data or third party data, a violation like this could result in reputational damage. Additionally, in the vast majority of cases, relying solely on endpoint antivirus software for your cybersecurity needs does not meet compliance requirements, resulting in failed audits at best and massive fines as a result of a breach avoidable in the worst case.