Before making an endpoint security software investment, businesses will need to understand what this service includes and the types of endpoint security systems that exist. As many IT professionals will agree, cybersecurity is no longer an issue that any business can afford to take lightly. Remote working devices are an easy target, so we recommend reading this article to know why it is essential for local businesses to invest in endpoint protection and get the most from this technology.
What Is Endpoint Protection and why is it needed?
It’s simple really, Endpoint Protection is there to protect all end-user devices such as desktop computers, laptops, and mobile phones from malicious attacks.
As hackers and cybercriminals become smarter, the need for endpoint protection not only becomes more vital but also needs to be more thorough to keep your data and files safe.
According to the latest Gov.uk, Cyber Security Breaches Survey, 46% of businesses reported having a cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months. This shows how prevalent cybercrimes are and proves why endpoint protection is so important.
What types of Endpoint Protection are there?
It’s important to understand the different endpoint protection services in order to choose the best technology option for you. There are two common types of endpoint protection:
- Anti-virus: this protects devices against viruses that are specifically known to the antivirus software
2. Anti-malware: this protects devices against unknown malware threats such as ransomware attacks
Anti-virus and anti-malware software are not exactly the same and provide different levels of protection which are explored in more detail below:
Why is it important to invest in reliable antivirus software and how do you protect against viruses?
A computer virus is a specific form of malware. Much like a human cold virus, it works by attaching itself to your computer, creating copies and then spreading to other devices through such means as emails or your network. These viruses can vary from harmless spam to a bug which attacks your internal coding and not only destroys files and data but also corrupts your computer/network.
Antivirus software is a type of programme used to help prevent known viruses from accessing your computers and devices. This is a vital piece of software for any device or computer owner to install as it can stop potentially deadly viruses instating themselves into your computer, accessing and destroying your files, or worse, stealing your data to sell on.
The job of an antivirus software is to carry out scans (both automatic and manual) on your computer or device to check for any signs of corrupted files or damaged coding which could suggest a virus is present. If you are unlucky enough to get a virus and it is picked up early enough, you may be able to contain it and limit the damage.
Antivirus protection also works by monitoring the files and data being downloaded to your device. If it detects something unusual or unauthorised it will flag it and send it to quarantine so this cannot harm the device.
There are many different viruses that this endpoint protection software protects against including:
- Spam – unwanted emails
- Trojans – disguised as something authentic but usually malware or another harmful virus
- Worms – spreading copies of a virus between devices
- Adware – harmful adverts
At Minerva we understand the importance of keeping your data safe. Our Network and Security team have a lot of experience working with a variety of endpoint protection vendors. Although our IT Support team’s preferred solution is Sophos.
Contact us today. for advice on how to better protect your endpoints and keep your company and devices safe from attacks.