As companies integrate a higher volume of connected devices into their workflows, the need for robust cybersecurity grows increasingly important. Every endpoint represents a potential attack vector for malicious actors, who hope to exploit hardware and software vulnerabilities to gain access to large databases of sensitive business information and consumer data. This issue has been a significant pain point for enterprise and industrial players over the past decade, but the consequences of lackluster cybersecurity have become more severe in the past few years.
According to the Identity Theft Resource Center’s most recent Data Breach Report, the total number of reported breaches decreased by 23% between 2017 and 2018, but the volume of stolen consumer records increased by a staggering 126% during the same period. This suggests that cybercinimals have taken a keen interest in large organizations that collect and store personally identifiable information, but how can these entities protect their networks from harmful intrusion?
Demand for Endpoint Security Features Expands
Improving endpoint security will continue to be a major focus for technology experts and IT administrators throughout 2019, especially in environments that utilize internet of things technologies and embedded devices as part of their core operations. The global market for endpoint security is projected to surpass $7.5 billion by 2024, spurred on by increased vendor competition and the development of new cybersecurity technologies, according to Global Market Insights. Some of the endpoint security features in high demand include:
- Vulnerability assessment
- Memory protection
- Application control and sandboxing
- File and full-disk encryption
- Endpoint data loss prevention
- Behavioral monitoring of application codes
While these features are considered standard in today’s endpoint security market, the need for advanced management platforms continues to expand. Mitigating complex security threats requires reliable threat detection and remediation processes that can be controlled remotely using a centralized platform, as managing several disparate systems can lead to subpar network visibility. This accounts for why integrated solutions that consolidate multiple endpoint technologies have become such a dominant trend in the industry. Top-down management platforms help to eliminate network security gaps, reduce costs and increase endpoint system performance as a whole.
Endpoint Security Trends to Watch in 2019
Endpoint security has significantly evolved since connected devices were first released into commercial marketplaces. Companies used to get by on basic antivirus software and firewalls, but were forced to seek out high-tech solutions when cyberattacks became more sophisticated. Today’s endpoint security tools utilize artificial intelligence, automated technologies and predictive analytics to safeguard system and network perimeters from external threats, such as malware, ransomware and SQL injections. However, the rapid implementation of new networks, devices and software applications has expanded the attack surfaces of tech-oriented enterprises, making system-wide security patches more difficult to deploy.
The unchecked pace of endpoint innovation has put a lot of pressure on manufacturers to prioritize the production of more powerful technologies over the development of robust security features for existing devices. While this norm is not fully responsible for the recent surge in cybercrime, it has left end users vulnerable to exploitation and financial loss. In fact, Cybersecurity Ventures predicts that cybercrime will cost the world $6 trillion annually by 2021, compared to $3 trillion in 2015. Absorbing these costs will become increasingly disruptive for enterprise and industrial customers moving forward, which is why it pays to keep track of new cybersecurity practices and build a dynamic response plan that can offset existing and emergent risks. To that end, Infosec identified ten endpoint security trends that will have a significant impact during 2019, such as:
- WiFi endpoint security: The release of WPA3 has helped to harden wireless security, but the rise of bring-your-own-device culture has complicated the endpoint management process. Companies that allow their employees to use personal devices at work should treat each mobile phone, laptop and tablet as a potential threat.
- Tanium peer-to-peer network and natural language search: This security interface has been called the Google of endpoint management, but its efficacy in real-world environments is not yet clear. However, the popularity of Tanium reveals that customers are still interested in integrated single-source solutions.
- Machine learning and AI: As companies collect and store larger amounts of data, the need for artificial intelligence becomes more apparent. Machine learning algorithms are able to process data at a superhuman rate, which helps IT administrators identify irregularities in file attachments and classify attack classes for future detection.
- Fileless attacks: Unlike a traditional malware infection, fileless attacks target legitimate programs and leave no significant digital footprint. This type of malicious software is becoming increasingly common, forcing system and network specialists to aggressively update their applications as soon as a new patch is released, according to McAfee.
Endpoint security will continue to evolve over the next few years, but many of today’s most pressing risks can be mitigated through multi-layered cybersecurity infrastructures. Faronics’ Deep Freeze software can help you prepare for the threat landscape of tomorrow by turning your PCs into indestructible endpoints. Start a free trial to learn how Deep Freeze can bolster your cybersecurity.
