Endpoint Security and Data Security Are Often One in the Same

How do endpoint security and data security overlap? Why does this matter so much to modern enterprise cybersecurity? 

Endpoint Security occupies a unique place in the current cybersecurity. On the one hand, it appears endpoint security is continuing to evolve and transform with the threat landscape. At a certain point, endpoint protection platforms blur the lines between themselves and other tools like SIEM and IAM. Capabilities like authentication and network detection keep appearing in platforms as solutions transition to the next generation. 

On the other hand, endpoint security also remains a vital component of any enterprise’s InfoSec platform. In fact, it remains a key component of a business’ data security. But why?

Endpoint Security and Data Security Are Often One in the Same 

Data Loss Prevention

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) refers to a set of tools and capabilities which ensure sensitive data stays protected. It enforces remediation with encryption and proactive alerts to secure the largest attack vector in your enterprise: your employees. Employees can accidentally or maliciously share your enterprise’s data, and in either case, your enterprise ends up at risk; for example, DLP prevents employees from uploading to public cloud databases without express permissions. 

Given that DLP is a critical component of modern endpoint security, the connection to data security becomes obvious. In fact, it synergizes with email security, another endpoint security component. DLP prevents data loss through emails. 

EDR

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) helps secure endpoints as the essential gateway into business networks. It works in a manner similar to SIEM, finding potential security events on endpoints and alerting IT security teams to the potential problem.

Each endpoint serves as a database in your network, if not officially then as a silo of sensitive data. Even infiltrating a single endpoint connected to your IT environment puts everything at risk, especially your data. While trying to secure a digital perimeter around your endpoints can’t deflect 100 percent of attacks, emphasizing investigation and response can mitigate the damage to your data. That’s the power of EDR in a nutshell. 

Application Control

Off the top of your head, how much data can your applications access at a time? What data do they access as part of their normal processes, and where does that data go after access? Who maintains monitoring over that data? 

Obviously, these aren’t idle questions, but serious inquiries into the data usage of applications. Application control from endpoint security provides the necessary data security to answer these questions optimally and with an eye to cybersecurity. Application control strictly limits the data access and data traffic applications can utilize and/or participate in. Additionally, it strictly controls which applications can connect to your IT environment in the first place. 

With application control, you can restrict the data moving through a vital component of your workflows. With EDR, you can monitor endpoints for signs of data leakage. Finally, with DLP you can prevent data leaks from happening across numerous vulnerabilities. 

To learn more about these capabilities, download the Endpoint Security Buyer’s Guide.