Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)

What is an Endpoint Protection Platform?

Endpoint protection platforms (EPPs) are comprehensive security solutions deployed on endpoint devices like laptops, desktops, and mobile devices to protect them against cyber threats. As an integrated suite of security technologies, EPPS work together to prevent, detect, and respond to attacks targeting endpoints.

What are the core capabilities of endpoint protection platforms?

Core capabilities of EPPs include:

• Antivirus protection - Blocks malware, viruses, trojans, ransomware, and other file-based threats using signatures, machine learning models, and behavior analysis.
• Data encryption - Secures sensitive data stored on endpoints by encrypting files, folders or entire drives. Prevents unauthorized access in case an endpoint is lost or stolen.
• Intrusion prevention - Blocks exploits, drive-by downloads, and other attacks trying to gain access to endpoints and spread laterally.
• Data loss prevention - Stops accidental or malicious data exfiltration by monitoring and controlling endpoint activities like copying data to USB drives.
• Threat detection and response - Uses advanced analytics to detect malicious activities and behaviors.
• Investigation - Provides capabilities to investigate incidents and remediate impacted endpoints.

EPPs consolidate these critical security technologies into a single, integrated suite that can be centrally managed through on-premises or cloud-based consoles. By correlating data across endpoints, EPPs provide comprehensive visibility into the security posture of all endpoints in an organization.

How do endpoint protection solutions and technologies work?

Endpoint protection platforms aim to prevent breaches by collecting and analyzing vast amounts of data from across an organization's endpoints, including laptops, desktops, servers, and mobile devices.

Advanced endpoint protection utilizes tools like artificial intelligence (AI), behavioral analysis, global threat intelligence feeds, and human threat hunters to detect emerging and unknown threats. By processing massive amounts of endpoint telemetry and event data, these solutions can identify indicators of compromise and anticipate where the next attacks may appear.

What are the core capabilities of advanced endpoint protection platforms?

Core capabilities of advanced platforms include:

• Antivirus - Signature-based detection of known malware and viruses
• Firewall - Monitoring and controlling network traffic to/from endpoints
• Web filtering - Blocking access to malicious or unproductive websites
• Device control - Limiting risky peripheral devices like USB drives
• Application control - Allowlisting authorized apps and blocking malicious ones
• Behavioral analysis - Identifying anomalies and indicators of compromise
• Threat intelligence - Up-to-date data on emerging threats and adversaries
• Threat hunting - Proactive searches for threats across the endpoint fleet

By consolidating these critical security technologies into a unified platform, endpoint protection provides comprehensive visibility and protection against even the most advanced threats.

EPP vs. EDR

Endpoint protection platforms (EPP) focus primarily on preventing breaches by blocking known and unknown threats before they can compromise endpoints. EPP utilizes core security technologies like antivirus, firewalls, and intrusion prevention systems to achieve this goal.

In contrast, Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions are designed to quickly detect threats that may have evaded preventative EPP defenses. EDR provides visibility into suspicious activities across endpoints so that security teams can respond to contain emerging incidents.

Key differences between EPP and EDR include:

• EPP aims to proactively block threats, while EDR assumes breaches will occur and focuses on rapid detection and response. 
• EPP protects individual endpoints in isolation, whereas EDR correlates events across endpoints to identify broader attacks.
• EPP utilizes passive techniques like signatures and behavioral analysis, while EDR involves active threat hunting.
• EPP stops known threats, while EDR handles unknown and advanced threats using live endpoint data.

Using EPP and EDR together provides layered security with prevention and detection capabilities. EPP blocks common malware and intrusions, while EDR catches more advanced and stealthy threats that bypass the first line of defense. Integrated EPP and EDR solutions also allow unified visibility, management, and response workflows.

Benefits of an endpoint protection platform

Endpoint protection platforms provide organizations with a unified approach to securing and managing all endpoint devices.

Key benefits include:

• Centralized visibility and control - Manage all mobile and fixed endpoints through a single system for comprehensive oversight. 
• Threat prevention - Safeguard against malware, exploits, and attacks while maintaining usability. 
• Closing security gaps - Identify and resolve vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
• Business resilience - Avoid disruption and reputational damage by preventing breaches.
• Simplified management - Consolidate controls to streamline security administration. 
• Cloud advantages - Cloud-native architecture enables rapid scalability, fast deployment, and real-time global threat intelligence.

Leading endpoint security vendors now offer cloud-native EPP platforms. The cloud has become crucial for advanced security capabilities while simplifying endpoint management.

Several key benefits are driving adoption of cloud-based EPP management:

• Faster and easier deployment since there is no on-premise infrastructure to install. Agents can be rapidly rolled out to endpoints remotely.
• Greater scalability to support large or distributed endpoint fleets across regions. 
• Continuous visibility into security posture as cloud consoles provide centralized access.
• Global threat intelligence is seamlessly delivered to all endpoints through the cloud.
• Policies and updates can be pushed more easily from cloud consoles.
• Cloud-based infrastructure reduces hardware costs and management overhead.

Additional benefits of cloud-native EPPs include:

• Lightweight single agent for monitoring all endpoints
• Leveraging threat data beyond just one company's endpoints
• Shared global data for detecting attacker behaviors across organizations

By taking an integrated platform approach, EPPs aim to enhance prevention, detection, response, and overall security posture across the endpoint environment.

More EPP Resources:

Blogs

Behind the Scenes: Endpoint Protection in the Cloud

Privilege Manager Release Extends Endpoint Protection for Macs

Definitive Guide to Endpoint Privilege Management

Secure your most vulnerable endpoints by putting least privilege into practice

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