Well into the global COVID-19 pandemic, organizations continue to face unprecedented challenges in trying to conduct business as usual. But in spite of the public health crisis, companies of all stripes have adopted new work policies and technologies to help restore productivity and keep business moving.
Remote work has enabled workers to carry out their jobs from virtually any location. Varying combinations of teleconferencing software, telecommuting tools, team collaboration tools, and even virtualization software to remotely connect to mission-critical applications have enabled even the most office-grounded companies to successfully shift to a remote-first model.
Has the Increase in Remote Work Posed New Security Risks for Your Company?
Working remotely, however, exposes organizations to a wide range of new security risks. For companies unaccustomed to remote work before COVID-19, hastily issuing laptops or asking employees to work from their personal tablets may have left workers with devices lacking enterprise-grade security. Although working from a home laptop may seem like a convenient option to get remote work done, personal devices can introduce a host of new threats into a corporate network.
Adopting endpoint security protection can help safeguard corporate networks. Taking a more comprehensive approach to security than traditional antivirus software, endpoint security can protect critical company information from corruption, unauthorized access, or theft.
What is Endpoint Security?
Endpoint security is designed to quickly detect, analyze, block, and contain security attacks. It protects any and all points of entry to an organization including desktops, laptops, printers, servers, and mobile devices that are on a network or cloud platform. If a device is connected to a network, it is considered an endpoint.
As the volume of devices connected to an organization’s network increases and the sophistication of security threats has grown, so has the need for more advanced endpoint security. Networks without endpoint security solutions remain vulnerable to the litany of threats that exist. Like traditional antivirus software, endpoint security solutions have capabilities to identify and mitigate threats posed by malware, viruses, and other malicious types of software, as well as added protection to ward off phishing or social engineering attacks. Remote authentication tools also make it possible to control device and software access remotely, further safeguarding data and devices in the event of theft or loss.
Isn’t Traditional Antivirus Enough?
Both traditional antivirus and anti-malware software remain an important component of any network security infrastructure. However, the sheer number of connected devices available for use today makes it difficult to protect the variety of entry points from being breached by ever-evolving, highly sophisticated attacks.
Mobile phones, connected printers, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices may not have access to the same antivirus capabilities as a traditional computer network. Because network security is only as strong as its weakest link, it’s essential to ensure protection for any user or device connected to an enterprise network, no matter the size or shape.
Why is Endpoint Security Important to the Growing Remote Workforce?
Remote world and bring-you-own-device (BYOD) policies give workers greater flexibility and more convenience in accessing work applications and data. But as a result of this convenience, users may be placing corporate data at an even higher risk. Even connecting a work-issued laptop to a public Wi-Fi network, for instance, can expose private or proprietary information to nefarious actors.
Endpoint security can help ensure that any device that’s connected to your corporate network remains safe and secure. Incorporating comprehensive web security, threat intelligence, and powerful data encryption, endpoint security grants greater peace of mind to companies implementing remote work policies.
As remote work continues to persist, safeguarding important data should remain imperative for any organization. By adopting endpoint security solutions, organizations can rest assured that working outside of the office won’t place any of the office’s mission-critical information or devices in serious jeopardy.
DWD Technology Group offers IT security services for work from home employees. Contact us today to discuss your security needs.
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