Shoring up your endpoint device security
Your workers’ devices are your first line of defence — here’s how to protect them
Since the 2020 pandemic, there has never been a more essential time to implement robust endpoint device security measures. Since the global transition to remote and hybrid working arrangements, the number of endpoints used by workers has dramatically increased. As employees set up home offices, they often logged into corporate networks from unsecured devices, exposing their businesses to a heightened risk of cyber breaches.
What’s considered an endpoint device?
An endpoint is a device that connects to your corporate networks, data and email from outside its firewall (protection that prevents outsiders from gaining access). They’re the devices your workers use for ordinary day-to-day tasks and include:
- Laptops
- Tablets
- Mobile devices
- Internet of Things (IoT) devices
- Point of sale (POS) systems
- Printers
If endpoint devices haven’t been properly secured for remote working, or if staff are able to gain access to corporate networks using their personal devices, there’s a much better chance of a hacker gaining access.
A report commissioned by HP, Blurred Lines and Blindspots, found 91% of IT decision makers (ITDMs) believe that endpoint security has become as important as network security, and now spend more time on endpoint security now than they did two years ago.
Why endpoint security threats have changed since 2020
Organisations are having to prepare for risks that they can no longer see — particularly as workers are now primarily using endpoint devices from home, rather than in the office. Some risks identified by HP’s report include:
- Employees letting others (children, partners, housemates, etc.) use their work devices.
- Employees downloading software to do their jobs that hasn’t been approved by IT.
- Employees logging on to networks using personal devices that were not built with business security in mind.
Of the ITDMs surveyed, 51% mentioned that in the past year they had seen evidence of compromised personal devices being used to access company and customer data, while 45% reported that they’d seen evidence of compromised printers used as an attack point. Other concerns raised include evidence of phishing-related attacks, web browser-related infections and unpatched endpoints.
The report notes that, “This has exposed the limitations of the current endpoint security approach, which is based on assumptions about trust inherited from the era of perimeter security. When a compromise happens under this model, it is often not visible until serious damage has occurred.”
A new approach to endpoint device security for a new era
HP Wolf Security recommends that the best protection for flexible and remote workers is to apply ‘Zero Trust’ principles across your workspace. In their report, they explain the principles, stating: “Nothing should be trusted implicitly, access to resources should be assessed based on context — e.g. user, device, location, and security posture.”
Next, they recommend introducing secure-by-design endpoint devices. HP Wolf Security offers robust endpoint protection built into HP PCs and printers, with multi-layered security below, in and above the operating system. In addition, Wolf Security’s self-managed and fully-managed services give you reinforcements for your IT team, helping you to recover quickly from remote firmware attacks.
Partnering with HP to provide exceptional endpoint device security
At Counterparts Technology, we understand that cyber breaches are no longer a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’. If your staff are working remotely, it’s essential that you take proactive measures to shore up your endpoint device security.
As a proud HP Gold Partner, we can offer our clients comprehensive security services for their remote workforce — all tailored to fit their unique requirements. As HP devices are protected by Wolf Security, you’ll have access to:
- PCs and workstations that come pre-installed with a stack of hardware-enforced security features, enabling your team to work from anywhere without fear of threat.
- Printers that defend themselves with continuous hardware-powered protection.
As HP’s report states, “A more distributed, digital world doesn’t have to be a more vulnerable world.” At Counterpart Technology, we’re passionate about helping our customers leverage this cutting-edge tech to secure their valuable network and data from new and existing threats.
If you’d like to learn more about our partnership with HP, or discuss your current endpoint security status, we’d love to hear from you. We offer powerful, trustworthy solutions that can be customised for your unique business requirements. Counterparts Technology continues to work hard to supply a diverse range of high-quality hardware and software to our clients, such as the full range of HP devices with Intel®.
To find out more, make sure you get in touch with the Counterparts Technology cyber team.
The Intel logo is a trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries.