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Cybersecurity: More about Understanding the Buzzwords

  • Lori Polep
  • Nov 11, 2024
  • 5 min read

Updated: Dec 5, 2024

In the chapter, I introduce and explain some buzzwords. In this post, I go into more depth as it is important to have a greater understanding. For this article, I used Microsoft’s Copilot, which used to be Bing. I think that Artificial Intelligence is perfect for gathering information. I did include the citations with hyperlinks in case you want to go into more depth. Please note that you need to delve further into which software is best for you. 


Below are the questions I asked. 


What are the differences between Endpoint Protection Software and Antivirus Software:

  1. Antivirus Software:


    Purpose: Antivirus software has been around for decades and is primarily designed to detect, identify, and remove malware. This includes viruses, worms, keyloggers, and trojans.

    Scope: It is commonly used on consumer PCs and in simpler business setups.

    Functionality: Antivirus software relies on existing threat databases to deal with issues as they arise. Its primary job is to remove malware.

    Budget and Scale: Antivirus software is suitable for small businesses with a limited number of devices that need protection and a modest budget.

    Endpoint Protection Software:

  2. Overview: Endpoint protection is a broader area that encompasses more than just antivirus functionality.

    Coverage: An endpoint security system protects an entire network and all connected devices, including PCs, laptops, smartphones, and tablets.

    Modules: Endpoint systems include antivirus modules, but they go beyond that. They also offer features such as:

    • Encryption

    • Data protection

    • Intrusion detection

    • Advanced persistent threat detection

    • Investigation and response

    • Device management

    Management: These systems are usually managed from a single cloud-based control panel, making them extremely useful for businesses with complex needs.


In summary, while antivirus software focuses primarily on malware removal, endpoint protection provides a comprehensive security platform that extends beyond antivirus features. If you’re dealing with a larger network and need advanced security management options, an endpoint security solution is the way to go 1 3 4 5.


Source(s)

 


 

 

What is Endpoint Security?


Endpoint security, also known as endpoint protection, is a crucial aspect of cybersecurity. It focuses on safeguarding endpoints, which are devices connected to a network from outside its firewall  These endpoints include:

  • Laptops

  • Tablets

  • Mobile devices

  • Internet of Things (IoT) devices

  • Point-of-sale (POS) systems

  • Switches

  • Digital printers

  • Other devices that communicate with the central network.


  • Endpoint Security Software protects endpoints from being breached, whether they are physical or virtual, on-premises or off-premises, in data centers or in the cloud.


Here’s how endpoint security works:

  1. Detection and Prevention: An Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) is used to detect and prevent security threats. It actively identifies and blocks malicious activities, such as file-based malware attacks, before they can compromise the endpoint.

  2. Investigation and Remediation: In addition to prevention, EPPs provide investigation and remediation capabilities. When security incidents occur, these platforms help security teams respond dynamically by investigating alerts and taking necessary actions.


Why is endpoint security important?

  • Attack Entry Points: Every remote endpoint can serve as an entry point for cyberattacks. With the rise of remote work, the number of endpoints has increased significantly.

  • Changing Landscape: The endpoint security landscape is constantly evolving, and businesses of all sizes are attractive targets for cybercriminals.

  • Risks and Challenges: Endpoints exist where humans and machines intersect. Balancing protection without hindering legitimate employee activities is challenging.

  • Cost of Breaches: Data breaches are costly. According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2023 was 4.45 million dollars.

 

What is EDR?

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is a cybersecurity technology that continuously monitors endpoints (such as mobile phones, laptops, and Internet-of-Things devices) to detect and respond to malicious cyber threats like ransomware and malware. Let’s delve into the details:

  1. Definition: EDR, also known as endpoint threat detection and response (ETDR), records and stores endpoint-system-level behaviors. It then employs various data analytics techniques to detect suspicious system behavior, providing contextual information. EDR solutions also block malicious activity and offer remediation suggestions to restore affected systems

  2. How EDR Works:

    • Continuous Monitoring: EDR security solutions keep a close eye on activities and events occurring on endpoints and all workloads. This visibility helps uncover incidents that might otherwise remain hidden.

    • Real-Time Visibility: An effective EDR solution provides real-time and comprehensive visibility into endpoint activities.

    • Advanced Threat Detection: EDR tools offer capabilities such as incident data search, investigation alert triage, suspicious activity validation, threat hunting, and malicious activity detection and containment.

    • Automated Detection: EDR technology pairs comprehensive visibility with behavioral analytics. It analyzes billions of events in real time to automatically detect traces of suspicious behavior. If a sequence of events matches a known Indicator of Attack (IOA), the EDR tool identifies the activity as malicious and sends a detection alert.

    • Threat Intelligence Integration: EDR integrates with cyber threat intelligence, enabling faster detection of malicious activities and tactics.

    • Managed Threat Hunting: EDR threat hunters proactively investigate and advise on threat activity. When they find a threat, they collaborate with your team to triage, investigate, and remediate the incident before it escalates.

  3. Key Functions of EDR:

    • Uncovering Stealthy Attackers: EDR automatically uncovers stealthy attackers by analyzing events and applying security logic.

    • Integration with Threat Intelligence: EDR integrates with threat intelligence to provide contextualized information about identified malicious activities.

    • Managed Threat Hunting: EDR threat hunters proactively hunt, investigate, and advise on threat activity in your environment.

In summary, EDR plays a crucial role in detecting, investigating, containing, and eliminating advanced threats across your organization’s environment. It combines threat intelligence, file analysis, segmentation, and sandboxing to protect your data and network from cyber threats.

 

What is MDR?

  1. Proactive Protection in Five Steps:

    • Prioritize: Security teams receive countless cybersecurity alerts daily. MDR partners offer managed prioritization, sifting through alerts to separate false positives from significant threats. They present high-quality alerts to your security team.

    • Hunt: MDR provides proactive and comprehensive cyberthreat hunting capabilities 24/7. Cyber threat intelligence platforms collect critical data about potential risks, which is then analyzed by human experts.

    • Containment: Swift containment prevents the spread of cyberattacks.

    • Incident Response: MDR eliminates cyberthreats through targeted incident response.

    • Root Cause Analysis: Understanding the root cause helps prevent reoccurrence of cyberattacks.

    • Regular Reports: MDR services deliver weekly and monthly cybersecurity reports.

  2. Why MDR Matters:

    • As the cyberthreat landscape evolves, organizations face increasingly sophisticated attacks.

    • Talent shortages make it challenging to fully staff security teams with the right skills.

    • MDR partners provide access to a security operations center (SOC) without hiring additional IT employees.

    • MDR safeguards your business, employees, data, brand reputation, and customer trust.

 

I spoke about the importance of research. There is a lot of great information on the web. I have listed a few articles and sites below. All of these sites have great information.

https://www.secureworld.io/ Seminars, conferences, and articles

https://www.evanta.com/  Conferences and other educational events

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