What You Need to Know
Endpoint security is serious business these days, but while the risks are real, it can be easy to get caught up in a phalanx of similar though distinct terms used in the industry.
Antivirus, EPP, and EDR are the three leading techniques for security, and while each has its benefits, not all will be suitable for everyone and in every situation. Before making a big decision, it pays to know what technologies and solutions you are dealing with.
This blog will look at those three technologies in detail so you can understand which works best for your needs and situation.
Antivirus
Antivirus is a software tool that is designed to prevent, detect, and remove malware infections from computers, networks, and IT systems. It is the most common and best-known digital defense tool in use today, and can also protect a system from browser hijacks, worms, spyware, adware, botnets, ransomware, and more.
Antivirus software usually runs in the background to scan tools like computers to detect and restrict the spread of viruses and malware. Most include real-time scanning as well as periodic system-wide reviews and reviews of any downloaded files.
Antivirus is convenient because it allows users to both initiate a new scan at any time or schedule automatic system scans. They are also able, in most cases, to remove any viruses that are found. Detection techniques include the use of an algorithm to compare the signatures of a known virus against potential threats as well as behavior-based detection that identifies suspicious activities and infers intent.
Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)
An endpoint protection platform, or EPP, is a solution deployed on endpoint devices that prevents file-based malware attacks. It also identifies malicious activity and can investigate and respond to a variety of security incidents.
Most EPP systems are cloud-based and use cloud data to help with advanced monitoring and remediation. The benefits of these systems include behavioral analysis and machine learning, plus a variety of investigation tools. Cloud deployment means users do not have to maintain their own systems onsite.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Endpoint detection and response is an integrated security system that combines real-time continuous monitoring with a rules-based automated response and analysis threat detection system. EDR security systems monitor and collect activity data that could indicate a threat, then analyze the data to identify threats and automatically respond to those threats to remove or contain them, then notify the appropriate parties.
EDRs are notable because they secure systems where multiple endpoints are attached to networks and are more robust in the face of increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.
Contact M3 Solutions to Find the Right Solution for You
Which security system is right for you? Each has benefits depending on the threat matrix you are trying to protect against. As Middle Tennessee’s technology solutions leader, M3 Solutions has been delivering results to businesses of all sizes across the region since 2015. Contact us today to learn more about what security solution is best for you.