Internet Security Companies and the Battle for Endpoint Protection

Posted May 26, 2020

According to new market research by Meticulous Research, the endpoint security market is expected to reach $18.7bn by 2027 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.9% during the 7-year period. The trend is mostly attributed to the significant rise in network-connected devices or endpoints and the growing need to secure those devices from bad actors. The report also cites a recent 667% increase in phishing attacks since the end of February. This increase is primarily attributed to fake websites claiming to offer COVID-19 information or relief in exchange for personal information. Recently the FBI and CISA also warned against Chinese cyber-targeting of COVID-19 research organizations.

In 2018 mobile devices topped the list of potential gateways used in hacking attempts. Endpoint security encompasses the IT security policy and management put in place to harden the device (endpoint) software, authentication methods, network access and monitoring, For most organizations, endpoint security is a centralized effort to monitor, restrict and control a vast array of devices running a broad range of 3rd party apps with limited security options. The task of securing this wide range of devices is huge. Security teams no longer have the benefit of operating systems and applications standardized across an organization.

Threat Detection and Response

It takes an average of 200 days for most organizations to identify an attack on their network and 3 weeks to resolve the breach. Threat Detection and Response (TDR), such as WatchGuard’s ThreatSync, leverage a powerful cloud-hosted collection of advanced malware defense tools that correlate threat indicators from WatchGuard Firebox appliances and Host Sensors to stop known, unknown and evasive malware threats. TDR is designed as a last line of defense against advanced malware that legacy tools miss. Solutions such as ThreatSync offer a centralized platform for threat detection and response allowing for quick identification and remediation of threats on endpoints inside and outside a network. ThreatSync, in particular, analyzes real-time behavioral data from Host Sensors and the WatchGuard Firebox platform in tandem. By cross-referencing this data with the latest threat intelligence, ThreatSync identifies unknown and evasive malware before it causes harm. Incidents are assigned a threat score based on severity. This enables security personnel to prioritize and automate future threat responses. TDR solutions like ThreatSync can drastically reduce response time.

When a threat is identified on your network, an effective endpoint security system needs to quickly quarantine the host machine preventing further infection of the network. Once contained, the malware should be eliminated by killing compromised processes, securing malicious files and deleting associated registry keys.

Securing Endpoints with Artificial Intelligence

Today’s TDR systems utilize advanced artificial intelligence to analyze suspected threats in a cloud-based sandbox environment. This real-time data sharing and analysis through the cloud allows for advanced endpoint protection. Once a new threat is detected anywhere around the globe, the threat signature and appropriate response can be shared instantaneously across all connected systems.

While the cyber threats continue to evolve, leading companies in the security market are keeping their client systems secure by appropriately applying the latest security solutions for each environment. Currently, 96% of mobile devices do not have pre-installed security software. And according to RSA’s State of Cybercrime Whitepaper, 70% of fraudulent transactions were triggered by a mobile device in 2018. If you are unsure of your current endpoint security, we’re here to help.

Kyle Vinar

Kyle Vinar is Partner / President of Verus Corporation. He oversees all business operations and coaches Verus teams to continually improve on their solutions from client experience to product development and overall solution implementation. He works with all Verus resources to increase efficiencies and excellence in every aspect of their organizational roles. Kyle believes that people are the last real competitive edge that a company can have and constructing a rich culture is a vital step in running a world-class organization. Therefore he strives to create a culture within Verus that allows everyone to show up authentically and grow both personally and professionally, which in turn allows Verus Corp team members to provide clients with top-of-the-line service. Kyle helps balance strategy, capacity, and culture in such a way that has allowed Verus Corp to achieve exponential growth since he joined the company in 2013. One of Kyle’s greatest professional achievements has been in helping lay the foundation upon which Verus Corporation could be named the 2nd Best Place to Work by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Kyle holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from St. Cloud State University. He lives in Champlin with his wife and 3 children. He has enjoyed volunteering as a soccer coach for over 6 years and was the former Director of Coaching for Rebels Soccer Club. If Kyle isn’t on the sidelines of one of his children’s soccer games or in the audience of his eldest’s musicals, he can often be found cruising scenic routes on his Harley, in a deer stand, or on the golf course.