Advanced endpoint protection vs. risk-based application patching vs. laptop management: Similarities and differences

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Gone are the times when antivirus software program and a firewall have been nearly sufficient to guard a company from cyberattacks. Trojans, worms and malware are not the one cyberthreats holding IT and safety professionals awake at evening.

In line with the IBM Security X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2023, for the second 12 months in a row, phishing was the main cyber risk, recognized in 41% of incidents. Twenty-six % of assaults exploited public-facing apps, so when attackers see a weak point, they exploit it. 

Nowadays, it’s important that organizations find out about and handle all apps put in on their endpoints. Utilizing a number of platforms to find apps and handle laptops and cell gadgets negatively impacts the IT and safety crew’s effectivity and productiveness in steady software patching. This will increase the window of alternative for potential assaults and can lead to excessive downtime and disruption.

What’s superior endpoint safety?

Superior endpoint safety (AEP) is a set of capabilities that makes use of a proactive method (with numerous automation) to stop zero-day cyberattacks from succeeding, regardless of the sort and measurement of an organization. Greater than the standard endpoint safety options, it consists of a set of endpoint safety capabilities that embody artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, behavioural evaluation and endpoint detection and response (EDR). These capabilities assist determine and block superior threats like ransomware and cyberattacks in real-time on any sort of endpoint.

Among the high options of superior endpoint safety embody the next:

• Antivirus and anti-malware
• Behavioural analytics (often powered by AI and machine studying), which helps IT professionals detect potential threats on time
• AI that routinely detects the most recent forms of cyberthreats
• A sandbox surroundings, which permits threats to be remoted and eliminated
• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), which collects information repeatedly from all endpoints, analyses them, does risk searching and responds routinely

What’s laptop computer administration?

Laptop computer administration is the flexibility to enroll, configure, handle and report on laptops operating working techniques like macOS, Microsoft Home windows, ChromeOS, and so on. Threat-based software patching helps IT execs uncover weak apps and routinely patch them primarily based on the criticality of the state of affairs.

Fashionable unified endpoint administration (UEM) options embody laptop computer administration. As identified by IDC of their Worldwide UEM Software Vendor Assessment for 2022, “Whereas UEM platforms right now largely handle smartphones and tablets, laptops and PCs (each Home windows and Mac), in addition to rising Google Chrome OS gadgets, are more and more important for administration with UEM.”

What’s risk-based software patching?

Threat-based software patching is a extra superior tactic that routinely discovers weak third-party apps on Microsoft Home windows and macOS laptops and routinely patches them primarily based on ranges of threat.

Most organizations have a large ecosystem of purposes that run on workers’ laptops. The variety of apps retains rising and makes it exhausting for the IT crew to handle and defend, and this may occasionally result in patching being a full-time job. Threat-based software patching automatizes numerous the guide duties and contains the next capabilities:

• Figuring out and reporting software vulnerabilities
• Automating software updates and prioritizing deployment
• Protecting an audit path and monitoring remediation progress
• Scoring your gadgets and group primarily based on Frequent Vulnerabilities and Publicity (CVE) and Frequent Vulnerabilities Scoring System (CVSS) data

Learn more about risk-based application patching for laptops in our webinar

Similarities between superior endpoint safety, laptop computer administration and risk-based software patching

• Safety on the core: All three applied sciences deal with enhancing the safety posture of a company’s IT infrastructure. They goal to guard techniques, customers and information from potential threats and vulnerabilities. For instance, superior endpoint safety platforms and risk-based software patching could be linked with the MITRE ATT&CK^® base and Frequent Vulnerabilities and Publicity (CVE) checklist.
• Asset administration: Having full visibility into all of the apps put in by the tip customers on their laptops is usually a problem for any group, regardless of the scale. When risk-based software patching is embedded in a UEM or a laptop computer administration platform, it routinely discovers the complete ecosystem of apps and laptops owned by a company, manages their lifecycle and helps with efficient threat evaluation, vulnerability administration and patching. The superior endpoint safety platform analyses, scans and reacts repeatedly to the threats that may have an effect on endpoints in a company, offering additionally visibility and a high-security posture.
• Environment friendly vulnerability administration workflows: With the proliferation of cyberthreats and an rising variety of apps for Microsoft Home windows and macOS, patching tends to develop into a full-time job when achieved manually. Threat-based software patching routinely discovers weak third-party apps on laptops and acts primarily based on ranges of threat. Superior endpoint safety options typically embody patch-management capabilities to make sure that endpoints, together with laptops, are up to date with the most recent safety patches and performing risk detection and response.
• Audit and compliance: Superior endpoint safety, laptop computer administration and risk-based software patching are all influenced by compliance necessities. Regulatory and compliance requirements and business greatest practices require implementing safety measures, managing endpoints and repeatedly patching purposes to fulfill compliance requirements.
• Productiveness: Sustaining a powerful safety posture whereas managing the endpoints in a company and holding a gradual patch-management workflow can really feel overwhelming for the IT execs in cost. Superior endpoint safety, risk-based software patching and laptop computer administration have an essential profit in widespread: automation and centralized administration. For instance, automated laptop computer administration instruments can streamline duties like software program deployment, patch administration and configuration administration. The AI and EDR capabilities in superior endpoint safety platforms routinely implement and unfold a wider internet to guard in opposition to subtle cyberthreats, making certain constant safety practices. 

Variations between superior endpoint safety, laptop computer administration and risk-based software patching.

Whereas these safety applied sciences have many issues in widespread, it’s essential to acknowledge that they’re distinct elements of a holistic cybersecurity method. Among the essential variations between the three applied sciences come when wanting on the forms of endpoint they management:

• Superior endpoint safety covers a broad vary of endpoints, similar to cell gadgets, laptops, desktops, servers, IoT, and so on.
• Laptop computer administration focuses particularly on managing laptops inside a company.
• Threat-based software patching is a subset of patch administration that targets software vulnerabilities on the group’s endpoints, similar to Microsoft Home windows and macOS laptops and cell gadgets.

There are additionally some variations whenever you take a look at their general targets:

• Superior endpoint safety goes past antivirus and anti-malware options with an end-to-end method to securing endpoints from numerous safety threats with built-in superior applied sciences.
• Laptop computer administration streamlines the administration course of, enhances safety improves productiveness related to managing simply the corporate’s laptops.
• Threat-based software patching focuses on essentially the most important vulnerabilities so as to scale back potential assaults.

Conclusion

Even when superior endpoint safety, laptop computer administration and risk-based software patching act on completely different cybersecurity segments, they’ve many components in widespread. All three ideas contribute to a company’s general cybersecurity posture and machine administration, resulting in a zero-trust technique.

IBM Safety MaaS360 is a contemporary, superior Unified Endpoint Administration platform that merges cell administration with laptop computer administration and—along with the current risk-based software patching capabilities for Microsoft Home windows and macOS laptops—helps IT groups be each environment friendly and efficient, holding the overall value of possession beneath management.

As a safety product, MaaS360 has native superior endpoint security measures and integrates with Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), Extended Detection and Response (XDR), Security Information and Events Management (SIEM) and different cybersecurity instruments so as to assist IT professionals streamline their steady efforts to maintain their customers linked and the corporate protected.

Learn more about IBM Security MaaS360 capabilities