Antivirus software and firewalls are no longer enough to protect organizations from cyberattacks. Phishing and attacks on public-facing apps have become the leading cyber threats. It is crucial for organizations to manage all apps installed on their endpoints effectively to prevent potential attacks and reduce downtime. This article explores the similarities and differences between advanced endpoint protection, risk-based application patching, and laptop management, three key components of a holistic cybersecurity approach.

What is Advanced Endpoint Protection?

Advanced endpoint protection (AEP) is a proactive approach to prevent zero-day cyberattacks. It goes beyond traditional endpoint security solutions and incorporates artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, behavioral analysis, and endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities. AEP helps identify and block advanced threats like ransomware and cyberattacks in real-time on any endpoint.

Key features of advanced endpoint protection include:

• Antivirus and anti-malware
• Behavioral analytics powered by AI and machine learning
• Automatic detection of the latest cyber threats
• Isolation and removal of threats in a sandbox environment
• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) for continuous threat monitoring and response

What is Laptop Management?

Laptop management refers to the enrollment, configuration, management, and reporting of laptops running various operating systems. It is a critical component of modern unified endpoint management (UEM) solutions. UEM platforms are expanding their capabilities to manage laptops and PCs (both Windows and Mac) in addition to smartphones and tablets.

What is Risk-Based Application Patching?

Risk-based application patching automates the process of discovering vulnerable third-party apps on laptops and applying patches based on levels of risk. It helps organizations manage the increasing number of applications running on employees’ laptops and ensures timely patching to reduce potential attacks.

The capabilities of risk-based application patching include:

• Identification and reporting of application vulnerabilities
• Automated application updates and deployment prioritization
• Tracking remediation progress and maintaining an audit trail
• Scoring devices and organization based on Common Vulnerabilities and Exposure (CVE) and Common Vulnerabilities Scoring System (CVSS) information

Similarities between Advanced Endpoint Protection, Laptop Management, and Risk-Based Application Patching

• Security at the core: All three technologies aim to enhance the security posture of organizations by protecting systems, users, and data from threats and vulnerabilities.
• Asset management: They enable organizations to have full visibility into all the apps installed on endpoints, allowing for effective risk assessment, vulnerability management, and patching.
• Efficient vulnerability management workflows: Automation is key to streamline the vulnerability management process and keep up with the increasing number of apps and cyber threats.
• Audit and compliance: Compliance requirements drive the implementation of security measures, endpoint management, and regular patching.
• Productivity: Automation and centralized management offered by these technologies help IT professionals maintain a strong security posture without overwhelming manual tasks.

Differences between Advanced Endpoint Protection, Laptop Management, and Risk-Based Application Patching

While these technologies share many similarities, they have distinct characteristics:

• Advanced endpoint protection covers a broad range of endpoints, including mobile devices, laptops, desktops, servers, and IoT devices.
• Laptop management specifically focuses on managing laptops within an organization.
• Risk-based application patching is a subset of patch management that targets application vulnerabilities on endpoints such as Microsoft Windows and macOS laptops and mobile devices.

The overall goals of these technologies differ as well:

• Advanced endpoint protection goes beyond traditional antivirus solutions, leveraging advanced technologies to protect endpoints from various security threats.
• Laptop management streamlines the management process and improves productivity associated with managing laptops.
• Risk-based application patching prioritizes critical vulnerabilities to reduce potential attacks.

Conclusion

While advanced endpoint protection, laptop management, and risk-based application patching are distinct aspects of cybersecurity, they all contribute to an organization’s overall security posture and device management. IBM Security MaaS360 is a unified endpoint management platform that combines mobile and laptop management capabilities with risk-based application patching for Microsoft Windows and macOS laptops. It helps IT teams efficiently manage and protect their endpoints while keeping the total cost of ownership under control.

As a comprehensive security product, MaaS360 integrates with other cybersecurity tools, such as Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), to streamline continuous security efforts and provide consistent protection. By leveraging these technologies, organizations can adopt a zero-trust strategy and ensure the security of their IT infrastructure.

FAQs

Q: What is a zero-day cyberattack?

A: A zero-day cyberattack refers to an attack that exploits a previously unknown vulnerability in software or hardware. It takes advantage of the security hole before the affected organization or vendor has a chance to fix it.

Q: How does risk-based application patching prioritize vulnerabilities?

A: Risk-based application patching prioritizes vulnerabilities based on their level of risk. It considers factors such as the severity of the vulnerability, the potential impact on the organization, and the likelihood of exploitation. This approach ensures that critical vulnerabilities are addressed first to minimize the risk of successful attacks.

Q: Why is automation important in vulnerability management?

A: Automation plays a crucial role in vulnerability management because it helps streamline the process and reduce manual effort. With the increasing number of cyber threats and endpoints to manage, manual patching becomes time-consuming and error-prone. Automation allows organizations to discover and patch vulnerabilities more efficiently, reducing the window of opportunity for potential attacks.

Q: How does endpoint detection and response (EDR) enhance endpoint protection?

A: Endpoint detection and response (EDR) collects data continuously from all endpoints and analyzes them to detect and respond to advanced threats in real-time. It provides visibility into endpoint activities, helps with threat hunting, and automates response actions. EDR enhances endpoint protection by detecting and stopping sophisticated threats like ransomware and cyberattacks before they can cause significant damage.