Cybersecurity has become today’s most fundamental factor for businesses and individuals as the digital age unravels. Endpoint protection is, indeed, a subset of the core aspects of cybersecurity; in fact, it refers to a bundle of technologies used to protect endpoints, including computers and mobile devices, servers, and other forms of hardware against cyber threats. Sep, or Symantec Endpoint Protection, was one of the offerings within this entire ecosystem from Broadcom corporation that had recently changed its name after rebranding from Symantec Corporation. Although the two concepts revolve around endpoint protection, general endpoint protection and Symantec Endpoint Protection are somewhat fundamentally different.
What is Endpoint Protection?
Endpoint protection refers to an all-inclusive approach towards the security of numerous devices, also known as endpoints, which connect to a network. This can include various devices, such as desktop computers, laptops, Smartphone, tablets, servers, and even IoT devices. These all are preferred access points for malware attacks, ransom ware, phishing attacks, and other malicious activities.
The security of these devices is usually combined within a system through technologies. The primary features include:
- Antivirus/Antimalware: These are applications that scan files for malware and viruses and prevent them from being executed on the device.
- Firewall Protection: A firewall keeps monitoring incoming and outgoing network traffic and prevents anything suspicious.
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention: This is a type of technology that checks the system for things showing possible breaches and then stops them before they make any damage.
- DLP: DLP tools prevent confidential data from leaving the endpoint through unauthorized means.
- Encryption: Encryption is done on any data on the device or while transferring, such that no one will intercept it without a proper authorization.
- Behavioural Analytics: Some endpoint protection tools use AI as well as machine learning technologies to track abnormal patterns in system behaviour. This could point to a breach or attack.
Endpoint protection is an essential solution for businesses of every size or individual against a variety of threats. It is one of those general category terms that refers to a suite of solutions that many vendors offer.
What is Symantec Endpoint Protection?
An endpoint-specific security product under Broadcom is Symantec Endpoint Protection. However, in the broader view of endpoint protection, it has a niche in its specific tools and features to battle the malware, ransomware, and other zero-day threats and targeted attacks.
SEP has strength and features. It has been a leader in the endpoint protection market for many years, securing large organizations and enterprises. This doesn’t necessarily mean it only applies to the big companies; the range of protection that will benefit SMEs is wide.
The primary features include:
Advanced Threat Protection (ATP)
The SEP comes with a strong threat intelligence network that can detect known as well as unknown threats, including zero-day attacks. Its ATP is designed by machine learning and behavioural analytics that monitor suspicious activity and possible malware before it spreads.
Single-Agent Architecture
Symantec Endpoint Protection combines multiple layers of security into one single agent that reduces complexity for IT administrators and optimizes the performance of a system. It houses antivirus, firewall, intrusion prevention, and more in one single agent with minimized needs for varied security solutions.
Centralized Management Console
SEP allows the use of a centralized management system, where all security settings for all endpoints are controlled and monitored from one place. This feature is very highly valued by large enterprises that need to manage huge amounts of devices since it simplifies deployment and updates and allows easy monitoring of endpoint security policies.
Deception Technology
SEP includes deception technology, whereby it could simulate decoys to keep the attacker away from actual critical systems. This is an enhanced feature that will detect targeted attacks and stealthy malware that would otherwise not be detected.
Cloud-delivered security
SEP is Cloud integrated, hence can deliver cloud-based updates and threat intelligence. It also has the ability to allow management of endpoint security from anywhere with huge benefits in the new remote work environments, where employees may be working from anywhere outside the traditional corporate firewall.
SEP supports a whole range of operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and virtual environments as well. In this way, the compatibility is wide and broad, which could make SEP an all-in-one solution for companies working with extremely diverse technologies.
What’s the Difference between Endpoint Protection and Symantec Endpoint Protection?
The main difference between general endpoint protection and Symantec Endpoint Protection is scope and specificity. General endpoint protection comprises a broad range of solution types manufactured by various vendors. Their strengths and features are different, and they vary from basic antivirus to integrated security suites with infiltration prevention, encryption, and behavioural analysis.