The challenge in endpoint detection now is that most cyber devices are unmanaged and unagentable. Traditional security scans can’t detect them and may interfere with their functionality. Devices with certain wireless connectivity protocols may be invisible to legacy security solutions that look for Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections but can’t see Bluetooth, NFC, and other newer protocols.
Without a complete view of all endpoints across the environment, organizations are more vulnerable to a host of security threats, including the remote takeover of control systems, network intrusions via unpatched vulnerabilities in device firmware and software, ransomware attacks, and data theft. For example, unmanaged devices represent 31% of Log4j threats detected by Armis. Without a complete inventory of all endpoints and real-time insight into their activity, such threats may go undetected.
The “response” element in EDR includes responding to vulnerabilities and to threats. An EDR solution that can compare each endpoint to a device knowledgebase to identify and remediate vulnerabilities can reduce the risk of real-time threats. An EDR tool that also monitors endpoint behavior — including communication frequency, destination, and encryption status — can raise real-time alerts when a device or other endpoint is behaving abnormally.