Every laptop, smartphone, tablet, server, and IoT sensor connected to your network is an endpoint—and every endpoint is a potential entry point for attackers. With the explosion of remote work and BYOD policies, the endpoint attack surface has never been larger. This guide covers the tools and practices that define modern endpoint security in 2024.
Why Endpoint Security Is More Critical Than Ever
The Numbers
- 68% of organisations experienced one or more endpoint attacks that successfully compromised data or IT infrastructure (Ponemon Institute, 2023)
- The average dwell time before endpoint compromise is detected is 21 days
- Ransomware entry points: 54% phishing, 26% RDP exploitation, 12% vulnerable software
The Remote Work Effect
Pre-2020, most endpoints operated behind the corporate firewall where network controls provided a last line of defence. Now, endpoints operate from home broadband connections, coffee shops, and hotel Wi-Fi—with no network perimeter to fall back on.
The Modern Endpoint Security Stack
1. Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR)
EDR goes beyond traditional antivirus by continuously monitoring endpoint behaviour and providing:
- Behavioural analysis: Detect malicious behaviour patterns, not just known signatures
- Threat hunting: Security teams can proactively search for indicators of compromise
- Automated response: Isolate compromised endpoints, kill malicious processes
- Forensic telemetry: Detailed logs for incident investigation
Leading EDR platforms: CrowdStrike Falcon, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, SentinelOne, Sophos Intercept X.
2. Mobile Device Management (MDM)
MDM gives IT control over every mobile endpoint:
- Enrolment and provisioning: Deploy policies, apps, and certificates automatically
- Compliance enforcement: Require PIN, encryption, OS version minimums
- Remote wipe: Erase lost or stolen devices instantly
- App management: Whitelist approved apps, containerise corporate data
Key platforms: Microsoft Intune, Jamf (macOS/iOS), VMware Workspace ONE.
3. Patch Management
Unpatched software is consistently the leading cause of successful endpoint compromises. A disciplined patch programme includes:
- Automated patch deployment for OS and third-party software (not just Microsoft)
- Patch SLAs: Critical patches deployed within 24 hours; high within 7 days; medium within 30 days
- Patch validation: Test in a staging environment before broad rollout
- Exception management: Track and justify any deferred patches
4. Application Control / Whitelisting
Rather than trying to block all malicious software (an endless game of whack-a-mole), application control only allows approved software to run. This approach:
- Eliminates the risk from unknown malware
- Prevents users from installing unapproved software
- Particularly effective against fileless malware and LOLBins (living-off-the-land binaries)
5. Privileged Access Management (PAM) on Endpoints
Principle of least privilege applied at the endpoint level:
- Remove local administrator rights from standard users
- Use PAM tools (e.g., CyberArk Endpoint Privilege Manager, BeyondTrust) to grant temporary elevation only when needed
- Log and audit all privilege elevation events
Behavioural Analytics and AI
Modern EDR platforms use machine learning to establish behavioural baselines for each endpoint and user, flagging deviations that indicate compromise. Examples:
- A user who never accesses financial data suddenly downloading thousands of records
- PowerShell executing from an Office macro at 2 AM
- An endpoint scanning internal network ports (lateral movement indicator)
These detections catch attacks that bypass signature-based tools entirely.
Encryption
Full disk encryption is non-negotiable:
- Windows: BitLocker (managed via Intune or Group Policy)
- macOS: FileVault (managed via Jamf or Intune)
- Mobile: Enforce device encryption via MDM compliance policy
Ensure encryption keys are escrowed centrally so IT can recover data if needed.
Endpoint Hardening Checklist
- [ ] EDR deployed and actively monitored
- [ ] Automated patch management operational with defined SLAs
- [ ] Local admin rights removed from standard users
- [ ] Full disk encryption enabled and verified
- [ ] MDM enrolment required for all mobile devices
- [ ] Application control policy in place (at minimum, block unsigned executables)
- [ ] USB and removable media restrictions enforced
- [ ] Screensaver lock (5 min) and idle timeout policies active
- [ ] BIOS/UEFI passwords set and Secure Boot enabled
- [ ] Endpoint firewall enabled and configured
Incident Response Integration
Your endpoint security tooling must feed into your wider incident response capability:
- EDR alerts escalate to SIEM for correlation with network and identity telemetry
- Compromised endpoints are automatically isolated pending investigation
- Forensic images are captured before remediation
- Post-incident root cause analysis drives policy improvements
Looking Ahead: Extended Detection & Response (XDR)
XDR extends EDR by correlating telemetry across endpoints, network, cloud, identity, and email into a unified detection and response platform. This eliminates the siloed visibility that allows attackers to operate undetected across different parts of the environment. If you are building or refreshing your security stack in 2024, evaluate XDR platforms as the natural evolution beyond standalone EDR.
Endpoint security is not a product you deploy and forget—it is a continuous programme requiring regular reviews, tuning, and staff training. The organisations that treat it as such are consistently the ones that contain incidents before they become breaches.