Tips for choosing Endpoint Protection ( 4th May 2021)

Ref# T2021_10 | Date: May 4th 2021

Have you ever detected a threat on your computer immediately after replacing your old antivirus with a new one? Not all endpoint protection is the same; some may slow your computer down during scans while others may detect only a limited number of threats.  Endpoint protection has been developed as a means of protecting computer networks that are directly linked to client devices such as laptops, tablets, mobile phones and other wireless devices.

It helps to identify and manage those devices. Once configured correctly, the network administrator can take charge to limit the use of sensitive data, certain websites, and abide by the policies and standards of the organization. As such, it is important that you consider all the features that are offered to ensure the best possible protection for your computer and other devices.

The Guyana National CIRT recommends the following tips when choosing an endpoint protection.

  • Protection against major threats- Deciding how to choose the best endpoint protection starts with the type of protection it offers. At minimum, you need to be guarded against the common dangers to your organizations information assets and devices. This may include but not limited to, unwanted software programs that could infect your devices, scams that may trick employees into giving sensitive information or allowing malicious access to their devices.
  • Check Privacy Policy – When selecting an endpoint protection, you should carefully read the privacy policy and documentation that comes with it. To scan your files, endpoint protection, unlike other programs, have complete access to the data on your system. You should verify that the endpoint does not share your information without your consent.
  • Is the endpoint protection reliable?  Some endpoint protection can clash with other system processes. Such conflicts can cause the endpoint protection to malfunction or temporarily stop running, which can put your system at risk. Some may determine harmless files as malware or even give false confirmation that harmful files are safe to open. The reliability of the endpoint protection plays an important role in its ability to protect your system. A good way of learning about the reliability of the endpoint protection is to refer to online reviews or test it using its free or trial version [1].
  • The endpoint protection must run well without slowing your devices Usually, endpoint protection can require a large fraction of your computers resources in terms of RAM and processor usage, and they may slow down your system considerably [2]. You should choose software with features that are aligned with your common computing tasks.
  • Check for usability The ease of using an endpoint protection increases if it can automatically schedule scans when the computer is idle or not being subjected to heavy demands. Further, it should be able to offer you detailed reports on any malicious software that has been detected and quarantined, or any online attacks that have been prevented. The user interface of the software must also be intuitive so that wherever some feature must be customized, or certain settings have to be changed, it is easy to do so [3].
  • Real-time protection A good endpoint protection will provide continuous scans in the background. These scans usually target certain system files in real-time. This will ensure that you receive updates on threats and malicious programs that may attempt to harm your device in real-time.

[1] https://theverybesttop10.com/choosing-the-right-antivirus/

[2] https://theverybesttop10.com/choosing-the-right-antivirus/

[3] https://theverybesttop10.com/choosing-the-right-antivirus/

PDF Download: Tips for choosing Endpoint Protection.pdf

Reference