Best Endpoint Security Solutions
Discover the top endpoint security/anti-virus platforms for business and enterprise.
Written by
Joel Witts
Technical Review by
Craig MacAlpine
Quick Summary
For a lightweight, fast agent, ESET is our top pick.
For mid-market teams prioritizing control over convenience, ThreatLocker Protect delivers allowlisting that blocks unknown threats by default. For cloud-native endpoint protection with minimal performance impact, CrowdStrike Falcon remains the industry standard.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is the obvious pick for Microsoft shops already running E3 or E5, native integration and included licensing eliminate additional vendor overhead.
Your endpoints are the target. Ransomware, fileless attacks, lateral movement, and data exfiltration all funnel through endpoint compromise. Traditional signature-based antivirus doesn’t cut it anymore. You need behavioral detection, automated response, and visibility that scales from dozens of devices to hundreds of thousands.
Expert Insights has reviewed 10 endpoint security platforms across Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile environments. We evaluated detection accuracy for malware and ransomware, plus fileless attacks. We evaluated deployment simplicity, agent performance impact, admin console usability, alerting quality, and integration depth with SIEM and XDR platforms. We also looked at customer feedback to understand the real world strengths and weaknesses of the solutions.
This guide gives you the decision framework to match the right endpoint solution to your organization’s threat tolerance, management capacity, and existing infrastructure.
Our Recommendations
Endpoint security splits into distinct categories: lightweight SMB protection, cloud-native EDR for mid-market, enterprise XDR, and control-focused allowlisting. Your choice depends on your threat model and team size, plus existing infrastructure. Let’s walk through the options by use case.
Best For Lightweight Agent: ESET Endpoint Security runs efficiently on mixed Windows, macOS, and Linux fleets. Unified console handles endpoint protection, MDM and encryption, plus EDR without separate tools.
Best For Control And Allowlisting: ThreatLocker Protect takes a deny-by-default approach. Only approved software runs. This control costs configuration time upfront but delivers confidence against unknown threats.
Best For Cloud-Native Organizations: CrowdStrike Falcon delivers lightweight cloud deployment with AI-driven detection that catches what signature-based tools miss. Premium pricing reflects top-tier capabilities and support.
Best For Microsoft Shops: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is included with M365 E3 and E5. Native integration with Defender XDR and Copilot creates a unified security view. Advanced features require E5 licensing.
Best For Autonomous Protection: SentinelOne Singularity Endpoint automates threat remediation and includes ransomware rollback. Scales from dozens to hundreds of thousands of endpoints with minimal management overhead.
ESET Endpoint Security is a cloud-managed endpoint protection platform built for organizations juggling mixed device fleets. It combines machine learning detection with behavioral monitoring to catch malware, ransomware, and fileless attacks across Windows, macOS, Linux and iOS, plus Android.
Lightweight Protection That Stays Out of the Way
We found the agent footprint impressively small. Scans run during CPU idle cycles, so end users barely notice it running. The multi-layered detection approach pulls in crowdsourced threat intelligence alongside ML-based analysis.
The PROTECT Enterprise console centralizes everything. You get policy management, MDM for mobile devices, disk encryption, and EDR from one place. We saw the EDR maps findings to MITRE ATT&CK and displays full attack chains, which speeds up investigation.
Where ESET Fits Your Stack
If you’re managing a large BYOD environment or need cross-platform coverage without crushing endpoint performance, ESET deserves a look. We think the lightweight agent and unified console make it practical for stretched security teams.
What Customers Are Saying
Users consistently praise stability and system performance. The admin console gets high marks for being straightforward without drowning you in jargon. Policy changes push to devices quickly with no noticeable delays.
That said, some customers flag Linux support as a weak spot, particularly for CentOS. A few users mention the console layout takes time to learn, and third-party integrations are limited.
Strengths
- Agent runs scans during idle cycles, keeping endpoint performance impact minimal.
- EDR includes MITRE ATT&CK mapping with full attack chain visibility.
- Single console covers endpoint protection, MDM, encryption, and EDR.
- Strong malware and ransomware detection rates from multi-layered approach.
Cautions
- Customers mention that the UI takes time to learn.
ThreatLocker Protect is a Zero Trust endpoint platform built around application allowlisting. If you want granular control over what runs in your environment, this takes a deny-by-default approach that blocks everything not explicitly approved.
Allowlisting Done Right
The core value here is confidence. Only approved software runs. We found the Learning Mode useful for building initial policies without disrupting operations. It watches what your environment actually uses, then helps you build allowlists from real behavior.
Ringfencing adds another layer by controlling what approved apps can do once they’re running. You can limit which resources an application can access, reducing lateral movement risk if something gets compromised. Elevation Control handles admin privileges at the app level.
Right Fit for Control-Focused Teams
If your priority is locking down exactly what executes on endpoints, ThreatLocker delivers. We think it suits mid-sized to enterprise organizations with mature security programs who can invest time in policy tuning.
What Customers Are Saying
Users highlight the allowlisting as a confidence booster against unknown threats. Integration into existing environments goes smoothly, and deployment is straightforward. The admin console is easy to navigate for day-to-day management.
Some customers note the platform works best within its intended use case. Trying to push beyond the core allowlisting workflow hits roadblocks. Dashboard performance can lag, which slows down administrative tasks when you’re making bulk changes.
Strengths
- Deny-by-default allowlisting blocks unknown threats before they execute.
- Learning Mode builds policies from actual application usage patterns.
- Ringfencing limits what approved apps can access, reducing lateral movement.
- Elevation Control grants app-level admin rights without broad local admin access.
Cautions
- Platform works best within its core use case; edge scenarios hit limitations.
- Windows and macOS only; no Linux endpoint support.
Bitdefender GravityZone Small Business Security
Bitdefender GravityZone Small Business Security is endpoint protection designed for teams without dedicated security staff. It covers phishing, ransomware, and fileless attacks across Windows, macOS, and Linux at a price point that makes sense for smaller organizations.
Set It and Let It Run
We found the deployment straightforward. Agents install quickly and run light enough that end users won’t complain. The platform handles threat response automatically, terminating malicious processes and quarantining threats without waiting for manual intervention.
Ransomware protection includes tamper-proof backups and blocks abnormal encryption behavior. The admin console gives you an executive summary view across all devices, which is helpful when you’re wearing multiple hats. Email alerts notify you of events so you’re not stuck watching dashboards all day.
Built for Smaller Teams
If you’re a small business without a security team, this fits. We think the automated response and low maintenance overhead make it practical for organizations that need protection without complexity.
What Customers Are Saying
Users consistently call out the balance between protection and performance. MSPs appreciate the RMM integrations and ability to customize policies per client. The centralized portal handles multi-device management well, and most find installation painless.
Some customers flag the dashboard as occasionally confusing. Finding specific settings like scan exclusions takes digging. Initial setup feels complex for non-technical users, and updates sometimes require restarts.
Strengths
- Lightweight agents run without noticeable performance impact on endpoints.
- Automated threat response quarantines malware without manual intervention.
- Ransomware mitigation includes tamper-proof backups and encryption blocking.
- Executive summary dashboard gives quick visibility across all devices.
Cautions
- Initial setup may challenge non-technical users.
Check Point Harmony Endpoint
Check Point Harmony Endpoint consolidates antivirus, EDR, and XDR into a single agent. It’s built for organizations that want enterprise-grade protection without managing multiple tools, and it plugs into the broader Harmony suite for SASE and SWG, plus email security.
AI-Driven Detection Across the Stack
We found the zero-day protection impressive. Over 60 AI engines analyze threats before they execute, which catches what signature-based detection misses. The platform covers Windows, macOS, Linux, servers, VDI, browsers, and mobile from one console.
Beyond detection, you get anti-phishing, URL filtering, patch management, and customizable DLP policies. The GenAI governance controls stand out if you’re worried about data leakage through AI tools. API integrations connect to third-party security tools, so it fits into existing workflows.
Enterprise Protection, Enterprise Complexity
If you’re already in the Check Point ecosystem or want a consolidated security stack, Harmony Endpoint makes sense. We think the AI-driven detection and broad platform coverage justify the investment for mid-market and enterprise teams.
What Customers Are Saying
Users praise the centralized management and layered protection approach. The dashboards and reports are customizable, and deployment options are flexible. Teams appreciate not juggling separate tools for EPP, EDR, and XDR.
Some customers report the agent can be resource-heavy.
Strengths
- Over 60 AI engines provide strong zero-day and behavioral threat detection.
- Single agent covers antivirus, EDR, and XDR without tool sprawl.
- GenAI governance controls address emerging data leakage risks.
- Integrates with broader Harmony suite for unified security management.
Cautions
- Agent can be resource-intensive; forensic scans impact CPU on some endpoints.
CrowdStrike Falcon Endpoint Protection Platform
CrowdStrike Falcon is the cloud-native endpoint platform that set the standard for modern EDR. It runs a single lightweight agent across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, using AI and behavioral analysis to catch threats that signature-based tools miss.
Cloud-Native With Serious Detection Power
We found deployment fast and the agent lightweight. Users report it runs in the background without dragging down system performance. The AI-powered detection handles malware, ransomware, and fileless attacks, with automated remediation that stops threats from spreading.
The platform provides deep endpoint visibility for threat hunting and forensic analysis. CrowdStrike Query Language makes complex investigations accessible without extensive training. You can add XDR, EDR, MDR, and Identity Threat Detection modules as your program matures.
Premium Protection
If you want best-in-class detection, Falcon delivers. We think it suits mid-market and enterprise teams with mature security operations who will use the visibility and hunting capabilities.
What Customers Are Saying
Users consistently praise the centralized console and real-time detection. Support gets high marks for responsiveness and availability. The dashboard organization makes navigation straightforward, and detection pages provide detailed breakdowns in a single view.
Some customers note onboarding and offboarding takes time. The console synchronization could be faster. Advanced features overwhelm new users initially, and the UI can feel cluttered despite good organization. Air-gapped environments face communication challenges since the platform requires internet connectivity.
Strengths
- Lightweight cloud-native agent deploys quickly with minimal endpoint performance impact.
- AI and behavioral detection catches threats that signature-based tools miss.
- Deep endpoint visibility supports threat hunting and forensic investigation.
- CrowdStrike Query Language enables complex investigations without extensive training.
Cautions
- Premium pricing may stretch smaller budgets.
- Advanced features create a learning curve for new users.
Trellix Endpoint Security Suite
Trellix Endpoint Security Suite is an enterprise-grade platform built for large organizations managing hundreds or thousands of endpoints. It combines EDR, XDR, and MDR capabilities with AI-powered detection to handle advanced threats across Windows and macOS, plus Linux.
Enterprise Scale With Integrated Intelligence
We found the threat detection solid. The platform feeds telemetry to managed SOC teams with consistent file, process, and behavioral data that surfaces actionable alerts. Machine learning and generative AI assist investigations, reducing the manual lift on security analysts.
What Customers Are Saying
Users value the comprehensive coverage and centralized management. The endpoint telemetry supports SOC operations well, and threat detection handles malware and phishing effectively. Independent testing scores reinforce the platform’s detection capabilities.
Some customers flag deployment as complex. The settings can confuse even experienced administrators, and the learning curve is steep. Keep in mind that Trellix ENS works alongside Trellix Agent and ePO, so you’re managing an ecosystem rather than a standalone product.
Built for Large-Scale Operations
If you’re running a large enterprise with mature security operations, Trellix fits. We think the platform works best when you have dedicated staff to manage the complexity and maximize the telemetry.
Smaller teams should evaluate carefully. The power is there, but so is the operational overhead to use it effectively.
Strengths
- Single agent covers EDR, DLP, and encryption without multiple deployments.
- Strong endpoint telemetry supports managed SOC operations and threat hunting.
- AI-powered investigations reduce manual analyst workload.
- Centralized console manages workflows, device controls, and policies together.
Cautions
- Learning curve to understand all available settings and features.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is the obvious choice if you’re already deep in the Microsoft ecosystem. It provides enterprise endpoint protection across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and IoT devices, with tight integration into M365 and the broader Defender suite.
Native Integration That Actually Works
Deployment is very smooth. The agents are stable and just work out of the box with minimal friction. Next-gen antivirus handles malware effectively, and automated investigation reduces the manual triage burden on security teams.
The platform goes beyond basic protection. You get vulnerability management, network protection, and EDR in one package. Integration with Defender for Cloud and Defender XDR, plus Microsoft Copilot creates a unifiedsecurity view. The telemetry available is extensive, supporting complex threat hunting scenarios.
Best Value for Microsoft Shops
If you’re running M365 E3 or E5, you already have access to Defender for Endpoint. We think it makes little sense to pay for a separate solution when this level of protection comes bundled.
What Customers Are Saying
Users praise the baseline protection and real-time threat detection. The single alert console simplifies management, and extensive documentation supports implementation. Agents deploy without the headaches common to enterprise security tools.
Some customers find the platform confusing to navigate. Live response capabilities have limitations, and isolating users takes more clicks than it should. Advanced features require higher licensing tiers, so your P1 versus P2 decision matters.
Strengths
- Deploys smoothly with stable agents that require minimal ongoing management.
- Included with M365 E3 and E5, reducing incremental security spend.
- Deep integration with Defender XDR, Cloud, and Copilot for unified visibility.
- Extensive telemetry supports advanced threat hunting scenarios.
Cautions
- Advanced EDR features require P2 licensing tied to M365 E5.
- Dashboard navigation can be confusing; isolating users takes extra steps.
Palo Alto Cortex XDR
Palo Alto Cortex XDR is an extended detection and response platform that correlates data across endpoints, network, and cloud. It’s built for organizations chasing stealthy, evasive threats that slip past traditional endpoint tools.
Detection That Cuts Through the Noise
We found the alert grouping and incident scoring particularly valuable. Instead of drowning analysts in individual alerts, Cortex XDR deduplicates and clusters related events into actionable incidents. This significantly reduces mean time to resolution.
Behavioral analytics and machine learning catch fileless attacks and zero-day exploits that signature-based detection misses. Everything maps to MITRE ATT&CK for faster root cause analysis. The unified console pulls telemetry from endpoints, network, and cloud into one view, giving you the visibility to hunt threats proactively.
Enterprise Power With Enterprise Overhead
If you’re already running Palo Alto firewalls or SASE, Cortex XDR extends that investment with tight integration. We think it suits mid-sized and enterprise teams with dedicated security analysts who can leverage the deep investigation capabilities.
What Customers Are Saying
Users highlight the investigation workflow. Host isolation is straightforward, and SIEM and SOAR integrations support automation playbooks well. The platform scales for large enterprise environments and handles sophisticated threat detection effectively.
Some customers struggle with the UI complexity.
Strengths
- Intelligent alert grouping reduces noise and accelerates incident response.
- Behavioral analytics catches fileless and zero-day attacks others miss.
- Unified telemetry across endpoint, network, and cloud in one console.
- MITRE ATT&CK mapping speeds root cause analysis during investigations.
Cautions
- UI is feature-dense but complex; navigation takes time to master.
SentinelOne Singularity Endpoint
SentinelOne Singularity Endpoint delivers autonomous AI-driven protection across endpoints, servers, and mobile devices. It combines static and behavioral detection with automatic remediation, scaling from SMBs to enterprises managing hundreds of thousands of endpoints.
Autonomous Protection With Attack Storylines
We found the automated threat detection and remediation effective. The platform connects alerts from different sources into clear attack storylines, giving analysts the full picture without manual correlation. Ransomware rollback capability lets you recover encrypted files without restoring from backup.
The platform discovers unmanaged endpoints on your network automatically, closing visibility gaps. Device policy controls cover network, USB, and Bluetooth access from the same console. Integration with the broader Singularity suite adds identity and cloud, plus risk management through Purple AI.
What Customers Are Saying
Users praise the unified visibility across endpoint, network, and cloud in one console. The intuitive interface and third-party tool integrations get high marks. Alert enrichment with threat intelligence helps prioritize real threats over noise, and ticketing system integrations enable fast response.
Some customers report VDI deployments have caused friction, and administration can get complex at scale.
Strengths
- Attack storylines connect related alerts into clear incident narratives.
- Ransomware rollback recovers encrypted files without backup restoration.
- Automatic discovery identifies unmanaged endpoints on your network.
- Scales from small deployments to hundreds of thousands of endpoints.
Cautions
- VDI deployment has caused friction for some customers.
Sophos Intercept X
Sophos Intercept X is a prevention-first endpoint platform powered by deep learning AI. It focuses on stopping threats before they execute, with strong ransomware defense and optional MDR services for teams that want expert backup without building a full SOC.
Prevention That Actually Prevents
We found the multi-layered approach effective. Deep learning models, behavioral analysis, and anti-exploit capabilities work together to catch threats early. CryptoGuard stands out for ransomware protection, blocking both local and remote encryption attempts and auto-restoring affected files.
Adaptive Attack Protection automatically hardens defenses when it detects hands-on-keyboard activity. The unified cloud console makes management straightforward, with strong default policies and click-to-fix health checks. You can add MDR and incident response services if your team needs that extra layer.
Strong Default Protection, Some Rough Edges
If you want solid prevention without heavy administrative overhead, Sophos delivers. We think it suits mid-market teams that need protection working out of the box with optional MDR backup.
What Customers Are Saying
Users praise the centralized management through Sophos Central. The protection covers hybrid deployments, remote users, and cloud infrastructure from one place. Adaptive Attack Protection and CryptoGuard get consistent positive mentions. Support has been helpful when needed.
Some customers flag alerts lack aren’t easily searchable across assets.
Strengths
- CryptoGuard blocks local and remote ransomware encryption with auto-restore.
- Adaptive Attack Protection automatically hardens defenses during active attacks.
- Strong default policies reduce configuration burden on smaller teams.
- Unified cloud console manages hybrid, remote, and cloud endpoints together.
Cautions
- Alert management and searchability in the console could be easier, customers say.
Other Endpoint Security Services
We researched lots of endpoint security solutions while we were making this guide. Here are a few other tools worth your consideration:
A threat detection engine that identifies and blocks known and unknown threats in real-time.
A unified security platform that brings together prevention, detection, access control, and response.
ML, behavioral analysis, and app controls that remediate binary and scripted threats, phishing, and security incidents.
Ideal for SMBs, Norton offers protection against malware and zero-day exploits against PCs, Macs, iOS, and Android.
Protects organizations against malware, ransomware, phishing attacks, and zero-day exploits.
Powerful protection for Windows, macOS, and Linux devices with high detection rates against script-based exploits.
What To Look For: Endpoint Security Checklist
When evaluating endpoint security platforms, these criteria separate capable solutions from ones that will create operational friction. Here’s what matters:
- Detection Coverage Across Threat Types: Does the platform catch malware, ransomware, and fileless attacks? Can you verify detection rates in independent testing? Ask vendors for threat market reports showing what they’re catching. Watch for platforms that rely solely on signatures without behavioral analysis.
- Agent Performance Impact: Will endpoint users notice the agent running? Request performance benchmarks. Ask existing customers about CPU, memory, and disk usage. A heavy agent that drags down system performance drives user workarounds and shadow IT that undermine your security program.
- Deployment Across Your Environment: Does it support Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android? What about servers and cloud workloads? Can you deploy to air-gapped networks? Check for platform limitations that force you to supplement with separate tools.
- Admin Console Usability And Alert Quality: Is the dashboard intuitive or does it require training? How many false positives does the platform generate? Do alerts have sufficient context to make decisions, or do analysts spend hours investigating noise? Bad alerting creates alert fatigue and security team burnout.
- Integration With Your Incident Response Workflow: Does it integrate with your SIEM, SOAR, or incident response platform? Can you pull telemetry automatically or do you need manual exports? How quickly do alerts reach your SOC? Poor integration creates delays that slow investigation.
- Scalability For Your Organization: Will it handle your current device count and grow with future expansion? Ask about console performance with 10,000+ devices. Some platforms scale technically but create administrative overhead that defeats the consolidation benefit.
- Support Quality And Incident Response: Call support during the evaluation with a technical question. Do they answer directly or route you through gatekeeping? When you have a security incident and the endpoint tool needs hands-on debugging, slow support costs you real money. Check third-party reviews for consistency.
Weight these based on your risk profile. If you manage highly sensitive data, detection coverage and integration matter most. If you manage a lean IT team, admin console usability and deployment simplicity take priority. If you’re running hybrid cloud infrastructure, platform support and integration depth dominate your decision.
How We evaluated Endpoint Security Solutions
Expert Insights evaluates cybersecurity and IT infrastructure products with complete editorial independence. Vendors cannot pay for favorable scores or reviews. Our recommendations reflect product quality and real-world performance only.
We evaluated 12 endpoint security platforms across Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile environments. Each platform was tested for malware and ransomware detection accuracy, fileless attack protection, agent performance impact on endpoints, deployment complexity and cross-platform support, admin console usability and alert quality, integration depth with SIEM and XDR tools, and total cost of ownership including licensing and operational overhead.
Beyond hands-on laboratory testing, we collected feedback from customers through interviews and third-party reviews. We spoke with vendor product and engineering teams to understand detection architectures, planned capabilities, and known limitations. Our editorial team operates independently from our commercial relationships. Vendor relationships do not influence our findings or product recommendations.
This guide is updated quarterly to reflect new product capabilities and emerging threat trends. For details on our thorough testing methodology, visit our How We Test & Review Products page.
The Bottom Line
Every organization needs endpoint security that fits its threat model, infrastructure, and team capacity. There’s no universal winner, only the right choice for your specific situation.
For lightweight cross-platform protection, ESET Endpoint Security runs efficiently on mixed device fleets with a unified console covering protection, MDM, encryption, and EDR.
If you’re running M365 E3 or E5, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is already included and delivers solid protection without additional vendor overhead. For teams needing advanced EDR features, E5 licensing unlocks the full capability.
For cloud-native teams wanting top-tier detection and unmatched support, CrowdStrike Falcon remains the industry standard. The premium pricing reflects top-tier capabilities and support quality.
For teams prioritizing control, ThreatLocker Protect delivers allowlisting confidence that blocks unknown threats by default. This approach requires upfront configuration investment but delivers maximum control.
For autonomous protection with minimal management overhead, SentinelOne Singularity Endpoint automates threat response and includes ransomware rollback. Scales from small deployments to hundreds of thousands of endpoints.
For enterprise-scale XDR with deep investigation capabilities, Palo Alto Cortex XDR and Trellix Endpoint Security Suite deliver the telemetry and correlation that large security teams require.
FAQs
Everything You Need To Know About Endpoint Protection (FAQs)
Any physical device connected to your network is described as an ‘endpoint’ in cybersecurity. This can include PCs, laptops, cell devices, virtual machines, servers, and routers. Internet-of-things (IoT) devices are also endpoints – this includes cameras, smart speakers, lights, security hardware, smart refrigerators, toys, and even smart televisions.
Essentially, any device that can connect to your network and transfer or receive data is considered an endpoint device. Any of these devices has the potential to become compromised and pose a risk to the wider network. However, most security solutions for the enterprise focus on protecting endpoints and user devices, such as laptops, PCs, and smartphones, rather than IoT devices. This is because these web browsing workstations are the most targeted vectors in most organizations when it comes to malware and ransomware.
Endpoint protection (EPP) software is a cybersecurity solution that protects your endpoint devices (PCs, mobiles, laptops, tablets, routers, etc.,) against malware, phishing, harmful files, and suspicious activity.
EPP solutions are typically deployed via a software agent, which is installed directly onto the end user’s device and managed by admins from a central dashboard. From here the admins can configure policies, respond to incidents, and track endpoints connected to the network.
These solutions are deployed directly onto every individual endpoint on the network. This enables them to scan the device locally for malware, suspicious activity, and other cyber threats. They can also encrypt files and ensure that only approved applications are installed on the device.
Traditionally, endpoint security tools would use a signature-based system to detect malware and prevent it from being installed. Signature-based detection systems compare files and URLs with known malware examples to prevent users from downloading malicious documents or visiting harmful web pages. While this provides fast and effective protection against known risks, there is the risk that unknown and emerging malware strains can slip through, leaving you vulnerable to new security incidents.
For this reason, many leading endpoint security tools today use a heuristic system based on ML engines, alongside (or in place of) signature-based detection. Heuristic endpoint protection platforms use a confidence-based philosophy to assess files and judge whether it is likely to be malicious, even if the code has never been seen before. As many cybersecurity companies operate massive threat intelligence platforms with hundreds of millions of data points collected every day, week, or month, it does not take long for these AI systems to become effective at catching highly advanced malware strains, with very low false positive rates.
Many endpoint security vendors now combine endpoint security with endpoint detection and response (EDR) and extended detection and response (XDR) capabilities. These services provide greater remediation and investigation features, often utilizing machine learning to enable faster identification and resolution of detected threats. They also often integrate with third-party tools for more in-depth reporting across your security stack. You can view our guide to the top XDR solutions here.
EDR solutions are an evolution of endpoint security that continuously monitors end-user devices to detect and respond to advanced threats. While endpoint protection platforms traditionally scan user devices periodically (as well as scanning new files and web downloads), EDR solutions continuously scan for suspicious activity, recording, and analyzing endpoint behaviors at the system level. EDR solutions can automatically block malicious endpoint activity and provide high levels of contextual data and remediation actions for IT admins.
Many endpoint security vendors now offer EDR capabilities built into their core endpoint solutions, or offer these features as additional, tightly integrated products. We’ve put together a separate list of the top endpoint detection and response solutions here.
XDR tools are an evolution of EDR solutions. They are SaaS-based solutions that provide threat detection and incident response across the entire network, not just your endpoints. This improves your overall security posture.
We’ve put together a separate guide to choosing the best XDR solutions here.
MDR refers to EDR solutions that are managed by a security vendor directly on behalf of the organization. Tasks such as incident investigation, alert triaging, threat hunting, and remediation are outsourced to the vendor, saving valuable time for IT admins and SOC teams. This can make security more accessible to SMBs with a lack of internal resources, and can bolster the efforts of larger security teams with external expertise. You can read our guide to the top 10 managed detection and response solutions here.
Endpoint security is typically deployed as a software agent which is downloaded to end user-devices. These work on the device locally, so scanning and threat assessments can take place even when the device is offline.
A key component of endpoint security is the management console, which allows admins to monitor, control, and track all the endpoint devices with the software agent installed. This admin console can be deployed in the cloud, on-premises, or a hybrid approach, depending on your organization’s preferences.
There are many considerations to make when choosing a solution, such factors include price, features, and compatibility with the devices your workforce uses. Some important factors to consider when choosing the right solution include:
- Features: How developed is the solution’s feature-set, and does it meet the challenges facing your organization?
- Scalability: What is the cost for your organization, and can it scale with your teams’ growth?
- Performance: Does the solution impact on the performance of machines? Is it easy to manage for end users?
- Integrations: Does it integrate with the devices your workforce is already using? What about other security tools?
- Support: Is the solution regularly updated? Does it have an in-depth knowledge base?
Planning out your organization’s requirements around these questions can be a strong way to identify the best endpoint protection solution for your organization.
To protect endpoint devices against malware, there are many key features enterprise that solutions should provide for teams. This includes:
- Anti-virus and anti-malware detection engines to prevent harmful malware
- Analysis of inbound and outbound traffic to prevent malicious downloads
- Data loss prevention (DLP) features, such as data encryption and file upload prevention
- Application and device control policies, to prevent users installing certain apps and services
- Reporting and alerting so admins can quickly identify compromised devices
- Tools to identifiy and detect suspicious activity such as zero day vulnerabilities
- Automated and effective response capabilities to reduce the need for human led remediation
- Robust incident response capabilities and the ability to identify complex attack patterns
The endpoint security market can be very complex, making it tricky to identify the best solution for your needs. This is made all the more difficult for small businesses who may not have the expertise to decide. For small businesses, there are several factors to be considered, not least your organizations budget, the type of endpoint devices you are running (Mac vs PC), your industry, the level of security you need, and the number of users.
There are a wealth of endpoint security providers that offer powerful, easy-to-install, and cost-effective endpoint security solutions for small-and-midsized organizations. ESET, Avast, and Bitdefender, for example, are all known for their small-business and consumer focused endpoint security solutions. There is more detail on each of these providers featured on our list of the top endpoint security solutions for business.
For more information from Expert Insights on the endpoint security market, read our guide to the Top 10 Antivirus Software For Small Businesses.
There has been an increase in devices needed for an employee to do their work in recent years. It was estimated by TechJury that by the end of 2021, there would be 46 billion IoT devices connected around the world. That’s a lot of devices. Each device connected to a company network is a gateway to said company network. Traditional security measures simply aren’t sufficient to defend organizations against these security threats.
With so many devices in circulation and so many of them potentially attached to your company network, it opens up a lot of unsecure gateways for threat actors to take advantage of. While endpoint security also serves for on-prem devices within the data center, it becomes especially important when these devices reside outside of it, which has become the norm since COVID-19 and the rapid rise of remote work and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). These devices are all endpoints and potential attack vectors which need to be secured.
Potential risk can come from all angles. Malware, ransomware, and security breaches can occur from an employee clicking a malicious link on their mobile device, or from someone downloading an attachment from a dubious source, as well as other avenues. A rise in hybrid and remote working has also seen end-users connecting to work networks at home or through public Wi-Fi networks. This, twinned with an increase in edge devices (devices that reside outside of a centralized data center) and BYOD, has led to an increasingly flexible network perimeter.
Comprehensive endpoint protection aims to eliminate these risks (cybersecurity threats, complex attack patterns, and advanced persistent threats) by securing an organization’s endpoints through playing a central role in a modern cybersecurity strategy. In practice, this involves defending against external threats through unifying security measures and integrating behavioral analysis, enabling security teams to gain full visibility.
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- The Top 12 Endpoint Detection And Response Solutions
- The Top 12 Managed Detection And Response (MDR) Solutions
- The Top 8 Hardware Monitoring Software Solutions
- The Top 8 Kaspersky Alternatives For Endpoint Protection
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- The Top 8 Alternatives To SentinelOne
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Written By
Joel is the Director of Content and a co-founder at Expert Insights; a rapidly growing media company focussed on covering cybersecurity solutions.
He’s an experienced journalist and editor with 8 years’ experience covering the cybersecurity space. He’s reviewed hundreds of cybersecurity solutions, interviewed hundreds of industry experts and produced dozens of industry reports read by thousands of CISOs and security professionals in topics like IAM, MFA, zero trust, email security, DevSecOps and more.
He also hosts the Expert Insights Podcast and co-writes the weekly newsletter, Decrypted. Joel is driven to share his team’s expertise with cybersecurity leaders to help them create more secure business foundations.
Technical Review
Craig MacAlpine is CEO and Founder of Expert Insights. Before founding Expert Insights in August 2018, Craig spent 10 years as CEO of EPA Cloud, an email security provider that rebranded as VIPRE Email Security following its acquisition by Ziff Davies, formerly J2Global (NASQAQ: ZD) in 2013.
Craig is a passionate security innovator with over 20 years of experience helping organizations to stay secure with cutting-edge information security and cybersecurity solutions.
Using his extensive experience in the email security industry, he founded Expert Insights with the singular goal of helping IT professionals and CISOs to cut through the noise and find the right cybersecurity solutions they need to protect their organizations.