Many enterprises have thousands of employees, and Fortune 500 companies employ 140,000 workers on average. For example, State Farm has 67,000 employees, nearly 20,000 agents, and over 90 million customers. Even if each network user only had one device, this would mean managing tens of thousands of connections every day. Effective endpoint security is essential to protect enterprise systems against intrusions, data breaches, and other risks from connected devices.
What Is an Endpoint in Cybersecurity?

An endpoint is any device that connects to your network, including physical systems and virtual environments. For enterprises, common network endpoints include:
- Desktop PCs, laptops, and other workstations
- Smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices
- Printers, smart thermostats, and other IoT devices
- Servers (on-prem and cloud)
- Virtual machines for cloud computing
- Industrial equipment with network functionality
- Point-of-sale systems and ATMs
Technically, software platforms (e.g., CRM software) can also be endpoints if they access network resources. These are called API endpoints.
Every endpoint provides a point of entry to your network. To maintain robust cybersecurity, organizations must have strict access control for endpoint devices. It’s similar to the need for office buildings to have locks and alarms for all exterior doors, windows, and loading docks.
What Does Endpoint Security Involve?
Endpoint security is the process of protecting your network against risks and threats from endpoint devices, such as data breaches, malware, ransomware, social engineering attacks, and other cyberattacks.
Strong endpoint security requires a combination of device policies, processes, technical safeguards, and configuration settings. The way your employees use and manage personal devices and workstations also needs to follow cybersecurity best practices.
Endpoint Security Software
Specialized scanning software plays a vital role in endpoint security. Enterprise solutions usually consist of network vulnerability scanners and security apps installed directly onto endpoints.
This two-pronged approach helps to block or flag potential harmful activity at both ends:
- Preventing malware infections on the device
- Reporting failed login attempts
- Safeguarding API connections to enterprise software platforms
- Flagging suspicious device activity
- Blocking connections from unauthorized devices or prohibited IP addresses
Many endpoint security systems provide real-time monitoring and heuristic detection algorithms. Advanced antimalware protections can help safeguard your network against zero-day vulnerabilities.
Device Policies
Users can also introduce network vulnerabilities if they use secure devices in careless ways. For example, if employees download an app containing malware onto their smartphones, hackers may be able to steal platform login credentials.
Lost, stolen, unattended, and unsecured endpoint devices also present risks. Imagine that a nurse leaves a hospital workstation logged in while attending to patient calls for 10–20 minutes. For bad actors, this window is more than enough to access sensitive data.
Device Configuration Security
Implementing cybersecurity best practices at the device level can strengthen your overall network security posture. Here are a few examples:
- Lock screens after a short period of inactivity
- Periodic device logouts
- Multifactor authentication
- Strong password hygiene
- File encryption
It’s also necessary to manage device security updates and OS support. Older smartphones and IoT devices can be inherently vulnerable because of firmware flaws.
Physical Security
In the case of data centers, workstations, and server hardware, endpoint security also requires physical security and access control. Unauthorized individuals should not be allowed to access sensitive systems, even employees. Depending on the scale of your operations, electronic keycards may be necessary for endpoint protection.
Network Endpoint Settings
The way enterprise networks handle devices has to change. In the past, trusted devices could automatically log onto a network, allowing workers to save time. Unfortunately, this approach makes organizations completely vulnerable to insider threats, supply chain attacks, and phishing attacks.
Many cybersecurity frameworks now recommend a Zero Trust approach to endpoints. This means not allowing any devices to connect without authentication, inside or outside the network, for executives and low-level employees alike.
Who Needs Endpoint Security?

Device security is a key component of cybersecurity for all organizations, but some industries need to invest more resources into it:
- Healthcare: Improper device usage and unauthorized access to protected files are HIPAA violations.
- Manufacturing: PLCs and industrial equipment need careful update management to avoid network compromises.
- SaaS and cloud hosting: Data centers require comprehensive physical and electronic security measures to protect server resources.
- E-commerce: Distributed networks with remote users require continuous endpoint monitoring to minimize cybersecurity risks.
- Finance: The FFIEC’s IT Handbook sets standards for endpoint management that financial institutions must follow, including the ability to remotely wipe device data.
- Payment processing: PCI DSS compliance requires payment gateways and cloud service providers to have anti-malware protections for all endpoints
Comprehensive endpoint security is critical for enterprise-level organizations. Any company with thousands of network and user devices needs a dedicated team for cybersecurity risk management and device monitoring.
How Can Organizations Strengthen Endpoint Security?
Endpoint security for enterprises often requires customized software solutions that fit your organization’s operating environment. The first step is to carry out an in-depth cybersecurity risk assessment. You need to identify the unique areas and endpoints that pose the greatest risks to your network.
For example, hospital EHR systems are vulnerable to mobile devices because of the high number of healthcare workers who need access. To mitigate the risk, many hospitals enforce strict device policies, such as prohibiting personal devices, requiring periodic scanning, or installing monitoring software on employee devices.
Strong, correctly configured firewalls are a central component of endpoint security, separating private resources from public ones. To limit the risk of insider threats, many enterprises are also adopting role-based access control and network segmentation frameworks, preventing low-level workers from accessing sensitive files or information from other departments.
When risks involve lost or stolen devices, MFA and data encryption are two of the strongest safeguards. That way, even if cybercriminals steal a device, they have trouble using it to infiltrate your platform.
Prevent and Mitigate Cyberattacks With an Endpoint Security Solution

Endpoint security isn’t a one-time effort. Today’s organizations need scalable risk frameworks, ongoing device management, and centralized controls.
Compyl is an enterprise platform for risk management and cybersecurity compliance. It helps improve your visibility into device security programs, employee adoption rates, and network activity. Streamline gap assessments, audits, and update management for your entire organization.
Discover a comprehensive, AI-powered risk management solution for endpoint security. Request a Compyl demo today.