Endpoint Security: Data Protection for IT, Freedom for Laptop Users

Friday, December 4, 2009
The worldwide shift from stationary desktop computers to highly-portable laptop and tablet PC computers offers organizations increased productivity, flexible work schedules and greater work/life balance. Driven by the need for increased productivity and the ability to present up-to-date information at a moment"s notice, secure mobile computing can be an organization"s greatest strength. However, research indicates that lost or stolen laptop computers cause nearly 50% of public data breaches.3 With recentlyexpanded state data breach legislation, even a single lost or stolen computer can expose organizations to the negative publicity and increased costs associated with public data breaches.

To protect themselves, many organizations have developed sophisticated IT asset use policies while others have combined policy with encryption technology in hopes of better securing computers and the sensitive information they contain. While these are necessary steps, organizations still struggle to compensate for the "human factor." According to a recent survey of 1,400 enterprises, more than 60% of data breaches are the work of those operating within the firewall ' insiders such as employees, contractors and others with ready access to sensitive information.4 Accidently or by design, employees will always be the weakest link in computer security strategies that rely on their diligence to provide consistent protection.

Rather than imposing strangling IT asset policies aimed at forcing end users to comply, endpoint security strategies use centrally-managed technology to ensure that mobile devices such as laptops secure themselves. Using readily-available computer theft recovery, remote data delete and Internet-based IT asset management, organizations can free end-users from computer security responsibilities while ensuring maximum protection for computers and the information stored on them.
Endpoint Security Defined

Endpoint security is a security strategy that emphasizes distributing security software onto end-user devices such as mobile devices or laptop computers while retaining central management over the security software. Traditionally, organizations used corporate firewalls and other intrusion detection systems to protect corporate networks from potentially compromised endpoints. In today"s laptop-dominated environment, endpoint security strategies place the responsibility for security on the device itself. This next generation of security strategy is already common in the form of anti-spam filters, desktop level firewalls and anti-virus software programs. Recognizing that organizations cannot rely on end-users to consistently follow IT policy or diligently apply security software, endpoint security seeks to eliminate the requirement for end-user involvement to be effective.

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