When many people think “cybersecurity,” they think antivirus software, and maybe a little window that says “threat blocked.” That might’ve been enough a decade ago. But these days, that just doesn’t cut it.
As we’ve discussed in other posts, modern cyberattacks aren’t always viruses. They can look like a regular email, or a normal piece of software, and they’re often designed to quietly sneak in and spread. If you’re running a small business, relying on old-school antivirus leaves you exposed.
Let’s talk about what you should be using instead, and why it matters.
🚪 What’s an Endpoint?
In plain terms, an endpoint is any device that connects to your network—computers, phones, tablets, even printers and smart devices. Each one is a possible entry point for an attacker. If it’s connected, it needs to be protected.
🧠 Antivirus vs. NGAV vs. EDR
Let’s break down some acronyms:
- Antivirus (what most people are used to) checks files against a list of known threats. It’s good at catching yesterday’s problems—but not always today’s.
- NGAV (Next-Gen Antivirus) looks for *behavior*, not just signatures. It uses AI to flag activity that seems out of place—even if it’s something brand new.
- EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) goes further. It watches what’s happening across your devices, keeps records, and helps you respond when something unusual shows up.
Think of it this way:
- Antivirus is like a guard dog trained to bark at known bad guys.
- NGAV watches for anyone acting suspiciously.
- EDR keeps an eye on everything, so you can rewind the footage and see exactly what happened.
👥 Why Having Someone Watching Matters (MDR)
Here’s the thing: even the best tools can miss something, or flag it and no one notices. That’s where Managed Detection and Response (MDR) comes in. MDR combines those tools with actual humans — security pros who watch your environment 24/7. They investigate alerts, figure out what’s real, and act quickly when something’s wrong. Better yet, many MDR platforms can automatically isolate compromised devices, stop suspicious processes in their tracks, and keep a threat from spreading to the rest of your network. It’s not just “we saw something”; it’s more like “we stopped it before it got worse.” Some MDR solutions also integrate with SIEM tools (Security Information and Event Management), which help track how an attack got in, so you can close the door behind it.
Bottom line: if you don’t have a full-time security team (and let’s be honest, most small businesses don’t), MDR gives you serious protection without the overhead.
🔌 What About Printers and Smart Devices?
Not everything can run antivirus or EDR software. Printers, IP cameras, smart TVs — they’re part of your network, but they’re often overlooked. For those types of devices, we rely on other defenses and strategies. For example, we can segment and isolate IoT devices into their own networks to limit what they can actually connect to. We also use DNS Protection, as discussed in our post Why DNS Security Should Be A Priority For Your Business. This can help prevent network devices from being able to reach back out to known bad sites, where attackers may be hosting their malware.
✅ What You Can Do Right Now
Here’s what we typically recommend:
- Use NGAV and EDR/MDR on all business computers and mobile devices
- Add DNS protection to prevent threats from getting to your endpoints
- Isolate IoT and smart devices on a separate network
- Make sure your team gets some form of basic cybersecurity training — it really does help
🧭 Wrapping Up
Endpoint protection isn’t just for big companies. If your team uses computers, mobile devices, or smart tech in the office, those endpoints need to be protected. The good news? You don’t need an enterprise budget to get there. You just need the right tools, and a partner who knows how to put them to work.
If you’re not sure what kind of protection you have in place right now, or what’s missing, let’s talk.