Endpoint protection strategy lacking in two-thirds of enterprises

Despite the proliferation of endpoints, only a third of enterprises have an endpoint protection strategy, a new survey reveals.

The number and nature of critical endpoints in enterprise networks is evolving as employee-owned devices, virtual machines, point-of-sale terminals, Internet of Things (IoT) devices and servers add to the existing fleet of more traditional desktops, tablets or phones. Efforts to protect those endpoints seem to be lagging behind the sheer proliferation of endpoints though. As many as two-thirds of enterprises lack an endpoint protection strategy, according to a new survey conducted by Dimensional Research on behalf of security firm Tripwire. In addition, sixty percent of respondents said they are not confident that all of the devices connected to their networks receive security updates in a timely fashion.

“Timely application of security updates is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk in any organization, but it remains a widespread challenge,” said Tim Erlin, senior director of IT security and risk strategy at Tripwire. “As more diverse devices are deployed, the availability and management of these updates becomes more difficult. Organizations need to have a strategy now, before an incident occurs.”

IoT endpoints not a top security priority

The starting point of an endpoint protection strategy should be the acknowledgement that endpoints, and therefore endpoint protection, are indeed critical. But here again, the survey results are somehow surprising, with a mere 21 percent of respondents considering the security of IoT devices in their networks as one of their top security concerns. An additional 10 percent said they do not even see the significance of the IoT. In the meantime, 52 percent estimated the growth rate of endpoints on their networks over the coming 24 months at under 25 percent per year.

Source: Tripwire

“The proliferation of devices from BYOD (bring your own device), IoT, and the incidental use of personal devices in the enterprise is causing ‘device sprawl,’ so it’s no surprise enterprises aren’t keeping up,” said Dwayne Melancon, vice president of products. “The key to dealing with this risk is to remember that foundational controls still apply, regardless of scale – know what’s on your network, understand how it’s vulnerable, keep it patched, keep it securely configured, and monitor the heck out of it for suspicious activity.”

In total, only 31 percent of respondents said they conduct comprehensive inventories of hardware- and software-based assets on their networks only once per year. Only 15 percent said they conduct inventories continuously.

More than 500 IT security professionals participated in the survey.

IIoT News Recap: SK Telecom showcases global IoT roaming network; U.K. successfully transmits data over energy grid; Hyundai to help thousands of SMEs smarten up their factory floors; Australians in favor of self-driving cars when they are bored

LPWAN: SK Telecom showcases global IoT roaming network

Korean operator SK Telecom announced plans in July to establish a global roaming network for internet of things (IoT) services based on LoRa technology. At the latest LoRa Alliance all member meeting this week, SK Telecom showcased its IoT roaming network, demonstrating real-time tracking of luggage flying from Korea to France, Korea Bizwire reports.

Smart grid: U.K. successfully transmits data over energy grid

Virtual power stations just got one step closer as the U.K. successfully transmitted data through the national electricity grid, asking appliances with a smart plug connected to the mains to adjust energy use, the Guardian reports. “What is better? Building a Hinkley, which if it goes down you have lost 7% of the national electricity generation, or building up capacity from many hundreds of thousands of smaller devices around the UK? It needs quite a cultural shift: smaller is better, distributed is better,” said Marc Borrett, CEO of Reactive Technology, the company behind the data system. The innovation means the system could broadcast messages through the grid to connected appliances, reaching even those appliances that are in remote locations.

Industry 4.0: Hyundai to help thousands of SMEs smarten up their factory floors

The Hyundai Automotive Group announced they will help 1,450 small and mid-sized enterprises turn their factories into smart factories. Hyundai’s financial support will amount to 29.1 billion won under the seven-year period 2013-2019, with additional 1.3 billion won coming from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, Business Korea reports.

Autonomous driving: Australians in favor of self-driving cars when they are bored

Self-driving cars are a few years away still, probably a few more than most automakers have anticipated, but consumer sentiment is under constant scrutiny ahead of their introduction. A new survey commissioned by the Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative (ADVI) shows that 47 percent of Australians agree with the statement that driverless cars will be safer than traditional cars. Another 82 percent agree that autonomous vehicles will improve mobility people with driving impairments or restrictions. A total of 60 percent of respondents say they would prefer to let an autonomous vehicle take over when driving is boring but only 25 percent would let it pick up their kids.