September 4, 2020 Mac and IT Security with Endpoint Protection

IT teams need to go the extra mile with endpoint protection. Here’s how to cover the security gaps and make Mac systems secure.

Although Mac as an operating system is revered for its strong built-in security features, you cannot be too sure. Considering the sophisticated hacking attacks that are rampant these days, threats get only bigger with time. Enterprises, in particular, need to be extra careful about endpoint security because the systems on their network hold confidential data and applications.

It becomes all the more important if your team works on a remote basis, as is common with a majority of businesses in the pandemic era. So it makes sense for enterprise IT teams to go the extra mile with endpoint protection for the systems and users on board. Here are some measures that can help you in covering the security gaps and making Mac systems more secure than ever.

Know the risks and threats

Without any doubt, the first step towards endpoint protection is awareness. For the enterprise network, this requires an emphasis on retaining as much control and visibility possible to detect the threats. There is always a threat that devices in enterprises are exempted from security policies unintentionally or carelessly, which can put the entire system at risk. Start by having a dedicated security and risk management that assesses such risks and applies best practices to address them. You also need to ensure awareness at individual levels, so that the users are able to spot malicious emails and untrustworthy links. Steering clear of practices like installing malware on systems or providing credentials to scammers is equally vital.

Install only trusted software

Business users may need to install software and applications on their systems time and again in the course of their routine work. Educate them about the importance of installing them directly from only the official sites or the App Store. There is always a risk of the system being attacked by malware with applications downloaded from unreliable sites and secondary sources. Enforce stringent rules to discourage users from such practices, no matter how harmless these sites appear on the surface.

Keep the devices updated

Another aspect of endpoint security for your Macs is running only the latest version of software. Needless to say, outdated software is vulnerable. Updating the devices cuts down the risk because the latest versions have the patches for all known vulnerabilities. The best part is that your employees can update their systems on their own. If you want them to upgrade to Big Sur and later revert to macos catalina, they will be able to do it by themselves. This means your IT team has one thing less to worry about when it comes to Mac security.

Use antivirus software

Installing antivirus software on your systems is a no brainer for any business or even individual users. It keeps them protected against a range of threats such as malware, viruses and rootkits, so you are covered to a considerable extent. However, you cannot rely on antivirus alone for seamless protection of the systems. You need to use them in combination with other tools and security measures to strengthen the endpoint security for your business ecosystem.

Restrict administrative rights

Enterprises must use the principle of least privilege to eliminate the risks of security attacks from the systems on their network. Ensure that users can rightfully access only the applications, settings and data stores they need for doing their daily tasks effectively. Allowing administrative privileges without any restrictions can give them access to broader systems and enable them to remove security measures. So set up the rights and authorizations carefully and review them on a periodic basis to assess their feasibility. You may consider giving additional rights to some users and limiting them for others.

Maintain communication between users and security teams

Another measure that can go a long way in securing your corporate network is by bridging the gap between the users and security teams. Ensuring that they communicate seamlessly and work closely will ensure an organization-level awareness and support system for the Mac users. Through continuous testing and ongoing communication, security teams can implement requisite controls to safeguard data and systems. At the same time, the measures will not have a detrimental impact on the accessibility or productivity of the users. Additionally, the company can foster a culture of trust and credibility with users being more open about their security concerns.

Apart from enforcing adequate security measures and best practices for Mac users, it is important to back up the corporate data frequently. This approach serves as a protective measure against failure induced by ransomware and hardware. Even if an incident takes place, you can rest assured that data will not be lost. Endpoint protection is a vital aspect of enterprise IT security that you should never take frivolously. Every single step can make a difference, when it comes to securing your Mac endpoints for good.

Emily Banks from the Outreach Monks leads the content marketing campaigns for clients from varied niches. Apart from this, her life revolves around her Persian cat, whom she calls Miss Taits.

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