Cyberattacks are no longer a distant concern limited to large corporations—they are now a everyday reality for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) across industries. According to recent studies, a cyberattack occurs every 39 seconds. As cybercriminals become more sophisticated, endpoints – devices like laptops, workstations, mobile phones, IoT devices, and servers – are emerging as one of their primary targets.
A forecast by Strategy Analytics projects that the number of connected endpoints will reach 38.6 billion by 2025 and rise to 50 billion by 2030. With such exponential growth, it’s no surprise that Verizon’s threat report found malware on endpoints was involved in nearly 30% of all data breaches.
Why SMBs are now on the front lines
It’s not just Fortune 500 companies under threat. Attackers are increasingly going after:
- Local IT service providers
- Law offices and Municipal agencies
- Manufacturing companies
- Education institutions and NGOs
- Startups
The 2024 IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report revealed that SMBs experienced the fastest-growing breach costs, with a 12.8% year-over-year increase. Top vulnerabilities being Business email compromise and SaaS misconfigurations.
What is an endpoint – and why is it so important?
An endpoint is any device that connects to your network, whether it is on-site or in the cloud. That includes:
- Employee laptops and desktops
- Mobile devices
- Printers
- Servers
- IoT devices
Each of these devices can serve as an entry point for malware, ransomware, or data exfiltration if left unprotected. That’s why robust endpoint security is no longer optional – it is essential.
What does endpoint security actually do?
Endpoint security refers to tools and practices designed to protect individual devices from cyber threats. A strong endpoint protection platform offers:
- Real-time threat detection
- Malware prevention
- Behavior monitoring
- Centralized visibility across all devices
- Fast incident response
Unlike traditional antivirus software, which simply scans for known threats, modern endpoint protection actively detects and responds to advanced attacks—before they can cause serious damage.
Choosing the right endpoint security solution for your business
With countless solutions available, it’s important to choose one that aligns with your organization’s specific needs. Here are a few key factors to consider:
- Data sensitivity: What kind of data are your employees handling?
- Device ownership: Are devices company-owned or BYOD (bring your own device)?
- Workforce size: How many employees do you have, and is that number growing?
- Cloud adoption: Are you primarily on-premises, hybrid, or fully cloud-based?
- Compliance requirements: Do you need to follow specific industry regulations?
Questions we often hear from SMBs
“We already use antivirus software. Is that enough?”
Antivirus and endpoint protection are not the same. Antivirus protects individual devices from known malware, while endpoint protection secures your entire IT environment -covering multiple devices, monitoring behavior, and detecting more complex threats.
“Should we use a firewall or endpoint protection, or both?”
Both are important, but they serve different purposes. A firewall protects your network by monitoring incoming and outgoing traffic. Endpoint protection secures the devices themselves – especially important now, with remote work and cloud-based apps becoming the norm.
How Paricha can help
At Paricha, we specialize in helping SMBs find and implement the right cybersecurity solutions – without being tied to a specific vendor. Our goal is to help you choose the best-fit endpoint protection based on your unique business needs. We also offer a build-operate-handover model, providing hands-on support throughout the process.
Ready to strengthen your endpoint security? Contact us today to learn how Paricha can help secure your business – one endpoint at a time.
