Endpoint security or endpoint protection is an approach to the protection of computer networks that are remotely bridged to client devices. The connection of laptops, tablets, mobile phones and other wireless devices to corporate networks creates attack paths for security threats. Endpoint security attempts to ensure that such devices follow a definite level of compliance to standards.
Endpoint security management is a software approach which helps to identify and manage the users' computers access over a corporate network. This allows the network administrator to restrict certain website access to specific users in order to maintain and comply with the organization's policies and standards. The components involved in aligning the endpoint security management systems include a Virtual private network (VPN) client, an operating system and an updated antivirus software. Computer devices that are not in compliance with the organization's policy are provisioned with limited access, to a virtual LAN.
Endpoint security systems operate on a client–server model with the security program controlled by a centrally managed host server pinned with a client program which is installed on all the network drives. There is yet another model called the software-as-a-service (SaaS), the security programs and the host server are maintained remotely by the merchant. In the payment card industry, the contribution from both the delivery models is that the server program verifies and authenticates the user login credentials and performs a device scan to check if it complies with a designated corporate security standards prior to permit network access.