Embracing Endpoint Security with Identity-Focused Privilege Management

In the complex, multi-cloud environments that make up the modern enterprise, there are multiple aspects of cybersecurity that need to be taken into account. While not specific to the cloud, endpoint security, identity management, and privileged access management are still a critical part of a defense-in-depth security approach meant to handle a complex cyber threat landscape. 

The idea of “identity as the new perimeter” elevates awareness of the critical risks that compromised identities pose on an organization’s operations. This is leading to a greater focus on implementing additional security layers around identities and permissions management. It acknowledges that in the modern, distributed work environment where personal device use is increasingly common, the number and type of attack surfaces which could lead to a cloud compromise are only multiplying. 

When it comes to endpoint security, taking an identity-focused approach can build a powerful, holistic approach to cloud security, but implementing identity and access management on endpoints is not enough. 

Endpoint protection (EPP) solutions like CrowdStrike Falcon or Carbon Black are still necessary as they perform essential security functions such as threat detects and responds on endpoints through advanced malware detection, behavioral analysis and incident response capabilities. Layering these best-in-class endpoint protection solutions with a flexible and lightweight endpoint-privileged access management solution effectively reduces the identity-based attack surface and blocks lateral movement from endpoint to critical infrastructure, applications and data.  

Why Keep Identities in Mind When Securing Endpoints? 

Endpoint security serves as a vital first line of defense, detecting and blocking attacks at the device level. But as enterprises scale across complex multi-cloud environments, managing who gets access to what resources and what they’re allowed to do becomes critical. This is where identity-based access management and privilege control comes in. 

Ideally, users have the minimum privileges needed on their machines or endpoints to perform the majority of their daily tasks, minimizing risk by reducing the attack surface. However, there are times when users require administrative privileges to complete certain tasks. Without a seamless way to temporarily elevate privileges, organizations have to make a choice between over-permissioning endpoints or creating inefficient workflows. 

Administrator and other powerful endpoint privileges can act as a starting point which threat actors can exploit to move laterally within the environment. Integrating true just-in-time (JIT) access and zero standing privileges (ZSP) ensures that permissions are granted only when necessary and are not inherently attached to sensitive systems, significantly minimizing risk. 

Implementing adaptive, behavior-based verification for valid credentials ensures that organizations can tailor access based on a valid identity, securing high-value resources without creating an excessive administrative burden or slowing down productivity. 

Implementing Flexible Endpoint Protection with Dynamic Identity Management 

What would it look like to implement an endpoint solution poised to go beyond a simple identity and access management use case? We’ll use CrowdStrike as an example. 

CrowdStrike is known for its real-time threat detection, behavioral analysis, and AI-driven threat prevention, making it a powerful tool for organizations looking to improve their endpoint security. 

Rather than rigidly restricting access to endpoints and mandating approvals every time, CrowdStrike leverages its extensive detection capabilities and integrations to require MFA only when unusual behavior is detected. This adaptive, risk-based verification allows for additional protections without unnecessarily hindering workflows. 

The addition of an identity-centric approach complements CrowdStrike’s strengths by securing access across the enterprise’s broader cloud footprint. 

Identity-based privilege management enhances endpoint security by providing granular control over access, managing not just who enters but also what they can access. When integrated with EPP solutions like CrowdStrike, this approach enforces principles such as “least privilege” and just-in-time (JIT) access, reducing the risk of escalation and lateral movement. 

For example, Britive’s ephemeral permissions and JIT access, when used alongside CrowdStrike’s advanced detection, allow security teams to limit access to resources dynamically. This prevents attackers from exploiting standing privileges, even if an endpoint is compromised. With such a setup, a compromised identity on the endpoint doesn’t automatically have access to other systems or cloud resources, significantly minimizing potential damage or blast radius. 

This allows organizations to implement a more robust endpoint security system that can be configured beyond only identity and privilege requirements while maintaining the flexibility to adjust and secure access based on identity or behavioral attributes. 

A Comprehensive Defense-in-Depth for Multi-Cloud Strategy 

For organizations navigating the complexity of multi-cloud environments, combining endpoint security with identity-based privilege management for both human and non-human identities offers a powerful defense-in-depth strategy. 

Endpoint security solutions like CrowdStrike provide robust device-level protections and other cybersecurity capabilities, while an identity-centric privilege management layer closes the loop, securing access on endpoints without adding friction to workflows. 

Building a security stack that combines robust, flexible endpoint security with a dedicated access management layer lets organizations achieve an optimal balance of productivity, protection, and cost-effectiveness. 

Taking an integrated, forward-looking approach creates a resilient and adaptable framework that strengthens Zero Trust initiatives to withstand modern cyber threats without sacrificing efficiency. 

Interested in learning more about how Britive’s cloud PAM solution works hand-in-hand with Crowdstrike’s endpoint protection? Find time to chat with a member of the team.