What is an Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)?

Endpoint Protection Platforms fight against viruses and malware and focus on threat prevention. Learn what EPP security is, its use cases, and find out more details in this guide.

What Is an Endpoint Protection Platform?

An endpoint protection platform (EPP) is an integrated security solution that combines firewalls, port and device controls, and anti-malware tools to provide endpoint protection across your organization.

Traditional EPP solutions don't have adequate threat detection and response capabilities. So advanced malware can evade them, which means relying on EPP alone isn't enough.

Difference between EPP, EDR and XDR

Here are the key differences between EPP, EDR, and XDR solutions:

EPP	EDR	XDR
EPP blocks malware and threats before they reach your endpoints.	EDR detects the advanced threats that EPP misses.	XDR combines EPP and EDR. It unifies security coverage for endpoints, clouds, apps, and networks.
It uses signature-based and behavioral detection to prevent threats. But it can't respond to sophisticated attacks that evade these methods.	EDR generates threat intelligence from large data volumes. You can identify and remediate cyber attacks at the endpoint level in real-time.	XDR uses Machine Learning and AI to spot suspicious patterns and anomalies across your entire security stack.
You get a suite of integrated security features working together. You'll need to add EDR if you want to catch advanced threats.	EDR is a single solution with broader visibility that works alongside EPP. You gain comprehensive coverage and real-time visibility into what's happening across your networks.	XDR goes beyond EDR's capabilities. It merges data from all your security layers to fight emerging threats with unified intelligence.

Want to learn more? Check out our EDR vs. XDR and EPP vs EDR guides.

Why Is Endpoint Security Via EPPs Important?

Endpoints are the weakest link in any network. Your employees access your company network from all kinds of devices and locations—office desktops, personal laptops, tablets on unsecured WiFi. Each one is a potential entry point for attackers. A single careless employee can compromise your entire network.

The problem gets worse when you think about your workforce. Some employees are security-savvy and won't open suspicious emails. Others will happily install "networkscrambler.exe" without thinking twice. You might have 10 employees or 10,000, all with different security habits and devices. Each person and device combination represents a real threat.

This creates a massive attack surface. While most of your team practices good security habits, an EPP lets you monitor all endpoints at once. It stops that one person from installing malware or clicking a bad link. Without EPP, you have no visibility into what's happening on your endpoints - you can't see the threats, spot the blind spots, or even know what devices are connected to your network.

Core Capabilities of EPP

According to Gartner, here are the core capabilities every EPP solution has:

• Next-Generation Antivirus (NGAV): Blocks malware, fileless threats, and zero-day exploits using signature-based detection, behavioral analysis, and machine learning.
• Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Prevents sensitive data exfiltration and enforces access controls to stop intentional or accidental data leaks.
• Firewall & Intrusion Prevention (IPS): Monitors network traffic at the endpoint level, blocks unauthorized access attempts, and identifies suspicious patterns.
• Threat Intelligence: Delivers up-to-date information on emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and attack trends.
• Threat Prevention & Isolation: Quarantines suspicious files, encrypts sensitive data, and uses machine learning to identify unknown threats in real-time.

How an Endpoint Protection Platform Works?

An Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) will secure all endpoint devices connected to a network. It will use multiple detection techniques (like signature-based detection, behavioral analysis, and heuristic analysis) to detect and block malicious threats. EPP software comes with data encryption, firewalling, and intrusion prevention security features.

EPP cybersecurity can isolate or quarantine suspicious files, protect and encrypt sensitive data across endpoints, and use machine learning algorithms to scan vast amounts of telemetry data to identify potential threats (even unknown threats that haven’t been encountered by the organization yet).

Benefits of Endpoint Protection Platform

Here are the benefits of endpoint protection platforms:

• Extensive threat protection: Defends against malware, ransomware, phishing, fileless malware, and both known and unknown threats with real-time monitoring.
• Detects different types of threats: Identifies both known and unknown threats at the endpoint level, protecting remote work environments and unmanaged devices.
• Reduced downtime & risks: Minimizes operational disruption through rapid incident detection and response. Includes rollback remediation to restore systems to pre-infection states.
• Compliance & data security: Ensures sensitive data protection, regulatory compliance (HIPAA, PCI-DSS, GDPR), and prevents data losses, leaks, and breaches.
• Centralized visibility & cost efficiency: Provides unified management across all endpoints with a single pane of glass. Delivers cost savings via consolidated tooling and automated incident response.

Challenges of Implementing EPP in Organizations

Here are the key challenges of implementing EPPs in organizations:

• Device sprawl - Organizations need to secure a wide variety of devices like mobile phones, IoT devices, and laptops. All these devices run different OSes and can enforce their security policies which can cause inconsistencies if not tracked, checked, and synced.
• Scalability problems - If your organization's number of endpoints go up due to remote work, you'll face scalability issues. It can be difficult to manage resources without straining them. Performance can degrade and that's a common issue.
• Integration issues- New EPP solutions may not integrate so well with your existing infrastructure. You'll need to do compatibility checks and address data silos.
• Performance and patch management  - All your endpoints need to be updated which can be a struggle. Any delays in deployments or missed updates can make your systems vulnerable. Your performance can also downgrade, you may slow down devices and user productivity could be impaired.
• Lack of visibility and control - If you are trying to implement EPP solutions in hybrid ecosystems, you may struggle to maintain full visibility and control over what endpoints connect to which networks. A lack of oversight in this can make it hard to respond to threats fast.
• Advanced threats - Traditional EPPs can't keep up with the latest attacker techniques. Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) can easily bypass signature-based EPP solutions.
• Human error - EPPs are not foolproof and your employees can be the weakest links in security. Your employees are capable of accidentally leaking information when adversaries pose as officials and make them drop their guard by winning their trust via online interactions.
• Cost and alert fatigue - Modern EPP solutions can be expensive and need ongoing maintenance. They also generate high volumes of alerts, some of which could be false positives. This can overwhelm security teams and make them miss genuine alerts, thus lowering operational efficiency.

Best Practices for Endpoint Protection Platforms

Here is a list of the best practices to follow when it comes to making the most out of modern endpoint protection platforms:

• Craft a good incident response plan - Make an IR plan to test your EPP solutions. Outline steps on how to identify and contain threats, and recover from security breaches. This will test your EPP solution's effectiveness and tell you a lot about it as well.
• Do regular audits and testing - Do routine network security audits, pen tests, and vulnerability assessments. Maintain compliance with upcoming regulations and identify gaps in security.
• Monitor endpoint activities - Do continuous 24/7 monitoring of endpoint activities. Watch for unusual traffic, suspicious behaviors, and potential threats.
• Incorporate a zero trust model - Work under the principle of 'never trust, always verify'. Do strict authentication and authorization for very user, device, and network access request. No exceptions, no matter which location. Also apply the principle of least privilege access and limit permissions to their specific roles to prevent account compromises.
• Implement Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) for all accounts: Make unauthorized access difficult and don't let passwords get stolen. Add MFA for all accounts and mandate it.
• Craft clear BYOD and WFH policies - Set clear rules, policies, and document them for WFH and BYOD scenarios. Outline your remote access security requirements, data handling procedures, and define what's acceptable use.
• Do regular security awareness training - Keep your employees up-to-date, run simulated phishing campaigns, and follow the best security practices in the workforce.
• Do a thorough assessment - Inventory all your assets and devices to understand the full scope of what you're working with. Pair your EPP with EDR solutions and enable continuous monitoring, advanced threat hunting, and go beyond basic prevention.
• Encrypt Data - Encrypt data at rest and in-transit for all devices. Use VPNs to protect sensitive information. Use cloud-based EPP solutions to centralize policy enforcement, updates, and enable real-time visibility across all endpoints for remote workforces. 
• Automate patch management - Update your patching, OSes, and close known vulnerabilities before cybercriminals can exploit them.
• Use AI and behavioral analytics - Good EPP solutions will include both these features to detect unknown and fileless threats that traditional, signature-based EPPs often miss.

Common Use Cases for EPP

The most common use cases of EPPs are as follows:

• Protects against malware and ransomware - EPPs use AI, Next-Generation Antivirus (NGAV), and behavioral analysis to detect, block, and quarantine malicious threats. You can defend against viruses, trojans, zero-days, and advanced attacks.
• Secures remote and hybrid work - EPPs protect endpoints that connect from home, public, and other unsecured WiFi networks. They can do cloud-managed monitoring and enforce security policies consistently.
• Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and encryption - Companies use EPP solutions to prevent sensitive data leaks and losses. EPPs can encrypt data at rest and in-transit. DLP controls and prevent and monitor unauthorized transfers. They also prevent exfiltrating sensitive information.
• Incident response and investigation support - Advanced EPPs will bundle EDR features. They help you monitor for threats continuously, collect forensic data, and can even investigate full chains of attacks. You will be able to perform automated remediation and containment actions. 
• Device and application control - EPPS give granular visibility and control over your peripheral devices that connect to various endpoints. They can mitigate risks from unauthorized software, data theft, and reduce attack surfaces.
• Protects specialized endpoints - Some advanced EPPs can be configured to protect devices in complex environments like POS systems in retail, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), Internet of Things (IoT) devices in industrial settings, servers, and more.

How to Choose the Best EPP for Endpoint Security?

When selecting an EPP solution, evaluate these key criteria:

Threat Detection Capabilities

• Signature-based, behavioral, and heuristic detection
• File-less malware and zero-day exploit protection
• Ransomware and credential-theft detection
• Rollback remediation to restore systems to pre-infection state

Integration & Visibility

• Integrates with your current security stack (IPS, DLP, EDR)
• Single pane of glass management console
• Real-time visibility across all OS/devices and endpoints
• Policy deployment and device onboarding automation

Performance & User Experience

• Low CPU/memory footprint (minimal operational impact)
• User-friendly interface and clear documentation
• Responsive vendor support

Testing Before Deployment

• Run proof-of-concept in a sandboxed environment
• Test automated incident response and AI-driven threat hunting
• Verify evasion detection capabilities for 24/7 protection

Why Choose SentinelOne for EPP Security?

SentinelOne understands that malware evolves by the day. Your threats won’t sit around and wait for you. They evolve and morph with time, becoming advanced as time goes by. That’s why it’s great at proactively blocking threats and also provides detailed forensics for effective incident response.

SentinelOne’s EPP uses a single, purpose-built agent. It combines Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) on one platform and streamlines security management. You can block ransomware, phishing, zero-day attacks, shadow IT, and both known and unknown threats.  SentinelOne’s AI is powerful and can prevent lateral movement and privilege escalations. It provides comprehensive visibility and automated responses to even the most sophisticated endpoint security threats.

The best part is the smooth integration and SentinelOne’s EPP+EDR solution gives you value for money. You can scale up or down its endpoint security as needed. You also get other benefits such as extended endpoint security, threat intelligence, vulnerability management, and SentinelOne EPP also improves security compliance.

SentinelOne has been named a leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Endpoint Protection Platforms for 4 years in a row. All this gives peace of mind to organizations who know that their endpoints are always protected, 24/7.

Conclusion

Endpoint Protection Platforms definitely help you build a strong cybersecurity foundation for enterprises. Without EPP, you don’t have a starting point to defend against threats and that’s the thing. You get to learn what you go up against, observe blindspots, and catalog networks and devices. The best approach to strong endpoint security is to use both EPP and EDR. XDR combines them all and offers a unified security solution. And if your XDR bundles MDR services, then even better.

The good news is SentinelOne offers all these. Get in touch with us, because we can help.

FAQs

What does EPP stand for in security?

EPP stands for Endpoint Protection Platform. It’s a suite of security tools that on devices like laptops, desktops, and servers to stop malware, ransomware, and other threats before they can cause damage. EPP combines traditional antivirus, firewall controls, and device management in one package so you have a single solution guarding each endpoint.

What is an EPP (Endpoint Protection Platform)?

An EPP is software installed on endpoints—computers, servers, or mobile devices—that defends against malicious activity. It uses signature-based scanning, behavioral analysis, and machine learning to block threats. EPP also enforces firewall rules, application controls, and device policies. With everything in one console, you can centrally manage updates, scans, and alerts to keep every endpoint protected.

What is the difference between anti-virus software and EPP systems?

Antivirus focuses on detecting known malware through signature matching. EPP goes further by adding behavioral monitoring, firewall management, application whitelisting, and device control. Antivirus is one component inside EPP. While antivirus stops recognized malware, EPP handles unknown threats, enforces policy, and connects with other security tools from a central dashboard.

Is EPP or EDR better for cybersecurity?

EPP prevents threats before they run, while EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) hunts and investigates active incidents. You need both: EPP stops bulk attacks and common malware, and EDR digs into suspicious behavior to uncover hidden or advanced breaches. Relying on just EPP or just EDR leaves gaps—together they give prevention and deep visibility.

What are the key features of an EPP?

An EPP typically includes:

• Signature-based malware scanning
• Behavioral monitoring and machine learning
• Host-based firewall and intrusion prevention
• Application control (whitelisting/blacklisting)
• Device control (USB, Bluetooth)
• Centralized management console

Can EPP detect zero-day threats?

Yes, modern EPP uses behavioral analysis and machine learning to spot suspicious activity patterns rather than solely relying on known signatures. This lets it catch unusual processes or file changes that indicate zero-day exploits. While no tool is perfect, EPP’s heuristic and anomaly detection give you a fighting chance against brand-new threats.

What are the deployment options for EPP?

You can deploy EPP as:

• On-premises agents managed by your own servers
• Cloud-hosted services with lightweight agents
• Hybrid mix of cloud and on-prem to suit regulatory needs

How does EPP integrate with other security tools?

EPP platforms often connect through APIs or SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems. They share alerts and logs with SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response), firewalls, and email gateways. Their integrations with other security tools can automate threat response, correlate events across your network, and maintain a unified security view while reducing manual intervention.