Security

Secure the Work Anywhere Workforce With Endpoint Security Services

Even small businesses have more devices than they can keep track of. The right partner can help manage it all safely.

Nick Suda is a security solution specialist for CDW, consulting on the sales, planning and development of security solutions.

Small businesses have embraced flexible work. Staff can be at home three days a week, then catch a flight to a client site, then answer email from an airport lounge. It’s great for productivity — but every laptop, tablet and phone connecting to company data is a potential point of attack. Today’s work anywhere model means the network perimeter is everywhere and nowhere at once. That makes endpoint security one of the most important layers of protection small businesses can implement.

Many devices arrive with built-in security features, but those aren’t designed to protect corporate data against modern threats. They’re meant to keep consumer devices safe, not safeguard critical business workflows. What small organizations need instead is a coordinated approach: protecting devices, securing connections and continuously validating identities across a distributed workforce. Professional services play a key role in making that achievable — and sustainable — without overwhelming internal IT.

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Securing Devices, Connections in a Work Anywhere World

Every remote worker introduces two attack surfaces: the device they use, and the network they connect through. Modern endpoint security has to address both.

On the device side, businesses need consistent controls across laptops, desktops, tablets and phones. That means policy-based endpoint protection, patching, configuration baselines and the ability to revoke access instantly when a device is lost or an employee leaves. For personal mobile devices, secure containers keep business applications and data separate from everything else. If the device disappears, the corporate container can be deleted without touching personal content.

The second half of the equation is securing the connection. While home Wi-Fi is generally safe, the modern workforce moves well beyond the living room. Coffee shops, libraries and especially airports expose workers to unsafe public wireless networks. This is why demand has surged for zero-trust network access and secure access service edge solutions. These platforms tightly control access based on identity, enforce least-privilege policies and verify every session continuously — regardless of where the user is located. They’ve become essential for distributed workforces.

Identity is a growing part of this story. Passwordless authentication, biometric logins and managed device-based security (rather than SMS or email codes) are gaining traction — especially as attackers leverage AI and advanced computing to brute-force credentials. A modern identity architecture gives companies a stronger foundation than basic multifactor authentication alone.

DIVE DEEPER: Artificial intelligence can accelerate your zero-trust initiatives.

The Value of a Professional Services Engagement

Most small businesses don’t have dedicated security teams. If they’re lucky, they have a handful of IT staff — and every one of them is juggling hardware, support, networking and strategy. Security is a layer they fit in where possible, not a full-time role.

Meanwhile, complexity is the enemy. Every extra tool, dashboard and vendor represents more overhead and more risk. Many security providers are moving toward platform-based ecosystems that consolidate multiple functions under one umbrella. Fewer tools mean fewer panes of glass to monitor, easier incident response and less administrative friction.

Professional services make that consolidation accessible. A trusted partner can assess the environment, design a plan, configure and deploy tools from providers such as Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet or Zscaler and manage operations over time. Solutions from leading vendors can be implemented and maintained by security experts, so internal teams remain focused on business priorities. By handling provisioning, configuration, user-group setup, remote wipe capabilities, patching and ongoing monitoring, the right partner gives small businesses a security posture that scales — without the overhead of a large internal IT operation.

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Enabling Productivity Without Sacrificing Security

Employees want the flexibility to work where and how they’re most effective. Executives want their teams productive and connected. But neither group wants security to get in the way. Endpoint services help strike that balance.

By moving policy management, patching, threat monitoring and reporting to a trusted provider, small businesses preserve bandwidth for core priorities. They gain better defense against ransomware, phishing and data loss while reducing the burden on internal teams. Importantly, they set up a foundation that can grow as the organization expands — whether that means adding new employees, more devices or embracing new applications.

The result is a smarter, safer approach to flexible work. Employees stay productive at home, in the office or on the road — and sensitive information remains protected. A strong endpoint security program, supported by professional services, gives small businesses peace of mind and the confidence to embrace modern work.

This article is part of BizTech's AgilITy blog series.