Traditional antivirus has an important job: detecting and blocking malware on an endpoint. But an endpoint can be free of malware and still present a security risk. A device may have access to risky websites, unauthorized peripherals, unapproved apps, or sensitive data that can be moved through channels outside the scope of traditional antivirus protection.
This gap is where the distinction between antivirus and broader endpoint security becomes important. Endpoint security looks beyond malware to address the different ways a device can become exposed or contribute to a security incident.
Let's see how Veltar endpoint security software takes this approach further with capabilities that secure web browsing, peripheral devices, data movement, endpoint compliance, and network connectivity.
What is endpoint security?
Endpoint security is a comprehensive security approach designed to protect end-user devices, such as desktops, laptops, smartphones, and other endpoints, from a broad spectrum of cyber threats. Unlike a standalone security tool focused on a specific threat type, endpoint security brings multiple protective capabilities together to secure individual devices and the wider enterprise environment they connect to. It integrates real-time threat detection, data protection, web security, and vulnerability and compliance checks, allowing organizations to centrally identify and remediate risks across their environment.
What is traditional antivirus protection?
Traditional antivirus is localized security software designed to detect, prevent, and remove malware from individual devices. It primarily relies on scanning files and system activity against a database of known malicious patterns, called signatures, to identify and isolate or delete detected threats. While modern consumer antivirus products may include additional features such as web filters or basic firewalls, their core purpose remains focused on preventing malware infections on that specific device.
Endpoint security vs. traditional antivirus: What’s the difference?
While traditional antivirus acts as a localized shield against malicious code, endpoint security serves as a centralized defense system for the entire network. The table below highlights how their scope, management, and capabilities differ.
| Feature | Broader endpoint security | Antivirus |
|---|---|---|
| Core purpose | Applies controls across multiple endpoint risk surfaces | Detects, blocks, and remediates malware |
| Typical coverage | May include web, data, apps, configurations, peripherals, connectivity, and threat protection | Primarily malware prevention and remediation |
| Detection | Varies by security capability and product | May use signatures, heuristics, behavioral analysis, machine learning, and cloud intelligence |
| Management | Often centrally administered across endpoint fleets | Can also be centrally administered in enterprise deployments |
How Veltar extends endpoint security beyond antivirus
Veltar is Scalefusion’s endpoint security and compliance product, extending security controls to managed endpoints across web access, compliance, data movement, peripherals, apps, and secure connectivity. It extends endpoint security across the areas where devices access resources, connect to peripherals, handle data, maintain security configurations, and communicate over networks. Its capabilities address security gaps that sit outside the core malware detection model.
Endpoint-centric Secure Web Gateway
Web access introduces risks that are not limited to malicious files or downloads. A device may connect to a risky domain or an unauthorized cloud app even when no malware is detected. Veltar's endpoint-centric Secure Web Gateway (SWG) software filters web traffic directly on the device. IT teams can also restrict unauthorized domains from accessing apps. Since the filtering is enforced at the endpoint, the same web security policies can remain in effect even when the device connects from different networks.
I/O Device Access restrictions
USB drives, Bluetooth devices, and printers can increase the threat surface area of an endpoint through peripheral ports. They can also provide a channel for unauthorized data transfer. Veltar allows organizations to restrict access to these I/O devices based on their security requirements. This reduces exposure from removable media and connected peripherals while addressing a security layer beyond traditional antivirus that only detects malware after a connection has been established.
Endpoint DLP for data protection
Malware protection and data protection address different security concerns. Antivirus focuses on identifying and blocking malicious software, while Endpoint DLP focuses on how sensitive information moves from a device. Veltar helps organizations identify and restrict risky data transfers from managed endpoints. This extends endpoint protection to the data handled on the device, rather than focusing only on threats targeting the device itself.
Automated endpoint compliance
A device can be free of malware and still fall short of an organization's security requirements because of configuration drift. Veltar continuously checks endpoint configurations against industry standards and automates the remediation of deviations to the required baseline.
Our cross-platform compliance layer delivers targeted protection based on the operating system:
- Windows: Continuous auditing against CIS Level 1 benchmarks.
- Apple (macOS/iOS): Comprehensive checks suitable for various use cases with CIS Level 1 & Level 2 benchmarks.
- Android: Validation using Device Trust by Android Enterprise through device health and configuration signals.
Encrypted VPN tunneling
Endpoint protection also extends to the network connections devices use outside trusted corporate environments. Veltar's encrypted VPN tunneling helps secure traffic between endpoints and protected resources when devices connect over untrusted networks. This provides an additional layer for remote and distributed endpoints, complementing the security measures applied directly to the device.
Build a broader endpoint security strategy with Veltar
Traditional antivirus remains a key layer for detecting and preventing malware on endpoints. Modern endpoint environments involve a wider range of security considerations, including web access, peripheral devices, sensitive data, endpoint configurations, and network connectivity. These areas require security measures that address how devices are accessed, configured, connected, and used across the organization.
Veltar brings these layers into a centralized endpoint security approach. This allows security teams to address risks at different points in the endpoint lifecycle, from establishing a compliant configuration to securing everyday device activity and protecting data as it moves through the endpoint. The result is a security strategy that accounts for the broader ways endpoints can become exposed, while keeping malware protection as an essential part of the overall security stack.
