What is the purpose of endpoint protection platforms (EPP)?

The primary purpose of endpoint protection platforms (EPP) is to secure endpoints from threats. This involves providing comprehensive security measures to prevent malware, ransomware, and various other cyber threats from compromising devices such as desktops, laptops, and servers. EPP solutions typically include features such as antivirus, anti-malware, intrusion prevention, and data loss prevention, all designed to ensure that endpoint devices are safeguarded against potential attacks that exploit vulnerabilities.

In contrast, monitoring external network traffic is typically the function of network security solutions, which focus on the data flow in and out of the network rather than protecting the individual devices themselves. Preventing physical theft of devices falls under physical security measures rather than endpoint security specifically, and while managing software updates is a crucial IT task, it is not the primary function of EPP. Instead, EPP may include features that manage certain aspects of software, but their main goal is the protection of endpoints against various cybersecurity threats.