What Is Endpoint Security? A Guide for UK SMEs

What Is Endpoint Security?

Endpoint security refers to the tools and practices used to protect devices — or endpoints — that connect to a business network or access corporate data. Any device capable of connecting to company systems represents a potential entry point for attackers, and endpoint security is the set of controls applied directly to those devices to detect and prevent threats.

As workforces have become more distributed and as cloud services have replaced on-premises infrastructure, the device itself has become the primary security boundary. Effective endpoint security must travel with the device — protecting it whether it is in the office, at home, or at a client site.

What Counts as an Endpoint?

An endpoint is any device that connects to a business network or cloud service. This includes:

• Laptops and desktop computers (Windows, macOS)
• Mobile phones and tablets (iOS, Android) — including personal devices used for work
• Servers — both on-premises and cloud-hosted virtual machines
• Network-attached storage (NAS) devices
• Point-of-sale terminals and industrial control systems in some sectors

For most UK SMEs, the primary concern is laptops, desktops, and mobile devices — but any device with access to corporate data should be considered within scope for endpoint security.

Traditional Antivirus vs Modern EDR

Traditional Antivirus

Traditional antivirus software works by scanning files and comparing them against a database of known malicious signatures. If a file matches a known threat, it is quarantined or deleted. This approach is effective against known malware but provides no protection against threats that have never been seen before — a significant limitation in an environment where attackers routinely create new malware variants specifically to evade signature-based detection.

Modern EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response)

EDR takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of relying solely on known signatures, EDR continuously monitors endpoint behaviour — watching process activity, network connections, file modifications, and user behaviour in real time. It uses machine learning and behavioural analytics to detect patterns consistent with malicious activity, regardless of whether the specific malware has been seen before.

When EDR detects a threat, it can automatically isolate the affected device from the network, terminate malicious processes, roll back file changes, and alert the security team. This combination of detection and active response is why EDR has replaced traditional antivirus as the standard for business endpoint protection.

How AI-Based Detection Works

Modern EDR platforms — including Microsoft Defender for Business and Huntress — use machine learning models trained on billions of endpoint events. These models establish a baseline of normal behaviour for each device and user, and flag deviations that match known attack patterns. AI-based detection can identify never-before-seen malware variants, fileless attacks (which operate entirely in memory without writing files to disk), and living-off-the-land attacks that use legitimate system tools for malicious purposes.

Microsoft Defender for Business vs Huntress

For UK SMEs on Microsoft 365, Microsoft Defender for Business is the primary endpoint protection solution. It provides EDR capability, automated investigation and response, attack surface reduction rules, and network protection — all managed through the Microsoft 365 Defender portal. Huntress is a managed EDR layer that can be deployed on top of Microsoft Defender, adding 24/7 human-led threat hunting and incident response by a team of dedicated security analysts. AMVIA deploys both as part of its managed endpoint security service, combining the Microsoft platform with Huntress for businesses that need around-the-clock human oversight.

24/7 SOC Monitoring

EDR software detects threats — but someone must investigate and respond to the alerts it generates. A Security Operations Centre (SOC) provides continuous human monitoring of endpoint alerts, triaging events, investigating genuine threats, and containing incidents. For SMEs without in-house security staff, a managed EDR service with 24/7 SOC coverage ensures that threats are responded to at any hour, not just during business hours when someone happens to check the dashboard.

Cost of Managed EDR

Managed endpoint detection and response for UK SMEs typically costs between £5 and £15 per device per month depending on the provider, the scope of coverage, and whether 24/7 SOC monitoring is included. AMVIA provides managed EDR with SOC coverage as part of its managed cybersecurity service, with pricing that scales with business size and requirements.

How AMVIA Secures Endpoints for UK SMEs

AMVIA deploys and manages Microsoft Defender for Business on all client endpoints, supplemented with Huntress for 24/7 threat hunting and human-led response. We manage patching, monitor alerts, investigate incidents, and provide monthly reporting on endpoint security status. Our Sheffield-based team is available around the clock to respond to genuine threats — giving your business enterprise-grade endpoint protection at a predictable monthly cost.