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Start with inventory and detection: knowing what endpoints exist and how quickly you detect threats is the most important work an MSP can do in 2025.
Endpoint security illustration (click to view)
BYOD is widespread and increases attack surface because personal devices often lack enterprise controls. Employees delay updates, store work credentials, and run unsanctioned apps that expose data. MSPs should prioritize continuous discovery, posture checks, and baseline controls like encryption, EDR, and enforced updates. Pair technical controls with concise BYOD policies and user training to reduce risky behavior. Inventory and gating access based on posture dramatically lower exposure.
Shadow IT can hide a large portion of app usage and related spend, creating blind spots for security and compliance. Unsanctioned SaaS increases leakage risk and can cause duplicated vendor contracts. MSPs should deploy discovery tools, enforce a simple approval workflow, and offer convenient, sanctioned alternatives. Regular audits and a fast procurement path for tools reduce the incentive for shadow usage. Governance and visibility together lower both risk and costs.
A significant portion of ransomware campaigns begin on unmanaged or unpatched endpoints that provide easy initial access. Attackers exploit outdated software and poorly configured systems to establish footholds. MSPs must enforce robust patching, deploy EDR broadly, and segment networks to limit lateral movement. Integrating threat telemetry with incident response shortens containment time. Reliable backups and recovery playbooks are essential for resilience.
Delays are common; users frequently postpone updates, especially on personal devices, leaving known vulnerabilities exposed. To mitigate this, MSPs should automate patching where possible, use phased rollouts to reduce disruption, and monitor compliance centrally. Visibility into lagging devices helps prioritize remediation and escalation. Combining automation with clear communication reduces user resistance to patches.
A notable share of organizations either lack BYOD rules or fail to enforce them consistently, leading to ad-hoc, risky behavior. Without clear expectations, employees may store sensitive data insecurely or use weak authentication. MSPs can help craft short, enforceable policies requiring basics like screen locks, encryption, and approved apps. Enforce technical controls and audit compliance frequently. Education and simple rules improve adherence.
Storing passwords or credentials on personal phones is a frequent compromise vector; lost or infected devices can lead to lateral attacks. MSPs should require password managers and enforce multi-factor authentication across critical accounts to greatly reduce this risk. Restrict privileged access from unmanaged devices and monitor for unusual login patterns. Regular credential hygiene and rotation policies further reduce long-term exposure.
Many enterprises rely on multiple vendors for managing different device types, which increases complexity and introduces visibility gaps. Using several tools—sometimes up to five—makes consistent policy enforcement harder and slows incident response. MSPs should rationalize tooling where possible and build integrations to maintain central visibility. Clear runbooks and automation reduce manual handoffs. Simplifying the stack lowers costs and improves response times.
Unclassified sensitive files on endpoints are frequent sources of data leaks and compliance failures. Without discovery and DLP, these exposures go unnoticed. MSPs should deploy endpoint discovery and DLP that scan both devices and cloud storage for sensitive patterns, then automate quarantines and owner notifications. Mapping data owners and defining remediation steps speeds cleanup. These controls reduce leakage risk and ease audits.
Continuous inventory is foundational; if you don’t know what’s on the network, you can’t secure it effectively. Forgotten corporate laptops and contractor devices are common attack starting points. MSPs should implement ongoing discovery and asset tagging so every endpoint is visible in management consoles. Prioritize remediation with risk scoring to focus on highest-exposure devices. Accurate records also improve licensing and lifecycle planning.
Track mean time to detect (MTTD), mean time to remediate (MTTR), posture scores, unmanaged device counts, patch compliance, and shadow IT findings—these link security activity to client outcomes. Add incident counts and user behavior trends to contextualize risk. Presenting these metrics alongside reduced downtime or cost avoids abstract conversations and shows clear ROI. Regular dashboards and concise reports keep clients informed and justify investments.
Posture checks prevent non-compliant devices from accessing sensitive resources by enforcing requirements like encryption and current patch levels. This blocks compromised endpoints and stops lateral movement before it starts. MSPs should automate posture gating and remediation workflows where possible to minimize user friction. Continuous monitoring also supplies compliance evidence and improves detection signals. It’s an effective way to raise baseline security without blocking productivity.
After visibility, prioritize unmanaged endpoints, patch critical vulnerabilities, enforce MFA, and deploy EDR across the fleet. Integrate telemetry into centralized incident workflows and consolidate tooling to reduce blind spots. Implement posture checks, run DLP scans, and verify backups and recovery playbooks with tabletop exercises. These actions convert insight into measurable risk reduction and operational resilience.
For practical endpoint checks and tools MSPs can use today, visit Palisade.
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