What does endpoint mean?
An endpoint is 
a remote computing device that communicates back and forth with a network to which it is connected. Examples of endpoints include: desktops, laptops, tablets, mobile devices, switches and other devices that communicate with the central network. An endpoint security strategy is essential now because every remote endpoint can be the entry point for an attack, and the number of endpoints is only increasing with the rapid pandemic-related shift to remote work.
With remote workers, virtualization, and the cloud, assets are not always connected directly to the corporate network. That’s why it’s more important than ever for a complete endpoint solution to be capable of detecting threats even when the device is off-network or offline. Without full visibility across on- and off-network devices, your defense will be riddled with blind spots and numerous opportunities for adversaries to fly under the radar.
What is Endpoint Security?
Endpoint security, or endpoint protection, is the cybersecurity approach to defending endpoints – from malicious activity. Endpoint security systems protect these endpoints on a network or in the cloud from cybersecurity threats. Endpoint security has evolved from traditional antivirus software to providing comprehensive protection from sophisticated malware and evolving zero-day threats.
What are endpoint attacks?
Endpoint attacks target user systems rather than their servers. These user systems are entry points to the network and include smartphones, computers, laptops and fixed-function devices. Endpoint attacks also affect the shared folders, network-attached storage (NAS) and hardware such as server systems.
Difference between Endpoint Security Software and Antivirus Software
It’s to be understood that endpoint security software happens to be basically different from the antivirus software. In the case of endpoint security software, it’s not an individual device that’s protected; it’s the network as a whole that is secured. The endpoints or endpoint devices, on the other hand, bear some amount of responsibility for their own security as well. This means that even when there is an endpoint protection software to safeguard a network, it’s always necessary also to protect endpoint devices like laptops, smartphones etc with endpoint security antivirus or antimalware tools.