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Glossary Term

Unmanaged Endpoint Risk

Risk created by devices that sit outside sanctioned IT management, monitoring, or security tooling.

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What it is

These endpoints may include personal laptops, outdated servers, forgotten virtual machines, or contractor devices that still have access to company resources without proper oversight.

Why it matters

Unmanaged endpoints often lack security updates, monitoring, and enforcement, making them easy targets for attackers. They are frequently involved in breaches due to weak authentication, exposed services, or unpatched vulnerabilities.

How to reduce risk

  • Identify unknown or forgotten assets through continuous discovery
  • Restrict access to unmanaged devices
  • Enforce onboarding and offboarding processes
  • Monitor external exposure to detect endpoints reachable from the internet