# Endpoint

Any device, laptop, phone, server, that connects to a network and can be a target for attackers.

An **endpoint[↗](/endpoint)** is any end-user device that connects to a network: laptops and desktops, smartphones, tablets, servers, and increasingly, Internet of Things (IoT) devices. They sit at the "edge" of the network, where the user meets the system.

Every endpoint matters for security because each one is a potential entry point for attackers. An attack often starts from a flaw on an employee's computer, or a device compromised through phishing[↗](/phishing), and spreads into the network from there. As the number of devices grows, especially with remote work and personal device use, the surface that needs protecting grows with it.

That is why endpoint security is one of the cornerstones of modern defense: keeping devices updated, encrypting disks, enforcing strong authentication[↗](/authentication), and continuously monitoring and protecting devices with tools like EDR are essential. Keeping every endpoint secure and visible is the first step in preventing a problem on one device from spreading across the whole network.