As an MSP, you help clients set up everything from cloud platforms and network architecture to applications and access control. So, why would you use a security stack to cover only endpoints, leaving the rest of the infrastructure unguarded?

Here’s the inconvenient truth: Most MSPs think their endpoint detection and response (EDR) tool provides sufficient coverage, but it doesn’t. While industry studies and research have found that around 70% of all breaches originate from endpoints, they only account for an estimated one-third of all attack surfaces.

Relying solely on endpoint protection is like locking the front door while leaving the windows wide open.

EDR tools like Huntress, ConnectWise EDR and RocketCyber only protect the devices they’re installed on, leaving cloud infrastructure, network traffic, user identity, email and IoT devices unmonitored. Even worse, endpoint-only security tools create a false sense of security and the blind spots may lead to downtime, data loss, regulatory risk and loss of business.

So, what do you need to know to close MSP security gaps? Let’s explore what endpoint-only security protects, what it’s missing, the high cost of blind spots in an attack surface management strategy and how to achieve complete visibility.

What do endpoint-only security tools protect?

EDR does exactly what it says on the tin – monitor and secure individual devices like desktops, laptops and servers by identifying suspicious behaviors, isolating compromised endpoints and enabling rapid incident response. They can detect malware, persistent footholds and other device-level threats.

However, that’s where the protection ends.

What endpoint-only security tools miss

Modern attack surface management must go beyond endpoints to cover all the bases. Endpoint-only security tools create MSP security stack gaps, causing you to overlook the following:

• Cloud environments.
  Misconfigured cloud storage, exposed APIs and compromised SaaS credentials are prime targets yet invisible to EDR tools.

• Network traffic & lateral movement.
  Without network-level visibility, you can’t see or stop lateral movements within your network, allowing threat actors to escalate their breaches.

• Identity & access abuse.
  Endpoint tools can’t detect when a legitimate user logs in from an unusual location or accesses resources they shouldn’t.

• IoT devices & shadow IT.
  EDR can’t monitor printers, smart TVs, security cameras, etc. Yet, they have become common entry and pivot points in attacks.

• Email-based attacks.
  Most EDRs can only respond when the malicious payload hits the device instead of catching the threats earlier in the kill chain.

Many MSPs use EDR tools like Huntress, ConnectWise EDR (formerly Perch) and Kaseya RocketCyber to deliver endpoint protection. While these tools can effectively monitor and respond to endpoint threats, they can’t deliver whole-of-network coverage as an Open XDR platform can.

For example, Huntress doesn’t offer native network traffic analysis or full-cloud or network-wide coverage. ConnectWise EDR provides limited network visibility but leaves most cloud workloads unmonitored without additional tools. Meanwhile, Kaseya RocketCyber lacks full-spectrum visibility and doesn’t allow for continuous vulnerability management.

Although these vendors may offer broader security capabilities through integration or add-on products, the EDR modules don’t go beyond endpoints to provide comprehensive protection.

Read our comprehensive guide “True Open XDR vs. EDR: What MSPs Need to Know” to see why an open XDR solution is the right choice for MSPs.

Real-world risks of blind spots in attack surface management

A lack of whole-of-network coverage can create MSP security stack gaps, leading to breaches and consequences that erode client trust and damage your reputation:

Missed breach detection

Many attack methods don’t rely on endpoints. For example, an attacker may access a client’s Microsoft 365 account through credential stuffing without an EDR solution detecting anything, while data exfiltration could go unnoticed for weeks.

Unchecked lateral movement

An EDR solution can isolate malware at an endpoint, but it can’t detect attackers who have pivoted to a networked file server. You may contain the malware and call it a day, yet the threat actor is actually deep in your infrastructure, causing further damage.

Ransomware from an unmonitored IoT device

When a smart device connected to a client network is compromised, the attacker can use it as a launchpad for a ransomware attack. With only EDR, the breach flew under the radar because the device doesn’t run a supported OS or endpoint agent, until it’s too late.

Compliance violations and audit failures

You can’t confidently prove compliance with HIPAA, GDPR, CMMC, or other privacy regulations without complete visibility across cloud, identity and network layers. One blind spot can lead to failed audits, regulatory fines and lost contracts.

Client distrust and churn

Today’s clients are more security-savvy than ever. You need a competent answer when they ask, “How do I know we’re protected beyond the laptop?” Without transparent reporting across the entire environment, you may struggle to prove value, build trust, or justify spend.

The high cost of incomplete visibility across client environments

Without full-stack visibility, threats often go undetected until they cause extensive downtime and business disruptions, requiring costly incident response. If attackers exfiltrate data from cloud apps, shared drives, or SaaS platforms, you and your client may also face potential lawsuits, regulatory fines and breach disclosure obligations.

Using siloed security tools to piece together a “hopefully complete” picture often requires your team to manually correlate alerts, causing them to miss threats and delay containment. Moreover, the lack of cohesive and continuous monitoring across networks, users and systems can lead to failed audits and lost business.

Here’s the bottom line: Clients expect their MSPs to cover all the bases. When you can’t demonstrate how you secure their cloud accounts, networks and identities, leaving 70% of their attack surface on the table, you risk losing their confidence, renewals and referrals.