Is your hybrid work as protected as you think?

The hybrid working model has blurred the traditional limit of corporate networks. With users accessing critical resources from remote locations, unmanaged networks and personal devices, attack surfaces have increased exponentially. This demands a cutting-edge, comprehensive and adaptive approach to security.

A recent example in January 2025 makes this clear: a vulnerability in SimpleHelp - a remote access tool - let attackers compromise corporate endpoints and move laterally across the network. This incident underlines the point that a localised breach can have consequences on an organisational scale if effective protection is not in place at all levels.

According to the latest WatchGuard Internet Security Report, while the overall volume of malware on endpoints declined during the first quarter of 2025, the proliferation of new variants increased by 712% - many specifically targeting remote work environments via browsers, cloud applications and internet-exposed services.

Layered security for a modern hybrid environment

Hybrid work environments have highlighted the limitations of traditional solutions such as VPNs. Saturated connections, unsecure split tunneling configurations and the unnoticed use of personal cloud applications create security gaps that IT teams cannot always see, increasing the attack surface.

Effectively protecting the hybrid environment requires multi-layered security architecture that not only protects the endpoint, but also monitors network traffic and DNS connections, enforces Zero Trust policies and automatically responds to any anomalies. For this, the integration between WatchGuard EPDR and FireCloud offers a key solution.

The main risk vectors and how to mitigate them

1. Remote endpoints: first line of defence

Endpoints outside the corporate limit - laptops, tablets and smartphones - are the most frequent targets of attacks such as ransomware, fileless malware, Trojans and advanced evasion techniques.

WatchGuard EPDR (Endpoint Protection, Detection and Response) strengthens device security with continuous monitoring and advanced detection and response capabilities (EDR with behavioural analysis and artificial intelligence) that go beyond traditional endpoint protection.

• Detect and block unknown or suspicious malicious processes in real time.
• Contain active threats automatically, without user intervention.
• Provide full traceability of incidents to speed up investigation.

This reduces the attack surface from the device, even operating in disconnected and non-visible network environments.

A differentiating factor is that WatchGuard EPDR includes two managed services as standard: Zero-Trust Application Service and Threat Hunting Service. With them, every unknown application is classified before being run and a team of experts continuously analyses signals and indicators of attack, raising the level of protection without increasing the operational burden on the organisation.

2. Unsecured connections: the weakest link

Employees working from home or public spaces rely on unmanaged Wi-Fi connections that are easily vulnerable to attacks such as Evil Twin, Rogue Access Points and DNS spoofing. This is where WatchGuard FireCloud complements the EPDR by providing cloud-based network security.

FireCloud acts as a secure DNS gateway, intercepting and analysing domain name resolution requests before they reach the device. This enables:

• Enforcing centralised security policies from the cloud, regardless of location.
• Blocking access to malicious domains, phishing and C2 (Command & Control).
• Preventing initial contact with attack infrastructure, even if the device is already compromised.

But more than that, FireCloud Internet Access goes beyond a simple DNS gateway: it combines Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS) and Secure Web Gateway (SWG) to inspect and block malicious traffic before it reaches the endpoint. Thanks to its network of globally distributed Points of Presence (PoPs), it guarantees a fast and uniform experience for all users, no matter where they connect from. 

Together, EPDR and FireCloud provide protection in both directions: from the endpoint to the network, and from the network to the endpoint.

3. Unauthorised applications and insider threats

Risks don’t always come from outside. Installing unapproved applications, using personal cloud services and sharing credentials remain common sources of security breaches.

The EPDR + FireCloud integration facilitates a continuous Zero Trust policy by enabling:

• Constant monitoring of user activity, with alerts for abnormal behaviour.
• Enforcement of strict rules on conditional access to corporate services and resources.
• Logical segmentation to prevent lateral movements in case of compromise.

This level of granular control enables detection and mitigation of suspicious activity even if it originates from legitimate accounts or corporate devices.

Conclusion: Unified security for a breach-free hybrid environment

A modern strategy cannot rely on disconnected solutions. The WatchGuard EPDR and FireCloud integration combines cutting-edge endpoint protection with DNS security in the cloud, providing:

• Centralised visibility of users, devices and threats.
• Automated response and reduction of operational burden.
• Unified management from WatchGuard Cloud, adaptable to hybrid environments.

This integrated architecture enables protection from endpoint behaviour to network traffic, strengthening defence, accelerating detection and ensuring business continuity.

The combination of FireCloud Internet Access and EPDR not only provides comprehensive protection in the cloud and on the endpoint, but also grows with the organisation. WatchGuard Cloud's cloud-native architecture allows for frictionless scaling, agile incorporation of new users and consistent security without requiring additional hardware.

Ultimately, WatchGuard EPDR and FireCloud deliver integrated defence that is ready for the present and future of hybrid working.

Find out more about how to protect your hybrid environment with EPDR + FireCloud: Download eBook