EDR enables organizations to protect their endpoints from complex threats.
Every organization relies on endpoints to conduct routine business operations. Your laptops, desktops, mobile devices, and servers manage every interaction between users and network assets in your environment. EDR platforms continuously monitor these interactions to detect threats and respond to them effectively.
How does EDR work?
EDR platforms secure endpoint devices by monitoring their activities using on-device agents. These lightweight agents operate on the device, providing a combination of security services, like detecting malware and triggering alerts when attackers compromise device credentials.
EDR lets security teams accomplish four things through a single, unified platform:
- Detect unauthorized activity. If a threat actor gains access to one of your endpoint devices, it means your network perimeter defenses have already been breached. Like an antivirus, your EDR solution detects when endpoint devices are infected with malware. Unlike an antivirus, it can also detect credential-based attacks and remote desktop exploits.
- Isolate compromised devices. When an EDR platform detects malicious activity, it can automatically take steps to contain that threat. It may disconnect the infected endpoint from the rest of the network, or isolate the entire network segment itself. This limits the overall damage an attacker can do with a single compromised device.
- Investigate potential attacks. EDR solutions provide analysts with information about threats detected on endpoint devices. Once the device is safely isolated, analysts can find out what kind of threat they are dealing with, how it entered the network, and what vulnerabilities it may have exploited.
- Neutralize active threats. Security teams can use EDR tools to eliminate threats and mitigate cyberattack risks directly. Many EDR platforms include powerful automated response capabilities, allowing the team to deploy an organization-wide response in near-real time.
Not all endpoint security systems achieve these goals with the same features. For example, CrowdStrike Falcon® combines next-generation antivirus, behavioral monitoring, and threat hunting services in a unified software package. Unlike many EDR solutions, Falcon provides deep visibility and control into attacks that go beyond simple malware.
What Differentiates EDR from Other Security Technologies?
Most security technologies do not focus on endpoints the way EDR does. The ability to generate alerts and coordinate responses to threats in an endpoint-specific way is unique.
That makes the EDR approach different from solutions like Network Detection and Response (NDR) or Security Information and Event Management (SIEM). These solutions provide network-level visibility that spans the entire tech stack — including the EDR platform itself — so that analysts have a full understanding of the organization’s security posture.
Crucially, EDR is a valuable data source for SIEM and NDR workflows. When attackers compromise network assets, they leave trails of their activities on endpoint devices. Those endpoints have valuable data on attackers’ tactics, techniques, and procedures, and they need to share that telemetry with other security tools.
When combined with Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR), EDR provides a platform for quickly mitigating sophisticated threats using endpoint devices. For example, you may respond to a malware threat on one device by updating security policies across every device in your network at once.
EDR plays an important role in building a strong, multi-layered security posture. It combines well with cloud network security, comprehensive attack surface management, penetration testing, and vulnerability management. Organizations that invest in every security layer dramatically reduce their exposure to cyberattack risks.
What About Extended Detection and Response (XDR)?
Traditionally, EDR platforms do not draw additional data or context from outside the endpoint. Every endpoint’s EDR agent reports on what that particular endpoint is doing in isolation. XDR extends that core functionality across multiple data sources and security controls.
This allows XDR to cover a much broader range of network assets, like cloud infrastructure and web applications. At the same time, XDR platforms aggregate data from across the organization’s diverse fleet of assets and provide analysts with in-depth contextualized data on threats as they evolve.
This makes XDR a must-have for modern organizations that rely on public cloud infrastructure, distributed workloads, and remote employees. Traditional EDR solutions don’t provide the same kind of protection against sophisticated threats in these complex network environments.
Large enterprises were the first to adopt full XDR solutions, but they are now common among small and medium-sized businesses as well. As remote-first, cloud-enabled workflows become the norm, the need for XDR continues to grow.
EDR/XDR Implementation Challenges
Endpoint security is a vital part of your organization’s security posture. However, not all EDR/XDR implementations are successful. Many organizations run into serious obstacles when attempting to implement endpoint security solutions on their own:
- Specialist expertise is limited. Implementing a complex security technology like XDR requires deep expertise. Most in-house security teams don’t have the experience necessary to ensure a smooth deployment.
- Integrations with existing tools are necessary. Your existing tech stack must send comprehensive data to your endpoint security solution. If you leave out parts of your network, you may end up with blind spots that attackers can find and exploit.
- Visibility and control are non-negotiable. Many technology vendors require customers to entrust their data to them in ways that reduce visibility and control. This is a non-starter in today’s threat environment, where security leaders need to see everything that happens in their network and be able to take action whenever needed.
- Configuration risks. Highly automated SOAR-enabled XDR deployments can neutralize threats the moment they are detected, without human intervention. A misconfigured XDR playbook can easily lead to unexpected business disruptions and unpredictable results.
Enhance Endpoint Security with Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR)
Novawatch provides its customers with expert product knowledge and in-depth experience with leading XDR technologies. Rely on our team to gain visibility and control over your organization’s fleet of endpoint devices.
We provide comprehensive security solution packages that include fully managed XDR, file integrity monitoring, SOAR integration, and more. Enhance your security operations with scalable, high-quality expertise backed by industry-leading technology vendors like CrowdStrike. Speak to an expert to find out more.
