Endpoint / Extended Detection and Response (EDR/XDR)
EDR and XDR solutions use advanced detection methods such as behavioral analysis and machine learning to detect and respond to advanced threats.
What is EDR / XDR?
EDR is a security technology that focuses on monitoring and responding to security threats at the endpoint level. EDR solutions typically provide real-time monitoring and analysis of endpoint activity, allowing organizations to detect and respond to potential threats quickly.
XDR, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive security technology that extends EDR capabilities beyond the endpoint to encompass a wider range of data sources, such as network devices, cloud services, and applications. XDR solutions provide centralized visibility and analysis of security data across multiple data sources, allowing organizations to detect and respond to potential threats more efficiently.
Real-time threat detection
EDR and XDR solutions provide real-time monitoring and analysis of security data, allowing organizations to detect and respond to potential threats quickly.
Automation and orchestration
EDR and XDR solutions often include automation and orchestration capabilities, enabling IT teams to respond to potential threats more efficiently and effectively.
Comprehensive threat protection
EDR and XDR solutions provide a comprehensive approach to threat detection and response, encompassing a wide range of data sources and attack vectors.
Integration with other security solutions
EDR and XDR solutions can be integrated with other security solutions, such as SIEM systems, to provide a comprehensive security posture.
Why is Endpoint Detection and Response important?
The threat landscape is constantly changing, with new viruses, malware, and other cyber-threats appearing on the horizon daily. To meet this evolving threat, real-time collection and detection of possible anomalies becomes increasingly important.
These challenges are amplified by the increasingly mobile workforce. When employees are connecting remotely – which has been accelerated by the Covid pandemic, endpoints being used for access to an organization’s digital assets are often employee-owned. These BYOD devices may be shared by, and on networks shared by, the employee’s family and thus may be infected with malware without the knowledge of the employee.
By employing EDR, an organization can help ameliorate these challenges by:
- Identifying and blocking executables that could perform malicious acts
- Preventing USB devices from being used for unauthorized data access or downloading confidential or protected information
- Blocking fileless malware attack techniques that could infect endpoint devices
- Controlling the execution of scripts
- Preventing malicious email payloads from detonating their attachments
- Protecting from zero-day attacks, and preventing them from doing damage
EDR can also work with third-party threat intelligence services to improve the effectiveness of their endpoint security solutions, since their collective intelligence can increase the EDR’s ability to identify zero-day attacks and other multi-layered exploits. Many Endpoint Detection and Response solutions are now incorporating machine learning and artificial intelligence (ML/AI) to further automate the process by ‘learning’ the baseline behavior of the organization and using that information to interpret findings when attacks are detected.
How does Endpoint Detection and Response work?
Endpoint Detection and Response works by monitoring traffic on the network and endpoints, collecting information that could relate to security issues into a central database for later analysis, and facilitates reporting and investigation into threat events.
All EDR solutions are not created equal – the breadth of the activities they perform can vary from vendor to vendor. Key components of a typical EDR solution include:
Data Collection: EDR solutions collect data from endpoints, including information on system events, network traffic, and user activity.
Data Analysis: EDR solutions analyze this data using advanced techniques such as machine learning and behavioral analysis to detect potential security threats. EDR solutions compare this data to known attack patterns and use anomaly detection to identify potential threats.
Threat Detection and Response: EDR solutions provide real-time alerts when potential threats are detected. EDR solutions may also take automated actions to contain or mitigate the threat, such as isolating the affected endpoint or terminating the malicious process.
Investigation and Remediation: EDR solutions provide detailed information on the potential threat, including the root cause and any affected endpoints. This information enables security teams to investigate the incident and take appropriate remediation actions.
Difference between EDR and Antivirus
EDR solutions can be considered a superset of traditional antivirus programs, which are limited in scope as compared to newer EDR solutions. In this way antivirus is part of an EDR solution.
Antivirus performs basic functions like scanning, detection, and removal of viruses, where EDR performs many other functions. Beyond antivirus, EDR may contain several functions including monitoring, white/blacklisting, and others, all designed to provide a more comprehensive protection against known and emerging threats.
Since the digital network perimeter has expanded to be anywhere, traditional antivirus can no longer protect all the various devices used to access corporate resources. Endpoint Detection and Response systems are better suited to protect against advanced cyberattacks and EDR automated response helps ensure that IT teams are not overloaded trying to keep organizations safe from attacks.
This is increasingly important due to the rapid evolution of the threat landscape. Since bad actors are improving their attacks and utilizing advanced threats to gain entry to networks, simple signature-based antivirus will not detect zero-day or multi-layered threats in a timely manner, where EDR systems can detect all types of endpoint threats, providing a real-time response to those that are identified.