Everyone is talking about cybersecurity these days. That’s because it seems like there’s constantly a new breach making the news. Oftentimes, compromised endpoints—devices connected to enterprise networks—are at the center of these problems. Let’s look at how XDR and EDR enhance endpoint security.
What Is XDR?
Before diving into how XDR and EDR can enhance endpoint security, it’s worth taking some time to better understand each of these security solutions. Extended detection and response (XDR) is a service-based platform that bundles several network security measure and tools into one offering. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) is often included in premier versions of XDR. These are a few of the things you’ll find in a trustworthy XDR:
Network detection and response (NDR) – NDR provides integrated network security by using AI-powered tools and utilizing the SD-WAN virtual network to detect abnormalities.
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) – Dealing specifically with endpoints, EDR tracks and logs endpoint activity to determine if there’s a potential threat. This is a critical task, as it’s estimated 70 percent of successful breaches originate at an endpoint device. We’ll look more closely at the importance of endpoint security soon.
Managed detection and response (MDR) – Bringing a third-party security operations center (SOC), as well as a host of powerful cybersecurity tools, MDR is a service-based security team that’s always watching out for you.
With all these features bundled into one, it’s no wonder why XDR is such a desirable security platform. The best XDR solutions will also come with the added benefit of cross-domain intelligence, which helps spot threats before they’re able to laterally move across networks toward their end goal. The addition of cross-domain intelligence makes XDR a highly capable, holistic security offering.
What Is EDR?
As already mentioned, EDR is all about endpoint security. By deploying endpoint detection and response solutions, firms not only see the status and activity of network endpoints, it enables rapid response to any perceived threats.
EDR has come into focus over the past few years for a few reasons. We already know that the majority of completed breaches begin at a network endpoint. But this isn’t the only factor driving greater adoption of EDR. The Coronavirus pandemic lead to IT departments having to scramble to find remote networking solutions at a whole new scale. This, along with bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, have also driven a greater need for endpoint security.
Now that you know the basics behind XDR and EDR, let’s see how they actually enhance endpoint security.
How Do XDR and EDR Enhance Endpoint Security?
It’s easy to see why enterprises choose XDR, and specially EDR, for their endpoint security needs. But what exactly do these two bring to the table? These are a few ways XDR an EDR improve endpoint security:
Real-time response – You don’t have time to sit around and ponder all the possibilities of the universe when dealing with a live threat. A rapid response can make the difference between a fast and effective triage versus a prolonged containment—or worst, full-on security breach. By utilizing XDR and EDR organizations can spot attacks sooner and stop them earlier in the kill chain.
Continual improvement – Thanks to AI-powered tools and deep analysis, XDR and EDR allow for constant improvement when it comes to endpoint security. By learning the patterns and nuances of your network, next-gen tools can tell right away when something’s not right.
Industry-leading experts – In today’s world, you can’t afford to have the B-Team protecting your networks. They’re one of the most critical assets of a modern enterprise. With XDR and EDR solutions, firms will have high-level engineers ready to step in whenever necessary. It would be impossible for many organizations to afford the talent available to them through these service-based offerings.
No matter the size, scale, or industry of an enterprise, network security needs to be a top priority. With XDR and EDR, it’s possible to vastly improve endpoint security, which is vital for the entire network.
