Modern digital age brought with it useful tools to keep ourselves and the systems we use safe. However, with an array of options it is always difficult to decipher which security software does what and when to apply it, or we even tend to confuse one with another. Acronyms don`t help much either.
Let us delve more to filter out the differences between the above mentioned, what they are, their functionality and optimum usage.
What is EDR?
EDR stands for Endpoint Detection and Response, and it is a cybersecurity technology that regularly tracks and collects data from endpoints, which could be servers, phones, desktops and laptops. The ultimate goal is to spot, inspect, and retort to cyber threats.
An EDR platform performs just like a foundational security layer, providing a more proactive approach and a deeper level of visibility, therefore it goes well beyond traditional antivirus software.
To enable security teams to swiftly detect danger and react it addresses suspicious activities at endpoints by combining real-time monitoring, advanced correlation, and data collection.
Usually a wide array of data is captured by software agents on endpoints, from user activities to processed executions.
An EDR tool can recognise suspicious patterns and kill a malicious process, isolate infected devices or quarantine files. This execution is carried out by employing machine learning, threat intelligence and behavioural analysis.
Deep investigations and manual remediations are other included options in the offing which come with EDR.
EDR Works Best Against These Types of Threats
EDR is explicitly crafted to battle cutting-edge and sophisticated threats which can bypass signature-based traditional security tools. It doesn`t only look for a specific malware signature, but tracks behaviour patterns and sequence of events, thus monitoring for telltale signs of an attack.
This EDR`s focus on anomalous behaviour permits it to detect new polymorphic ransomware, zero-day threats, and fileless malware attacks which execute entirely in memory. For example, EDR shuts down immediately any process trying to encrypt a large of number of files before it causes widespread damage.
Monitoring both process and user behaviour comes as a big plus for EDR as it can detect even insider threats, flagging suspicious activities within the network, such as a regular user trying to attain admin privileges, or a trusted employee suddenly accessing a substantial volume of sensitive data.
What is MDR?
Now, MDR builds on what EDR does, its full name is Managed Detection and Response. Rather than a technology, it is like a turnkey service which adds the human element and expertise to the mix.
Basically, via security analytics and threat intelligence, a third-party team of cybersecurity experts will not just react to alerts, but proactively hunts for threats within your network, looking for a threat which may have evaded automated defences.
The MDR Team investigates every alert, even a low-severity one, to determine if it`s real or a false positive. In doing so, they save precious time and resources to your internal team.
For an organisation that wants highly skilled experts to look after its assets, MD comes as an affordable solution. The service also includes suppression and removal.
MDR Works Best Against These Types of Threats
In a nutshell, MDR covers what EDR does, but it does provide a strengthened defence, a superior one, as it involves and includes the human element.
An MDR analyst can identify an attack which doesn`t have a known pattern or signature, solely from deep knowledge, intuition and recognition of the attacker`s intent.
Therefore, MDR is highly effective at eliminating sophisticated attacks thanks to its prime advantage – human expertise.
Experts learned from experiences such as combined strikes, like a fileless attack sent just after a phishing email was launched, or a lateral move where attackers try to penetrate other connected devices to escalate their access.
Human analysts are in a prime position to detect advanced persistent threats which might not trigger an automated alert, and come in the form of long-term and subtle attacks from within the network. An MDR Team can track, identify and find the root source of the intrusion.
What is XDR?
XDR stands for Extended Detection and Response, and basically it is an amalgamated security platform which automatically correlates and collects data from multiple security layers such as: network, email, cloud, endpoints, and identity systems.
It increases its capabilities of response and the visibility beyond just the endpoint security, thus maximising the principles of EDR, covering a full attack chain.
XDR integrate data sources like SIEM, IAM, and EDR, at a product level to form unified single interface for investigation. This way it eradicates security blind spots by joining seemingly unrelated events across the network, filtering them down to one highly contextual incident alert instead of multiple separate ones.
XDR is different when compared to MDR as it is built to break down silos between various data sources and security tools, while leveraging response actions which are either orchestrated (semi-automated) or automated.
XDR Works Best Against These Types of Threats
XDR is capable to provide an all-inclusive cross-domain assessment of an attack. This makes it ideal where we need to tackle threats that leverage multiple attack vectors where invaders try to pivot from one compromised segment or system to the other.
One clear example of this would be a phishing email, which leads to a compromised identity, consequently utilising that access to export cloud storage data.
XDR is also perfect to combat supply chain attacks, where a third-party software or vendor is compromised.
It provides visibility in the initial breach point, whether it all started from a malicious email, an endpoint vulnerability, or a web server exploit. XDR can pinpoint both the source and the extent of the attack by linking these events.
In Conclusion
Technology brought with it speed, accuracy, and productivity. Indeed in between work and leisure we can`t really do without our beloved tech for a prolonged period of time. However, we are aware that there are always dangers looming around the corner. Hackers are regularly polishing their skills and keeping abreast with progress, developing malware and viruses.
Thus, especially for organisations, it is imperative that we safeguard our digital data. Recognising the right software and tools is crucial, as the right choice and application is key to attain the maximum safety for a peace of mind.
