Cybersecurity tools like Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and Extended Detection and Response (XDR) are made to assist organizations in detecting and preventing cyber threats. Beyond the capabilities of conventional antivirus and firewall solutions, these technologies offer sophisticated threat detection and response capabilities.
EDR is a security product that specializes in identifying and responding to endpoint-level threats. Every endpoint (such as a laptop, desktop, or server) in an organization’s network must have an agent installed on it. This agent gathers data on endpoint activities and transfers it to a centralized management interface for analysis to look for indicators of malicious activity. EDR is capable of detecting a variety of threats, such as malware, ransomware, and other advanced persistent threats (APTs).
On the other hand, XDR is a more recent and advanced security solution that strengthens EDR’s capabilities. In addition to endpoint-focused detection and response, it also combines network and cloud-based security features. By evaluating data from many sources and identifying dangers that may exist across various environments, XDR is intended to give a more detailed picture of an organization’s security posture. This makes it possible for a more coordinated and effective response to security incidents.
Both EDR and XDR technologies are critical for modern cybersecurity, particularly in the face of increasing cyber threats and the growing complexity of enterprise networks. They provide security teams with more overview and visibility over their networks, allowing them to quickly identify and address problems before they can do any harm. As a result, these technologies are now a crucial component of any comprehensive cybersecurity plan.
Differences
In summary, the main differences between EDR and XDR are:
- EDR is focused on endpoint protection, while XDR takes a broader approach by integrating security across various platforms and environments.
- EDR uses behavior analysis engines to identify unknown threats, while XDR encompasses endpoint and network rules, as well as behavior-based detection engines.
- EDR provides kill chain analysis, traffic filtering, and event response automation, while XDR offers end-to-end tracing and enables security management across different environments and scalable solutions.
- EDR has limited visibility into threats and can result in missed detections, increased false positives, and longer investigation times. XDR extends protection beyond endpoint data to any data source, automates many EDR functions, and provides out-of-the-box threat intelligence and analytics capabilities.
- XDR fills information gaps and brings clarity into every phase of an attack, starting from endpoint to payload, while EDR offers proactive endpoint security to help address gaps and blind spots.
Antivirus and EDR/XDR
EDR/XDR and antivirus technologies take different approaches to cybersecurity. While EDR/XDR systems provide more detailed threat detection and response capabilities, antivirus solutions primarily focus on detecting and blocking known malware threats with signature-based detection.
An antivirus program may provide enough protection against known threats in a home setup. EDR/XDR solutions are becoming increasingly essential for defending against more advanced attacks, however, as remote work gets more popular and home networks are utilized for professional purposes.
Traditional antivirus programs might not be able to fully protect against sophisticated attacks in a corporate environment. More visibility and control over endpoints, networks, and cloud environments are provided by EDR/XDR systems, which is essential for spotting and reacting to complex cyberattacks.
Their capacity to recognize and react to unknown threats is one of the key differences between antivirus solutions and EDR/XDR solutions. Antivirus programs are less effective against new or undiscovered threats since they rely on signature-based detection. On the other side, EDR/XDR systems use behavior-based detection and machine learning to identify and address previously unknown threats.
The level of automation and integration with other security technologies is another difference. EDR/XDR systems offer increased automation and integration, which helps speed up security processes and decrease reaction times.
Overall, EDR/XDR systems offer more complex threat detection and response capabilities, making them necessary for defending against sophisticated cyber-attacks in both home and company contexts, even if antivirus solutions are still a crucial component of a cybersecurity strategy.
Available Tools
SentinelOne Singularity
Singularity uses behavioral AI and next-gen antivirus software to identify both known and unknown threats on all endpoints inside an organization. The platform offers automated repair procedures that administrators may specify when certain security alerts are generated, minimizing the need for scripting and speeding up the threat mitigation process. Moreover, network control, USB device control, Bluetooth device control, and protection for IoT devices are all included in the whole Singlularity package. Due to Singularity’s cloud-based architecture, deployment and scalability are made simple. SentinelOne’s solution is loved for its user-friendly administration and interface as well as the robust automation of its response features.
Crowdstrike Falcon Insight
Crowdstrike maps security alerts in accordance with the MITRE ATT&CK architecture, which the platform claims reduces alert fatigue by 90%. Attacked endpoints are separated from the rest of the network to stop them from spreading, and security professionals may use built-in remote execution commands to mitigate threats from any location. The Crowdstrike system is cloud-deployed, supports Windows, Windows Server, macOS, and Linux endpoints, and can expand with your organization. Moreover, it provides a variety of API-based connectors with other security solutions that allow for increased cross-platform insight into threats without the need for manual threat data synchronization between management systems. For mid- to large-sized enterprises seeking effective security that’s simple to implement and manage, this platform is advised as a solid EDR solution.
Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
This platform provides root cause analysis, allowing security experts to figure out how a threat entered the network and grew so they can stop similar attacks from happening in the future. In addition to its EDR features, Cortex XDR provides a host firewall, disk encryption, next-generation antivirus, and USB device management for further attack security. Palo Alto Cortex XDR is available for both cloud and on-premises deployment, and it works smoothly with all of Palo Alto’s other security solutions, including their firewall. However, it only supports a small number of other manufacturers’ security products.
Cisco Secure Endpoint
Cisco Secure Endpoint separates an infected endpoint from the rest of the network when a problem is discovered, enabling security teams to address the problem before it spreads to other devices. According to Cisco, these procedures allow Secure Endpoint to cut down recovery time by up to 85%. Due to Cisco Secure Endpoint’s cloud deployment and easy integration with other Cisco products, the initial configuration is straightforward. Customers praise the platform for its quick problem resolution and the high levels of insight Cisco gives them into each endpoint’s security. It is recommended for medium-sized to large-sized businesses to use Cisco Secure Endpoint.
Source
https://expertinsights.com/insights/the-top-10-endpoint-detection-and-response-solutions/