Extended Detection and Response, or XDR, has changed the cybersecurity landscape as we know it and continues to enhance security operations for modern organizations. Traditional security solutions like antivirus software and firewalls are helpful, but they no longer offer enough protection against the complex and advanced attacks that businesses face today. XDR solutions are designed to combat these threats and enable enterprises to get comprehensive control over their security efforts.
Understanding XDR
Extended Detection and Response (XDR) is a modern threat detection and response system that collects and automatically correlates threats across multiple security platforms under one security operations center (SOC). Most businesses today use several platforms to function, including email, endpoints and devices, servers, networks, and the cloud. Leaving any of these platforms vulnerable to cybercriminals or cyberattacks puts the entire organization at risk, which is why the holistic approach of XDR is becoming a standard security practice to reduce the impact and severity of an attack. It can:
- Identify stealthy and sophisticated threats quickly
- Track threats across any source in your organization
- Boost the productivity of those using XDR-protected technology
- Improve the investigation process when breaches do occur
XDR represents a significant evolution in threat detection and response capabilities. It goes beyond traditional endpoint protection to provide a comprehensive view of an organization’s entire digital environment, including networks, endpoints, cloud infrastructure, and applications.
By correlating data from multiple sources and applying advanced analytics and automation, XDR enables organizations to detect and respond to threats more effectively. Automation, AI, and other analysis tools can identify patterns, detect anomalies, hunt threats, and ultimately protect your digital assets across the board.
Components of XDR
One of the key strengths of XDR is its ability to provide context and visibility across different security tools and data sources. It aggregates and analyzes data from various security solutions, such as endpoint detection and response (EDR), network detection and response (NDR), and security information and event management (SIEM) systems.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
EDR stands for Endpoint Detection and Response and focuses on threats posed to enterprise endpoints such as laptops, phones, servers, or other access points. As the XDR predecessor, EDR serves as a fundamental security feature that detects and remediates malware issues for endpoints specifically. XDR is built upon EDR but instead of just focusing on endpoints, it takes that protection and monitoring and extends it to other security solutions like networks, cloud workloads, servers, emails, and more.
Network Detection and Response (NDR)
Network Detection and Response (NDR) is a cybersecurity approach that focuses on detecting and responding to threats within computer networks. It is designed to provide organizations with real-time visibility into network traffic, detect malicious activities, and enable quick incident response. NDR solutions increase network visibility, perform threat detection analyses, leverage rapid incident response practices, and use forensics and investigation techniques to secure a network.
Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)
Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) refers to a set of tools, practices, and processes that help organizations ensure the security and compliance of their cloud environments. As more businesses adopt cloud services for their operations, maintaining a strong security posture becomes crucial to protect sensitive data, prevent misconfigurations, and mitigate risks associated with cloud deployments. This is a huge component of XDR that sets it apart from previous security platforms.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) is a solution that combines security information management (SIM) and security event management (SEM) to provide organizations with real-time visibility into their IT infrastructure and detect security incidents. By collecting and analyzing log data from various sources, like network devices, servers, applications, and security appliances, SIEM systems centralize all data to identify patterns and flag anomalies.
Benefits of XDR security
Enhanced threat detection capabilities
Because XDR leverages the abilities of EDR, NDR, and SIEM with a much broader scope, there are many layers of protection in your security infrastructure. XDR platforms can detect the most relevant or dangerous threats first and help analysts prioritize the most pressing threats. Specialists can quickly hunt and eliminate security threats across many domains from one unified platform.
Streamlined incident response process
By automating repetitive and manual tasks, XDR reduces response time, minimizes the risk of human error, and enables security teams to focus on critical aspects of incident investigation and remediation.
Improved visibility across the entire security ecosystem
XDR provides organizations with improved visibility across their entire security ecosystem, including endpoints, networks, cloud infrastructure, and applications. By aggregating and correlating data from different sources, XDR offers a unified view of security incidents, enabling security teams to have a comprehensive understanding of the threat landscape.
Implementing XDR
You want to find and invest in an XDR platform that actually suits the needs of your organization. To successfully integrate XDR into your existing security infrastructure and reap all of the benefits that XDR has to offer, we recommend doing the following:
- Assess security needs. What does your organization’s current security posture look like? Where are there gaps, both in technology and expertise? How complex is your IT environment? Knowing what your organization needs can help you understand how XDR can help.
- Consider cloud-native platforms. A cloud-native XDR platform is a solution that can grow with your company since it can provide the best visibility and detection for your business at scale. From emails to networks to other cloud-based systems, your XDR platform should be able to do it all.
- Think about current systems. Your XDR system needs to be able to communicate with your current IT tools and infrastructure so that data can still be accurately exchanged.
- Conduct ongoing maintenance and support. Maintain a strong partnership with the XDR vendor and stay current with software updates, patches, and new releases. This way, your XDR security functions will be firing on all cylinders at all times.
- Provide training and skill development. Provide comprehensive training to your security operations team on how to effectively use the XDR solution. Train them on interpreting alerts, investigating incidents, utilizing advanced analytics, and leveraging automation capabilities.
XDR with Ontinue
Ontinue ION is an XDR service that is perfect for Microsoft customers that need proactive cybersecurity solutions for their organizations. With security professionals that can fully understand your organization’s needs, risks, and gaps in security, Ontinue ION uses both their expertise and AI-driven automation to protect your assets. Contact our experts today and schedule a demo for Ontinue ION: MXDR Platform!
FAQs
What is the difference between EDR and XDR?
EDR, also known as Endpoint Detection and Response, came before XDR and monitors end-user devices like laptops or phones for malware. XDR is a modern version of EDR that uses EDR capabilities for more than business endpoints, like servers, emails, networks, etc.
What is the difference between XDR and SIEM?
SIEM is a cybersecurity solution that focuses on collecting, aggregating, and analyzing log data from different sources in an IT infrastructure, such as network devices, servers, and other sources. XDR is a broader cybersecurity solution that integrates data from multiple security solutions, including SIEM, EDR, NTA, and others, giving businesses a more comprehensive security strategy.
What is XDR vs MDR?
Managed Detection and Response is like EDR except the platform is managed by a third party, meaning MDR is a service businesses can purchase to offload some of their security efforts. XDR is a more advanced and holistic platform of threat and detection and includes EDR. It can also be a managed service, which is often referred to as MXDR.