What Is XDR Security?

Extended detection and response, or XDR, is a cybersecurity tool that detects threats by integrating multiple services into one unified system. It improves and enhances security by broadening the scope beyond individual endpoints, looking at multiple layers of the technological sphere. Extended detection and response came about as an evolution of or endpoint detection and response, or EDR.

Unlike EDR, XDR goes beyond endpoint protection to analyze data in servers, clouds, networks, and more. Using machine learning and artificial intelligence, XDR products analyze data from multiple layers, then automates that data and turns it into detailed security alerts. Through capabilities like email security, access management, and machine learning, XDR catches threats that traditional detection and response products miss.

Advantages of XDR

When compared to other detection and response tools on the market, there’s no question that XDR offers the most sophisticated threat protection. There are many benefits that come with upgrading to extended detection and response.

The advantages of XDR include:

  • Analysis of several layers of data. XDR goes beyond endpoints to identify threats in multiple locations, including on servers and in the cloud.
  • Greater visibility. XDR operates on more layers and collects more data than EDR. This allows security analysts to see where the attack originated, how it got in, which systems or users were affected, and more.
  • Increased productivity. By automating data analysis, unifying multiple tools, and reducing the number of false alerts, XDR greatly improves operational efficiency.
  • Continuous monitoring. XDR offers 24/7 monitoring of your cybersecurity environment, a service made possible with artificial intelligence.
  • Greater control of your networks. Implementing XDR cybersecurity gives your IT administrators the ability to whitelist or blacklist more processes, giving you greater control over your network and who can access it.
  • Decreased downtime – or no downtime at all. Because it can identify and act against threats much more quickly than traditional detection and response tools, XDR reduces downtime in case of an attack.

How does XDR fit into a cybersecurity strategy?

Extended detection and response brings a wider-reaching and more proactive approach to cybersecurity. It provides analyses and data to IT teams much more efficiently, allowing administrators to take quicker action when faced with a threat.

XDR takes action at every stage of the attack process, from infiltration to execution to recovery. Because of its wide-reaching capabilities, XDR is suited to all types of IT infrastructure, whether in-house or in the cloud.

How do you know when it’s time to upgrade to XDR security software? If your company has been growing but you haven’t adjusted your cybersecurity solutions appropriately, it’s the perfect time to consider XDR. Additionally, if you have a well-staffed security team but they are feeling overwhelmed juggling several tools and services, XDR might be the solution you need. Extended detection and response simplifies and streamlines your entire security experience.

How does XDR compare to other detection and response tools?

There are many endpoint security solutions on the market. The acronyms you might see tossed around most frequently include:

  • MDR: Managed detection and response
  • EDR: Endpoint detection and response
  • XDR: Extended detection and response

These technologies were all designed with the intention of identifying and acting on threats, but they take different approaches. What are the defining characteristics of each of these tools? What is it about XDR that makes it stand above the rest? The answer lies in the scope.

 

XDR vs. MDR

While XDR and MDR are means of protecting an organization from online threats, they work in very different ways. Managed detection and response is less of a technological product and more of a service. MDR refers to the staff or technology assigned to improve the effectiveness of an organization’s cybersecurity. Think of MDR as a way of outsourcing your cybersecurity or IT needs.

Most MDR solutions include a form of endpoint detection, cloud security, network traffic analysis, and vulnerability management. However, these tools work alongside one another, rather than all together.

XDR, by contrast, is an actual product (rather than an assigned group contracted IT workers) that consolidates all your cybersecurity resources into one unified tool. XDR is superior in that it relies on machine learning and AI to provide faster, more comprehensive, and more efficient protection.

 

XDR vs. EDR

Both XDR and EDR are designed to detect and respond to cyberthreats. The main difference lies in the scope of the service. Endpoint detection and response only identifies threats found within the endpoints. EDR is valuable, but it is limited in this sense.

XDR security tools, by contrast, go beyond the individual endpoints within your networks. This makes it far more sophisticated because cybercriminals don’t tend to limit their attacks to just the endpoints. By looking at the entire security landscape – endpoints, servers, networks, and the cloud – XDR can protect your assets on a much larger scale.

When should you use an XDR solution?

Extended detection and response is the best answer for businesses that already have an established IT team but are feeling overwhelmed with the large number of cybersecurity tools in place. An XDR solution will consolidate all those services, providing a unified and more holistic approach to cybersecurity.

XDR security services are especially crucial for organizations that manage multiple users and devices, and those where some or all employees work remotely. There is no set list of sectors where XDR proves to be most effective. It’s a must in any industry where sensitive information is stored or exchanged, from the financial world to the healthcare industry. The right XDR solution can prevent hackers from stealing shopper information on an ecommerce site or stop criminals from encrypting files at a bank.

As time goes on and cyberthreats become more advanced, an increasing number of business owners are moving toward extended detection and response solutions. Will you be next?

Sophos Managed Threat Response, which includes Sophos XDR, offers the most advanced threat hunting and incident response tools. Learn more about Sophos MTR or get a free, no-obligation price quote today.