Extended detection and response (XDR) is a cybersecurity tool that identifies cyberthreats by integrating multiple security services into one system. It extends the scope of your security beyond your endpoints.
Which Is Better: Extended Detection and Response or Endpoint Detection and Response?
Unlike endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions, XDR solutions analyze data in your servers, clouds, networks, and other sources. XDR solutions use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to analyze security data across multiple layers and generate insights from it. They also have email security, access management, and other capabilities to help you catch cyberthreats that bypass EDR solutions.
Advantages of XDR
- Identifies threats in multiple locations, including on servers and in the cloud
- Works across more layers and collects more data than EDR so you can see where a cyberattack started, what systems or users it affects, and more
- Automates security data analysis
- Unifies multiple security tools
- Reduces the number of false-positive security alerts
- Offers 24/7/365 monitoring across your IT infrastructure
- Gives your IT administrators the ability to whitelist or blacklist your network security processes
- Reduces or eliminates downtime
How Does XDR Compare to Other Threat Detection and Response Tools?
XDR vs. MDR
Most managed detection and response (MDR) solutions combine endpoint threat detection, cloud security, network traffic analysis, and vulnerability management capabilities. They work alongside one another but do not communicate with one another.
XDR solutions consolidate all of your cybersecurity services into one tool. They rely on AI and ML to provide faster, more comprehensive, and more efficient protection than MDR solutions.
XDR vs. EDR
Both XDR and EDR solutions detect and respond to cyberthreats. Endpoint detection and response solutions identify threats across your endpoints. XDR solutions protect your endpoints, servers, networks, and cloud environments.
When Should You Use an XDR Solution?
An extended detection and response solution is a great option if you have an IT team that's overwhelmed with the cybersecurity tools it's currently using. An XDR solution consolidates all of your security tools.
In addition, XDR security services work well across multiple users and devices and remote workforces. You can use these services to securely store and share data in any sector. When you do, you can prevent hackers from stealing or encrypting your information.
Extended detection and response lets you collect and analyze security data and quickly respond to cyberthreats. It works at every stage of a cyberattack to protect your IT infrastructure.
Get Started with XDR from Sophos
Sophos Managed Detection and Response includes Sophos XDR. It offers threat hunting and incident response tools that automatically block 99.98% of threats.
Key capabilities of Sophos MDR include:
- Threat Monitoring and Response: Sophos MDR provides around-the-clock coverage backed by six global security operations centers (SOCs). We detect and respond to threats before they compromise your data or cause downtime.
- Incident Response: As soon as we identify a threat, the Sophos MDR operations team remotely disrupts, contains, and eliminates it.
- Security Reporting: We provide weekly and monthly reports that provide insights into security investigations, cyberthreats, and your security posture.
- Threat Hunting: Our security analysts uncover and eliminate more threats than security products can detect on their own. The Sophos MDR operations team also uses third-party vendor telemetry to conduct threat hunts and identify attacker behaviors that evade other cybersecurity tools.
- Threat Containment: The Sophos MDR operations team contains threats and prevents them from spreading.
To learn more about Sophos MDR and Sophos XDR, please get in touch with us today.