Cyber-security attacks hit business organizations when they least expect. This global problem isn’t going soon as long as there is technology. These attacks may include everything from distributed DDos (denial-of-service) and data loss to credential theft, BEC (business email compromise), and phishing scams.
With every kind of attack taking advantage of different vulnerabilities, protecting your business organizations from them can seem like a very overwhelming thing. But EDR (endpoint detection and response) is a strong cyber-security solution, which proactively protects the network against these threats.
What is EDR?
EDR technology is a comprehensive solution that helps to manage all the risks associated with endpoints. With remote work gaining more popularity, the amount of endpoints has increased. This has also increased cyber-security threats.
As a matter of fact, more than 55% of IT experts regard their organizations as ineffective as their endpoint solutions for security are not good enough when it comes to detecting more advanced attacks.
This way, traditional platforms for security are more vulnerable and unable to meet some companies’ demands.
How It Works
EDR solutions are designed to record events and activities on all workloads and endpoints. This offers security experts the kind of visibility they require to uncover all the incidents which can be invisible.
An EDR technology or tool also provides advanced threat investigation, response abilities, and detection. It may also provide solutions like suspicious activity validation, malicious activity containment/detection, threat hunting, and data search.
Basic EDR Components
EDR solutions provide a comprehensive hub for endpoint data analysis, collection, and correlation. They are also a hub for coordinating responses and alerts to all immediate threats. Ideally, they have three key components. These include the following:
- Analysis and forensics – An EDR system incorporates real-time analytics to rapidly diagnose attacks that don’t fit pre-configured rules. The system also uses forensic tools for conducting post-mortem analysis or threat hunting of attacks.
- Automated response – In this, pre-configured rules in EDR solutions can know when incoming data shows a known kind of security breach. Afterward, they trigger a response, like logging off end users or sending them an alert.
- Endpoint data collection agent – A software agent conducts endpoint monitoring as well as collects data, like the volume of activities, data transfers, processes, and connections.
Why Incorporate EDR Tools
When something wrong happens, you will be notified, presented with data, and provided with options. These options may include remediating, quarantining threats, or isolating endpoints.
In addition, EDR tools use machine learning and advanced algorithms to detect all malicious activities on an endpoint device. This may involve identifying unknown and known malware and other suspicious behaviors, which could be an indication of an attack.
On top of that, EDR solutions provide incident response abilities, enabling your security team to remediate and contain threats. This may also include the capability of isolating all the infected devices, containing threats, and taking other steps to reduce the impacts of threats. Other benefits of incorporating EDR tools include compliance and real-time visibility.
Key Features a Good EDR Solution Must Have
Despite the incorporation of cloud data storage and migration in the digital realm, many business organizations still keep sensitive and important data on their endpoint devices. This, in the end, makes initial access brokers, as well as other attackers, a target with their cyber-attack tools.
Using the right EDR tools is important for protecting a company’s mission-important assets and achieving continuity.
Most decision-makers need tools, which can prevent a breach of data. This is why they mostly prioritize EDR solutions with features like the following:
- Threat detection and data analysis
- Threat investigation
- Automated response
- Security infrastructure integration
- Data collection
How to Choosethe Right Solution
When it comes to choosing an EDR solution, it will be best to ensure it is comprehensive and effective. A more comprehensive solution may include multi-layered protection, like malware detection, encryption, endpoint security, specialized services, and firewall protection. All these help to meet the needs of an organization.
A good provider must also provide real-time alerting and monitoring abilities to respond quickly and identify threats before they cause more damage. However, choosing the right provider won’t be enough. You might also want to consider the following:
1. Look at the Integration with Security Platforms
Ensuring that your EDR solutions are compatible with current security systems and tools is imperative. This won’t just minimize your workload. It will also increase the efficiency of all your security and IT agents.
But for your EDR solutions to work more effectively, you must integrate them with several security platforms, which orchestrate, execute, and track actions to avoid attacks.
Looking for an EDR tool that comes with an API integration can be a good decision. This is especially true if you use security information and event management (SIEM) tools. With this, an EDR solution may feed data seamlessly into existing systems.
2. Consider the Time Commitment and Level of Professionalism Required
It is vital to keep in mind that EDR security tools alone won’t offer the results your business needs. Sound processes and well-trained IT experts are needed so as to improve your security and maximize your investment.
Without time commitment and the right IT team, EDR products may amass alerts and data, fatiguing analysts and increasing costs. Some of the expertise that your team may need is the following:
- Security research
- Security operations
- Security engineering
- Incident response and security analysis
- Threat hunting
3. Know the Operating Systems and Devices That Aren’t Covered
At a bare minimum, many EDR solutions offer support for Linux, Mac OS, and Windows, including the older versions. But an important question to ask is what the solutions don’t cover.
Even though most employees use tablets and smartphones on the network, some solutions don’t support operating systems like Google Android and Apple iOS. If you have such a solution, be sure to fall back to monitor activities and gather data from those unsupported devices.
Concluding Remarks!
You are at risk without proper security measures. The best way to grow your business is to consider investing in a very powerful antimalware as well as anti-hacking technological solution, such as endpoint detection and response tools.
