Do I need an XDR?

If you're feeling like cybersecurity threats are mounting, then you're not alone. Dealing with new types of attacks, developing effective strategies, finding the right tools, and having the right staff on hand can seem like tricky obstacles to overcome.

But they don't have to be. There are tools out there today, namely XDR, which can keep your business secure, protected, and empowered in today's world.

In this post, we're going to be taking a look at XDR and how it plays a part in the growing world of cybersecurity.

XDR vs EDR

First, let's compare XDR to one of its similarly-named predecessors, EDR. EDR is a lot like XDR in some ways, though they are not the same thing. By knowing the difference, you can invest in the one that's ultimately right for your business.

What's the difference?

Alright, so what is that difference? Short for Endpoint Detection and Response, EDR focuses on just that: Your business's endpoints. These are your most vulnerable and accessible points, so it is critical that they're kept safe.

In 2022 and beyond, however, your endpoints are no longer the only aspect of your operations that you need to secure.

Short for Extended Detection and Response, XDR consumes many of the same functions as EDR and more. It simplifies your cybersecurity on a variety of fronts, is far more comprehensive, and can be viewed as an all-in-one solution to your security needs extending beyond EDR - not replacing but augmenting!

What does XDR do that EDR and other security solutions don't?

XDR links the capabilities of NDR (Network Detection and Response) and EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response)​​, but it also has several features and capabilities that neither of them does.

One of these key features is integration. XDR brings data together from all across your operations to detect threats and provide context at cloud scale. EDR, on the other hand, monitors your endpoints, NDR focuses on your network.

Automation is another key component of XDR, allowing you to execute “playbooks” in response to detected threats. In this respect, XDR provides some of the core capabilities also seen in Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR) platforms. This means that you don’t need to deploy and integrate a separate toolset to handle automation and response.

By integrating telemetry from EDR, NDR, IT infrastructure and cloud, XDR provides the ability to correlate data across all of these sources and detect threats which might otherwise be missed when viewing only a single source of events.

XDR use cases

While there are several use cases for XDR, we're going to touch on three that are core to the usefulness of XDR. That way, you can start to see how an XDR solution can fit into your broader cybersecurity strategy.

Threat detection

Your cybersecurity team (both internally and externally) is a great resource for combing through your systems and hunting for threats. But like any human operation, it's bound to miss things. And XDR can fill in the gaps. By using artificial intelligence and machine learning, XDR is able to find the proverbial needle in a haystack and alert you to threats which would otherwise require significant analyst effort to detect or maybe even go completely undetected.

XDR performs continuous threat detection. This allows it to spot threats that you or your team may have missed. It keeps you safe and secure, even in cases where you've overlooked a key risk.

Triage

Another key use case for XDR is its ability to provide effective triage by flagging the severity and confidence level of alerts. Triage is critical to assessing your systems and approach, alerting you when threats are coming your way, and prioritizing the way you handle these threats.

Additionally, XDR can be used to pass assessed threats off to the right teams and people. That way, the right people are always handling the right problems.

Investigation and Threat Hunting

Lastly, XDR plays a key function in the investigation of cybersecurity threats. This is a core feature of any cybersecurity strategy, as it helps you determine where a threat came from, what its intentions are, and how best to mitigate it.

In addition to facilitating investigations, XDR platforms provide advanced query functionality to facilitate threat hunting. This includes the ability to perform hunts based on hypotheses.

XDR has this built-in, so you can easily get to the root of an incoming or past threat. XDR systems can keep reports of past incidents, too, so you can revisit an investigation at any time.

Cybersecurity on a budget with XDR

With an XDR platform like Samurai XDR, you get a cybersecurity solution that doesn't break your budget. That's because it functions as a SaaS service rather than a product that you pay for all at once. In addition XDR provides a level of functionality which previously required the purchase of multiple systems and costly integration projects to get them to work together.

This gives you the flexibility to access the service today in a way that's reasonable for your business. Building on this flexibility is the fact that Samurai XDR allows you to pick and choose the features that are right for you.

How to pick the right XDR solution

XDR solutions are tied to your business's security, so choosing the right option is crucial. To help you make the decision that's right for your business, we've curated some of the key features to look for in a winning XDR platform.

Integration

First, you should be looking for integration. Your operations are likely split between a number of devices, different types of devices, networks, maybe even locations, as well as software, operating systems, apps, and services.

As such, you can't be successful with an XDR platform that doesn't comprehensively cover these solutions. You need an XDR that's API-driven and built on integrations. That will ensure that your entire system is covered and protected.

Ease of deployment

Are you used to security solutions that take days, weeks, or months to deploy? That doesn’t have to be the case. With XDR protection from Samurai XDR, businesses can start getting value from the very first day.

Automation

Next, look for automation. Automation allows you to respond to threats immediately, 24/7 — empowering you to stay one step ahead of cybersecurity threats in today's world, where an attack can come from anywhere at any time.

Automation should also be sophisticated. It should apply the right defense to the right threat, or pass it on to the right team if intervention is required. You can also look for an XDR platform that supports customizable automation. That way, you can create rules that adhere to your business's unique needs.

Samurai XDR: Protection for businesses of all sizes

A modern, powerful XDR platform shouldn't be exclusive to the big companies. And with Samurai XDR, it's not. Our users get the best cybersecurity coverage at the best price, with a product that never cuts corners. To see if Samurai XDR is right for your business, reach out to our team today.