As technology takes on an increasingly prominent role in modern business, the need is growing for robust security measures to protect valuable data. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are constantly devising new ways to breach even the best security measures, and they often take advantage of businesses that do not properly protect their endpoints.
Endpoint detection and response, or EDR, works to identify and respond to a range of potential threats, from denial of service attacks and data breaches to ransomware and malware. It entails collecting data from endpoints and networks so it can be analyzed, then providing responses to any threats that are detected. EDR is a complex process that seeks to eliminate a broad range of threats.
Here is a look at some of its most important functions and why they matter when it comes to endpoint security.
Active Monitoring Of Endpoints
EDR tools are set up to provide around-the-clock monitoring of the events that occur on a system’s endpoints. Endpoints include everything from laptops and desktop computers to mobile devices, servers and the cloud. The activities they monitor include user logins, process executions, network connections, file operations, registry changes, and other actions.
As part of their monitoring, they also collect data pertaining to account activity, memory and disk information, network traffic, and other logs to provide greater insight into the endpoint environment and identify potential threats.
Analyzing Data
EDR tools are equipped with data analytics capabilities that are supported by machine learning and artificial intelligence. This enables them to carry out behavioral analysis and identify any suspicious behaviors.
The data can be compared to threat patterns commonly used by cyber criminals and other indicators of attacks. In addition, any type of deviation from typical endpoint activity or network traffic will be flagged for further investigation.
Responding To Threats
There are several different methods that EDR systems can use to respond to the threats they detect. The specific course of action will depend on the nature of the threat as well as its severity.
However, some of the more common actions include quarantining or deleting any malicious files or registry entities, blocking malicious network connections and processes, restoring settings and files to their previous states before the breach, and isolating any devices that are compromised from the rest of the network. They may also apply updates or patches to fix any vulnerabilities that are detected.
Informing Staff Of Threats
Many EDR tools are set up to send alerts to the appropriate security and IT staff using dashboard notifications, e-mails, phone calls and text messages depending on the type of threat and its urgency. These alerts typically contain information about the threat or attack, including its timeline, impact, target, and source, along with recommendations for investigating the threat and remediating it.
Providing Support For Manual Investigations
In some cases, security staff may want to carry out their own investigation into a threat, and EDR tools can provide valuable support. They typically offer capabilities such as tracking attack paths, collecting forensic evidence, generating reports about attacks, searching historical and real-time data on all of the endpoints and networks involved, and identifying affected users and assets.
Proactively Hunting For Threats
Traditional endpoint security solutions such as firewalls or antivirus software can identify known threats but do not have the ability to identify more sophisticated types of attacks that take advantage of vulnerabilities or rely on social engineering. One major benefit of EDR tools is their ability to proactively hunt for threats on endpoints instead of waiting for incidents to occur.
Their continuous monitoring provides unparalleled visibility into what is taking place on all of the systems and endpoints on a real-time basis. In addition, they enable security teams to carry out historical searches on endpoint data going back days or even weeks to look for any advanced threats that other security solutions may not have noticed. This can reduce the dwell time of cyber attackers and prevent them from moving laterally in the network.
Choosing An EDR Solution
When choosing an EDR solution, businesses should consider the type of coverage they offer. The ideal solution will cover a broad range of endpoint types in the network, from mobile devices, desktops and laptops, to servers and IoT devices.
It should be compatible with all of the operating systems and platforms the business uses as well as those that it is considering adopting in the future. It should also be able to integrate seamlessly with the other systems and security tools used within the network, such as firewalls and antivirus software.
A good EDR solution will also be scalable so it can adjust as the business evolves. Even if your business is currently small, your EDR solution should be able to manage a large volume of data without affecting its accuracy or performance.
Protect Your Business From Cyber Threats With Advantage Technology
EDR is a valuable tool for protecting endpoints from a broad range of cyber threats and reducing the impact of breaches that do occur. If your company wants to strengthen its security, prevent breaches, and improve its incident response time, an EDR tool is the perfect solution.
To learn more about how EDR can help your business, contact the cybersecurity professionals at Advantage Technology today.