XDR, i.e., “Extended Detection and Response,” is a groundbreaking achievement in the world of cybersecurity and response. It provides added protection against cybercriminals, data loss prevention, and exploitation of critical information. XDR is capable of collecting and scanning sensitive data from all the various departments, making the detection of cyber threats even quicker and better.

How Does XDR Work?

The threat detection and response process is made more proactive and successful by XDR technologies. While using analytics and automation to counteract today’s more advanced and dangerous threats, XDR provides users with more visibility across all forms of data, including endpoint, network, and cloud data. Teams working in cybersecurity can:

• Rapidly identify complicated and covert threats.
• Get to the bottom of all threats coming from any area inside the company.
• Boost the efficiency of the personnel using the technologies
• Increase the return on their securities investments
• Improve the efficiency of investigation closure

XDR is a dream come true for many businesses out there as they can now prevent attempts of successful assaults and cyber threats with XDR platforms and solutions, along with making security procedures simpler and more effective. As a result of this, firms can better concentrate on their strategic priorities instead of worrying about the security of their people, data, and applications. This further enables them to serve their users better and accelerate digital transformation activities. Thus, XDR helps businesses run better, grow better, and expand further.

How Is XDR Better Than Other Security Tools?

XDR is the most recent and advanced security threat detection tool out there. It collects, analyses, and correlates data from all incoming sources all at once. This helps security teams in detecting all kinds of security threats quicker and better.

The major advantage of being able to collect and analyze data from various sources is that XDR is able to judge all the security threats better, reduce the chances of false positives and improve threat intelligence. The security teams are able to function much better in this way as their valuable time is not wasted due to false alarms and wrong alerts. This not only boosts productivity but also allows better growth of the company itself.

Some might argue that we can get these successful results from combining EDR (endpoint detection and response) and SIEM (security incident and event management) as well, but why choose two softwares when we can get an all-in-one and much better solution in the form of XDR. SIEM has the drawback of only collecting superficial data from various sources, while XDR collects in-depth data from only targeted sources.

This helps the security team focus on the important matters only. XDR is able to remove the need to manually tune data, thus saving more valuable time. Additionally, since the XDR solution’s alert sources are native to it, there is no need for the integration and upkeep required for a SIEM to monitor alerts.

What Is EDR Security?

Endpoint detection and response security is a set of security tools that functions to search and detect malware threats on endpoint devices. These tools have features for detection, interpretation, inspection, and response. Although as much as these features are quite useful and do come in handy, XDR has better security solutions. XDR is able to collect and interpret data from wider sources like endpoints, cloud, etc.

EDR focuses on endpoint detection. It captures any mischievous activity on endpoint devices and mediates it with the security teams. EDR is also capable of detecting any mischievous activity via telemetry sources; it can co-relate the information from such sources and compare them with other textual information to make a concluding remark. However, EDR lacks the capability of slowing down the rate of incident response. EDR solutions are unable to deliver comprehensive security because they lack integrations with additional tools and data sources for complete visibility.

XDR Vs. EDR

XDR is a comprehensive and more widespread approach to the currently evolving advanced threats. It is much different and better than the currently used endpoint detection and single-vector approach offered by the traditional security analysts.

Although EDR has played a vital role in bridging the gap between major security lapses and its solutions. However, its approach compared to XDR is quite limited. It only caters to threats that are restricted to endpoints. This greatly hampers the security solution as other threats are not detected.

Similarly, network traffic analysis (NTA) tools offer limited scope to monitor networks and network segments. NTA solutions tend to control a large number of protocols. Correlating network alerts with other activity data is critical to making sense of and adding value to your network alerts.

XDR & MDR

MDR stands for Managed Detection and Response. It is an alternative to security operation centers, providing a company with security tools and personnel for better protection against threats. MDR offers:

• 24 hours network monitoring plus security incident detection by professional human security analysts.
• Security tools such as EDR, SIEM & XDR are installed and managed by the security operation center provider.
• Investigation and response of all incidents

MDR is quite different from the traditional security providers. It provides a breath of fresh air and advanced security solutions, capable of detecting threats more quickly and efficiently. The hired security professionals are well-trained and well-equipped with all the knowledge of threat hunting and security analysis.

MDR and XDR have similar working goals. However, they both work differently to achieve them:

• MDR provides additional support to the security system. It offers its services in the security operation center, providing tools and personnel with better management skills and solutions. An MDR provider might also bring an XDR solution with it, but that will only be used by the MDR’s staff. This enables significant cost reductions compared to keeping the full SOC and XDR technology by the parent company itself.
•  On the other hand, XDR plays a significant role in automating security tasks and improving analyst productivity. If a company already has an in-house security operation center, XDR will further improvise its security operations and help detect threats.
• XDR is able to save the valuable time of the security teams, permitting them to analyze and respond to the important threats to the businesses only and not waste time on false positives.

All in all, both MDR and XDR are wonderful options for boosting a company’s security operations. It depends on the company’s approach, whether for an MDR solution or an XDR security response. MDR is the way to go for start-ups as it would fit their budget more effectively and boost their work quickly.

 What Are The Benefits Of XDR?

XDR comes with a lot of benefits, such as:

• It can block all kinds of malicious attempts of data breaches, whether they are malware attempts, modern attacks, threat intelligence, or a virus attempt.
• It has full control over the entire data. It can collect, correlate and detect malicious codes or links.
• XDR has multiple security layers that work 24 hours a day, filtering out any threat or security information that might leak out of the system.
• XDR only alerts the security teams about actual important threats that have the potential to cause damage, and it doesn’t overburden the employees and wastes time over minor threats.
• XDR has the capability to increase the efficiency and productivity of the security team. It can consolidate endpoint security coverage control and observation, investigation, and reaction throughout your network, endpoint, and cloud environments in a single console, thus improving SOC efficiency.
• XDR does not require the entire system to pause while it corrects malware. It offers a cohesive security operations system.
• It can provide protection against major advanced persistent threats like ransomware, spyware, trojans, internal attacks, etc.
• XDR, as mentioned, is an advanced threat detection software. It can stop an attack at any stage by using its “indicators of compromise” feature and noticing any bizarre activity.
• XDR helps in the quick recovery of a system after an attack. It removes the damaged files and fixes the work balance promptly. It has excellent response capabilities that do not let the system down.

How Do XDR And SIEM Work Together?

SIEM (security information and event management) is used by many companies’ security teams as a central operating system. It is responsible for analyzing all data and generating alerts in case of any data breach. XDR can work with SIEM by providing extended detection and response. XDR can incorporate itself with SIEM, and both the platforms can work cohesively together.

XDR can greatly improve the working of SIEM and make it more efficient. For example, if SIEM detects a malware and creates an alert signal, it is the job of the security team to go and check the alert and fix it accordingly. With XDR in place, their job would be made much easier as XDR can fix this malware automatically. Furthermore, XDR can collect data from all sources and present a detailed and complete analysis of the entire attack. This gives the security analysts a better understanding of the security processes and how to improve them.

Moreover, XDR is able to provide the company with a more advanced take on extended detection and response. SIEM works on the traditional statistical rules and regulations, while XDR brings AI-driven modern analysis into play. This adds one more security layer to the analysis of SIEM data, making work quicker and more efficient. XDR provides extended detection and response to all kinds of threats, thus making the system more efficient.

 Where Does XDR Fall Behind?

Although XDR is a groundbreaking innovation in the field of cybersecurity, there are a few drawbacks as well that you need to be aware of. Complete knowledge and awareness will help you understand this system better and help you bring about better results.

Integration Complexities

The XDR system has to be integrated into your existing system smoothly. If this integration process faces too many hurdles or is unable to incorporate fully, the performance of the system will be hampered greatly. This might also affect the much-sought feature of XDR of visibility and wide control. If XDR is unable to perform its functions fully, it’s better to look for other options rather than wasting time and money.

The compromise may not give you all the features of your desired platform, but it can save you from having to maintain or create an integration from the very start. Utilizing native integration allows you to install a new platform swiftly and offers instant protection benefits.

Similarly, give those tools that are already compatible priority when trying to integrate more gear with your XDR. Generally speaking, avoid using programs, products, and services that demand excessive integration work because you will eventually be required to pay for it.

Lack Of Sufficient Automation

A major factor in XDR’s productivity is automation. The security teams’ burden is decreased, allowing them to concentrate on more important activities thanks to the ability to automate tracking, notifications, and reactions. To be productive, automation must go beyond merely packet filtering processes or restricting all communications.

The XDR framework you select should ideally have automation that changes its behavior based on changing system conditions. As an illustration, you could be able to identify a device that has joined your network and either correlate it to a prior user or give it a temporary status. This can thus make it possible for you to keep a closer eye on unidentified devices and prohibit possibly dangerous access more swiftly.

Operational Complexity

The purpose of XDR platforms is to make security and response teams’ jobs easier and more productive. This includes the requirements for setup and upkeep in addition to interfaces and dashboards. A solution’s value declines if it is difficult to modify or if settings cannot be quickly set or adapted accordingly.

Similarly, your employees are still utilizing different tools if a framework is built using a variety of unrelated technologies. These tools are less likely to be useful and more likely to call for further operational work. Instead, seek out platforms with built-in features and services that can be used without extra add-ons. This would facilitate not only the employees but will also help your company work smoothly and effectively.

Endnote

XDR is a very innovative and modern solution for many cyber threats out there. Although other solutions like MDR exist and do provide good protection against many attacks, XDR is the go-to choice of all big businesses (which can afford it).

XDR solution helps security teams respond quicker and better. Security operations are conducted more effectively and efficiently. XDR provides a more targeted approach and saves valuable time. It does have a few loopholes that the user should be aware of before incorporating it into its system, but if these drawbacks are removed, XDR can prove to be a game changer in your company’s security system.