In today’s digital world, cybersecurity is more important than ever before. With so many devices and data points to protect, endpoint security has become a top priority for businesses of all sizes.
That is where endpoint detection and response comes into play.
Also called EDR, endpoint detection and response is a type of security that helps businesses discover and counter threats that appear on their network. Designed to give organizations visibility into activity on their endpoint devices, EDR helps keep organizations safe by acting as an investigator into suspicious behavior.
But how does EDR work exactly? And why would a business need EDR in the first place? Below, we explore the answers to these questions and more.
A deep dive into endpoint detection and response
Endpoint detection and response enables organizations to automate many tasks normally associated with incident response such as containment, eradication, and recovery.
How?
EDR tools collect data at the endpoint level, including data about process activity, file changes, and network traffic. This data is then analyzed in real-time to identify any potential suspicious activity.
Why does EDR matter?
IBM recently reported that the per record cost of personally identifiable information was $180. Consider that a small business with a list of 100 contacts could potentially lose $18,000 in a data breach!
EDR solutions vary in terms of features and functionality, but most include some combination of the following capabilities:
- Data collection: Collects data from endpoint sensors, including data about process activity, file changes, and network traffic.
- Data analysis: Analyzes collected data in real time to identify suspicious activity.
- Threat detection: Identifies known and unknown threats based on behavior patterns.
- Incident response: Enables quick and effective responses to incidents, minimizing damage and downtime.
Businesses that can benefit from EDR
Small- and mid-sized businesses, school systems, and even local government agencies would be well served by EDR. Not to mention healthcare systems which IBM reported as having the highest industry cost of a breach for the eleventh consecutive year.
With EDR in place, businesses will have a better understanding of their network and how it is being used. This information can then be used to improve security policies and procedures.
When small- and mid-sized businesses have EDR in place, they may also be able to avoid needing to purchase separate anti-virus and anti-malware software products.
Finally, EDR can help these businesses reduce the amount of time needed to train staff on security procedures.
And while implementing EDR can be a challenge for the businesses who don’t often have a large IT team at their disposal, there are many vendors that offer solutions specifically designed for them. These solutions often include features such as centralized management, mobile device support, and integration with existing systems.
If you’re unsure whether or not your business is well protected from cyberthreats, review this network security assessment checklist.
Cyber threats EDR can solve for
Endpoint detection and response security is a critical cybersecurity solution for helping to prevent major security threats.
By providing visibility into endpoint activity and detecting suspicious activity in real time early on, organizations can quickly respond to threats and prevent damage to their systems and data.
Some of the major threats EDR can solve for include:
- Malware infections: EDR security solutions can detect and block malware before it has a chance to infect an endpoint. This includes both known and unknown malware, as well as zero-day exploits.
- Data breaches: EDR security solutions can detect unauthorized access to sensitive data on endpoints. This includes data exfiltration attempts, as well as malicious insiders who may be trying to steal confidential information.
- Insider attacks: EDR security solutions can detect malicious or unauthorized activity by insiders, such as privileged users or contractors with access to sensitive data. This allows organizations to quickly take action to stop the attack and prevent damage to their systems and data.
Current EDR security trends
In today’s business landscape, more and more employees are working remotely. This trend is set to continue, with remote or hybrid work becoming the norm for many businesses.
In fact, nearly 58% of organizations globally telework. Remote working does grant employees more flexibility, but unfortunately it is also rife with security challenges including phishing and social engineering attacks, devices being lost or stolen, and higher risk of malware infection.
An additional security challenge posed by remote working is the increased risk of data breaches. When employees are working remotely, they are often accessing sensitive company data from unsecured devices and networks. This creates a prime opportunity for hackers to gain access to personal information stored in a business database.
Also, remote working can make it more difficult to detect and respond to security incidents in a timely manner.
Thankfully, EDR provides a centralized way to manage and monitor all of the devices that have access to your network. This includes ensuring that only authorized devices can connect to your network, monitoring activity on those devices for suspicious activity, and being able to quickly isolate and contain any incidents that do occur.
What does EDR look like in 2023?
Moving forward, EDR will continue to be an important part of security for organizations. Here are some things to expect heading into the New Year:
- EDR will be more sophisticated, with better detection and response capabilities in order to prove useful to ever-expanding online security threats.
- More organizations will start using EDR to prevent attacks and respond to incidents, especially SMBs, school systems, healthcare systems, and local government agencies.
- EDR will be integrated into other security solutions, such as SIEMs and threat intelligence platforms to allow for wider reach.
- We will see more AI-powered EDR solutions that can automatically detect and respond to threats, cutting back on the workload of small IT teams.
Endpoint detection and response is a critical security measure that helps organizations detect and respond to threats in real time. By deploying an EDR solution with Dice Communications, your business can proactively defend against attacks, minimize damage, and speed up the recovery process.
While EDR can be complex and resource-intensive, the benefits far outweigh the costs for many organizations. Discover all the ways Dice Communications provides vigilant protection you can count on.
