Most businesses use antivirus software and firewalls to protect their IT networks and safeguard sensitive business information. However, hackers continue to devise new ways to penetrate security defenses, and traditional security measures are no longer sufficient to guard against sophisticated cyberattacks.
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions give businesses an additional security tool by providing the ability to identify potential security threats at the endpoint level and to respond swiftly to isolate compromised devices and mitigate the impact of a security breach.
What Is Endpoint Detection and Response?
Endpoint detection and response is a cybersecurity approach based on identifying and responding to threats at the endpoint level. Desktops, laptops, and mobile devices are examples of endpoints. Malware, ransomware, and other cyberattack tactics often target these vulnerable endpoints to infiltrate IT networks to steal business data or launch additional attacks.
An EDR solution enables security teams to monitor endpoint devices in real time to detect suspicious activities and potential security breaches.
Unlike antivirus and firewall tools, EDR solutions use behavioral analysis, machine learning, and advanced analytics to spot unusual or suspicious activities, including advanced cyberattacks that target security gaps that have not been identified yet.
In contrast, antivirus software is designed to detect and prevent known viruses, malware, and other malicious software from infecting endpoint devices. Antivirus solutions typically compare files and patterns against a database of known malware identifiers — such as an IP address or malicious code — to detect potential risks from known threats. A firewall provides a barrier between external and internal networks by controlling and monitoring all incoming and outgoing network traffic.
EDR solutions complement antivirus software and firewalls but are not replacements for them. EDR tools do not prevent an attack. They provide an alert whenever an endpoint acts unexpectedly, enabling a security team to react quickly to a potential security breach and mitigate the impact of a cyberattack.
Top 6 EDR Benefits for SMBs
It can be challenging for small and medium-sized businesses to keep pace with the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape. EDR is an indispensable tool for SMBs seeking to fortify their cybersecurity defenses. The top benefits of EDR include:
1. Provides real-time monitoring and threat detection
EDR tools continuously monitor endpoints to detect unauthorized access attempts, suspicious network traffic, and other unusual behaviors.
2. Enables swift incident response
EDR notifications allow your security team to respond immediately to security incidents by providing data and context to help them determine the nature of the attack and which remedial actions to take.
3. Isolates breached endpoints
EDR software can quarantine a breached device and block malicious network traffic so that an attacker can’t penetrate further into your network.
4. Offers improved visibility and control
EDR gives your security team a full, centralized view of your organization’s endpoint devices, enhances assessment of device software versions and patch levels, helps track inventory, and ensures user compliance with security measures.
5. Preserves data for post-event analyses
EDR saves historical data on user actions, network connections, and other endpoint activities, which helps your security team determine why a security breach occurred and take effective remedial action.
6. Facilitates regulatory compliance
EDR provides detailed logs and audit trails that help organizations monitor and verify compliance with network security regulations.
By providing real-time threat detection, investigation, and response, EDR empowers your security team to protect your data and keep your business running smoothly.
What to Look For in an EDR Solution
When you start evaluating which EDR solution is the best fit for your business’s security needs, keep these eight key considerations in mind:
Endpoint visibility
An effective EDR solution will give your security team full visibility into endpoint devices, including software and user activities.
Detection features
EDR software should continuously monitor endpoint behavior to detect potential threats in real time.
Investigative features
To ensure that your security team can fully investigate and effectively resolve a security breach, EDR software should have robust case management capabilities.
Incident-response and threat-containment features
An EDR solution should enable your security team to investigate and respond to potential security breaches quickly. The ability to isolate compromised endpoint devices and block malicious activity is also essential.
Ease of use
EDR software should be easy to deploy and use, with a user-friendly interface and an intuitive dashboard that provides a clear view of endpoints and network usage.
Scalability
EDR software should be able to manage all of your endpoint devices and keep your future needs in mind.
Ease of integration
An EDR solution should integrate seamlessly with your antivirus software, firewall, and other security tools. An effective integration will enable your security team to coordinate security measures across all your security infrastructure.
Vendor support
Ensure that your vendor has a strong and proactive customer support team so that you will receive the assistance and updates needed to keep your EDR solution effective.
Keep Your Business Assets Protected
A robust EDR solution is an indispensable tool for SMBs to strengthen their network defenses against security threats and stay one step ahead of hackers. It helps organizations detect attacks aimed at laptops, mobile phones, and other endpoint devices, enabling security teams to investigate potential breaches, isolate compromised devices, and take remedial action quickly. We offer end-to-end IT and cyber security solutions so that you can be 100% sure your business assets are protected. For a free security assessment, contact us today.
