Are You Really Seeing What’s Going On Inside Your Network?
You probably have firewalls, antivirus, and endpoint protection in place. But the real question is—can they show you what’s happening between your devices? Inside your network?
Here’s why this matters:
- 67% of malicious traffic is encrypted, and your tools may not see what’s inside.
- Attackers stay hidden for an average of 56 days before anyone notices.
Firewalls protect the edges. Endpoint tools protect individual systems. But attackers move quietly in between. If your tools can’t see lateral movement, you’re at risk—and you won’t know it.
That’s why more security teams are turning to Network Detection and Response (NDR). The global market is projected to reach $1.98 billion by 2027—because organizations are realizing they’re flying blind without it.
What Makes NDR Different From Traditional Tools?
If you rely on tools that just look for known threats, you’re missing a huge piece of the puzzle. NDR doesn’t need to know what a threat “looks like.” It watches how your network behaves—and spots anything unusual.
| Traditional Tools | What They Do |
|---|---|
| Firewalls | Block known threats at the perimeter |
| EDR (Endpoint) | Monitor activity on individual devices |
| SIEM | Aggregate logs from multiple tools |
| NDR | What It Adds |
|---|---|
| Agentless Monitoring | No software needed on endpoints |
| Network-Wide Visibility | Watches traffic across all systems, cloud, and on-prem |
| Behavioral Analysis | Spots threats based on how things behave, not just what they are |
| Lateral Movement Detection | Sees attackers trying to move between devices unnoticed |
If attackers are jumping from system to system or hiding inside encrypted traffic, NDR is how you catch them.
What Will You Gain When You Add NDR?
When you put NDR in place, you unlock visibility across your entire network. You’ll know who’s talking to whom, when, and how—and more importantly, if something doesn’t look right.
Here’s what it does for you:
- Sees Everything:
It monitors all network traffic—even encrypted traffic. You’ll spot threats hiding in what other tools can’t see. - Learns What’s Normal
NDR builds a baseline of usual behavior in your network. If anything strays from that pattern, it raises a flag. - Spots Anomalies
Whether it’s unusual access times, strange lateral movement, or suspicious connections, it alerts you before damage is done. - Responds Quickly
Once something’s detected, it helps you contain the threat. Some tools even automate the response—so you’re not stuck reacting manually.
Why Are Traditional Tools Falling Short?
You might wonder—if you already have endpoint protection, SIEM, and firewalls, why is NDR even needed?
Let’s take a look at where your stack might be falling short:
Remember SUNBURST?
In the SUNBURST attack, sophisticated actors got around nearly every traditional tool—firewalls, EDR, even antivirus. Why? Because those tools were monitoring endpoints or the perimeter.
The attackers moved between systems, staying invisible.
The Encryption Challenge
Today, over 85% of attacks use encrypted traffic. Your tools can’t inspect what they can’t read. So, they just let the encrypted traffic pass—while attackers hide inside.
The Expanding Perimeter
Your network is no longer limited to one office or data center. You have:
- Cloud services
- Remote employees
- BYOD policies
- Third-party tools
- IoT and OT devices
That’s a huge surface area—and a lot of blind spots.
“There can be no Zero Trust without visibility into what’s happening inside networks.”
— Heath Mullins, Former Senior Analyst, Forrester
How Does NDR See Through Encrypted Traffic?
You’re probably thinking—if the traffic is encrypted, how does NDR detect threats?
Here’s how it works. It doesn’t need to read the traffic. It analyzes behavior patterns instead.
1. Behavioral Analytics + Machine Learning
NDR uses AI to detect threat behavior based on the MITRE ATT&CK framework. Instead of reading the payload, it looks at:
- Who’s talking to whom?
- When are they connecting?
- How much data is being exchanged?
- Is the connection pattern normal?
- Are the SSL certificates suspicious?
2. Statistical Analysis
NDR knows what “normal” looks like in your network. When traffic volume, timing, or communication paths go outside the baseline, it raises alerts.
3. Threat Intelligence Feeds
Modern NDR tools integrate live threat feeds. That way, they can correlate behavioral anomalies with known indicators—making alerts smarter and more accurate.
How NDR Improves Incident Analysis and Investigation
Network Detection and Response is the new big thing in network cybersecurity. It includes Network Traffic Analysis (NTA) and Network Analysis & Visibility (NAV). While all three terms emphasize detection, NDR elevates the role of response on the network.
While, this whitepaper will look at NDR in depth and how it can strengthen your network security. It will dive into concepts like:
- Prevention: Prevention starts with Detection. This prevention must be based on the same granular approach that allows the prevention of detected data without compromising the business objects of the enterprise.
Explore Fidelis' NDR platform prevention Capabilities - Automate Investigation: Sometimes prevention can alleviate the problem but not always. This is why in order to react quickly and effectively, automation is required. Read the whitepaper to know how you can automate your network security.
- Incident Analysis: An incident is a higher-level analysis of the detections where many detections can be correlated to reduce the analysis on the response team.
- Use efficient analyst tools to better network responses.
- Retrospective Analysis is the most essential part of gaining complete visibility in NDR platform. Look at ways in which you could be doing this.
Download the whitepaper now and unveil the secrets to perfection NDR for your network security.
What Types of Threats Can NDR Help You Catch?
NDR isn’t just for one kind of attack. It covers a wide range of threats, including ones your other tools likely miss.
| Threat Type | What It Looks Like |
|---|---|
| Unknown Malware | Malware that traditional tools can’t detect. NDR sees the abnormal behavior it causes. |
| Targeted Attacks | Sophisticated, persistent attacks that blend in. NDR spots subtle, long-term behavior. |
| Insider Threats | Employees or partners misusing access. NDR sees data misuse and movement. |
| Risky Behavior | Well-meaning staff sharing passwords or using unauthorized apps. NDR spots it early. |
How Does NDR Fit with What You Already Have?
You don’t need to throw out your current tools. NDR fills the gaps between them.
NDR + EDR
- EDR sees what’s happening on the device.
- NDR sees how the device is communicating across the network.
- Together you get full visibility—endpoint + traffic behavior.
NDR + SIEM
- SIEM collects logs.
- NDR gives real-time behavior analysis.
- Together you enrich your investigations with context you wouldn’t get from logs alone.
NDR + Firewall
- Firewall asks: Is this traffic allowed?
- NDR asks: Even if it’s allowed, is this behavior normal?
- Together you cover both policy enforcement and anomaly detection.
Can NDR Help You With Zero Trust?
Yes. NDR plays a critical role in enforcing Zero Trust principles. If your strategy is “never trust, always verify,” you need constant visibility.
NDR supports Zero Trust by:
- Continuously analyzing all network traffic
- Giving insight into communication patterns for micro segmentation
- Feeding behavior analytics into your identity and access workflows
- Validating whether your Zero Trust policies are working
Is NDR Useful in Your Industry?
Let’s look at a few real-world use cases by industry:
| Industry | How NDR Helps |
|---|---|
| Healthcare | Monitors IoT devices, legacy systems, and supports HIPAA compliance. Protects patient records. |
| Financial Services | Detects fraud, supports compliance, and protects customer data. |
| Manufacturing | Secures industrial control systems, OT/IT convergence, and protects IP from espionage. |
What Features Should You Look For in an NDR Solution?
Before choosing a platform, ask yourself—what do you really need it to do?
Here’s what to prioritize:
- Advanced Threat Detection
It should use machine learning, not just signatures, to catch zero-day threats.
- Real-Time Response
You need automation—block threats, isolate traffic, and trigger other tools fast.
- Full Visibility
It should monitor both internal (east-west) and internet-facing (north-south) traffic—including encrypted and unmanaged traffic.
- Scalability
Make sure it handles high volumes of traffic without slowing your network down.
- Integration Support
It should easily plug into your existing SIEM, EDR, SOAR, and ticketing systems.
How Should You Roll Out NDR in Your Environment?
Don’t rush. NDR works best when implemented in stages:
Phase 1: You need to asses and plan better
- Map your network
- Identify critical assets.
- Define integration needs.
Phase 2: You should try pilot deployment
- Start small—deploy in a critical segment.
- Establish baseline behaviors.
- Connect to your SOC processes.
Phase 3: Then move to production rollout
- Expand gradually across your infrastructure.
- Prioritize high-value assets.
- Extend visibility step by step.
Phase 4: Keep optimizing continuously
- Tune detection rules regularly.
- Build custom use cases.
- Integrate more tools as you mature.
What Are the Limitations You Should Be Aware Of?
NDR is powerful—but it’s not everything.
- It’s Network-Only
It doesn’t see what happens inside endpoints. That’s why pairing with EDR is key.
- Complex Threats Need Context
NDR gives great network data, but complex investigations may need data from the cloud, endpoints, and identity tools too.
- Deployment Takes Planning
You might need to set up network taps or change switch configs. It’s not always plug-and-play.
What Makes Fidelis Network Different?
If you’re evaluating NDR platforms, here’s what Fidelis Network brings to the table:
| What You Get | How It Helps You |
|---|---|
| Full Visibility | Monitors on-prem, cloud, and hybrid traffic—even if it’s encrypted |
| Advanced Analytics | Uses ML + MITRE ATT&CK mapping to detect threats accurately |
| Smart, Actionable Alerts | Reduces noise and false positives |
| Rapid Threat Response | Automates containment, speeds up investigations |
| Seamless Integration | Works with your current security tools—SIEM, SOAR, EDR |
| Real Customer Results | Faster detection, better visibility, reduced investigation time |
What’s the Next Step?
If you’re not confident in what your network tools are seeing, it’s time to act. Every day without deep visibility is a day attackers can hide, move, and cause damage.
Here’s what you can do now:
- Schedule a Personalized Demo
See Fidelis Network in action—tailored to your environment - Request a Security Assessment
Find out where your visibility gaps are and how to close them
Don’t let blind spots become breach points.
Let Fidelis Security help you take control of your network security—before attackers do.