Endpoints are the most common entry points for cyberattacks. How do you protect them effectively?
With cyber threats becoming more advanced every day, your endpoints, whether they’re laptops, mobile devices, or servers, are constantly at risk.
How can you ensure they’re well-protected without overwhelming your team with too many tools?
This is where two key security solutions come into play:
- Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Both are designed for endpoint cybersecurity, but they work in different ways. So, which one do you really need?
Let’s check that in this article.
What is EPP?
EPP solutions block security threats before they can enter your devices. They identify and stop known risks such as malware, ransomware, and viruses. For threat detection, it uses multiple methods, including:
- Sandboxing – Testing files for malicious activity by running them in a virtual environment before execution.
- Allowlisting and denylisting – Blocking or granting access to specific IPs, URLs, and applications.
- Signature matching – Detecting threats using known malware signatures.
- Static analysis – Using machine learning to analyze binaries for malicious characteristics before they execute.
Key Features of EPP:
- Identifies and blocks known threats like malware.
- Provides more advanced defense against modern threats.
- Offers sensitive data encryption to keep it safe.
- Controls network traffic to prevent unwanted access.
What is EDR?
EDR is a security tool designed to detect and respond to threats that happen on devices like computers and phones. It monitors real-time device activity to detect unusual or harmful behavior, especially advanced threats like APTs. If a threat is found, it helps security teams respond quickly, investigate the cause, and prevent the attack from spreading.
Key Features of EDR:
- Looks for all unusual suspicious activity, not just known viruses.
- Helps security teams act quickly to stop an ongoing threat.
- Gathers data from devices to understand how the attack happened and fix the issue.
EPP vs EDR: Detailed Comparison
Check this table to better understand the key differences between these two tools:
| Feature | EPP | EDR |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Preventing threats before they occur. | Detecting and responding to threats that have bypassed other defenses. |
| Detection Method | Signature matching, behavioral analysis, sandboxing, static analysis, and allowlisting. | Monitors real-time activity to detect malicious behavior or anomalies. |
| Real-Time Monitoring | Limited to detecting known threats. | Provides continuous real-time monitoring of endpoints for unusual behavior. |
| Threat Response | Passive prevention (prevents threats from executing). | Active response (investigates, contains, and mitigates threats in real-time). |
| Incident Containment | Prevents execution of known and suspicious files. | Blocks the spread of active attacks and isolates affected systems. |
| Visibility | Limited visibility into endpoint activity. | Provides deep visibility into endpoint behavior, allowing detailed forensics. |
| Investigation Capabilities | Limited forensic capabilities. | Provides detailed incident investigation and analysis capabilities. |
| Post-Breach Analysis | Not designed for post-breach investigation. | Specialized in analyzing and responding to breaches after they occur. |
| Complementary Tools | Works well as a foundational security tool. | Serves as a safety net for catching threats missed by EPP. |
Overall, the key difference between these two tools is:
- EPP is a passive tool that blocks malicious activity without direct intervention.
- EDR is active and helps security teams respond, investigate, and mitigate ongoing threats.
EDR can complement EPP by providing real-time detection and response to advanced threats!
EPP vs. EDR: Which Should You Choose and Why?
EPP and EDR help organizations protect their endpoints. But which one should you choose? Or do you need both tools? Let’s check that in detail.
What Happens if You Only Use EPP?
An EPP security tool only provides the first line of defense, stopping known threats like viruses and ransomware from entering your devices using signatures and other methods.
But there are some limitations, such as:
- It won’t catch newer, more advanced attacks. These can be fileless malware, APTs, or attacks that don’t fit typical attack signatures.
- Once an attack bypasses your EPP, it’s hard to track what happened. EPP doesn’t provide visibility into endpoint activities after the attack.
What Happens if You Only Use EDR?
EPP prevents threats before they enter devices, while EDR takes the detection to the next level by detecting and responding to new threats as well as threats that have bypassed initial defenses.
This helps enable efficient responses and limits damage by preventing further breaches before escalation. So, with a robust EDR solution, organizations can stay protected against both new and ongoing threats, even without EPP.
What Should You Look for in a Robust EDR Solution?
Look for the following security capabilities in an EDR tool before choosing one:
- Comprehensive Monitoring:
An EDR should offer continuous, real-time monitoring of endpoint activity. It should identify unusual or suspicious actions that could indicate a potential attack.
- Advanced Detection Capabilities:
An efficient EDR should detect unusual activities even if they don’t match a known signature. It should be powered by techniques such as machine learning and behavioral analysis to detect unknown threats as well.
- Forensic Investigation Tools:
An EDR tool should allow security agents to investigate the nature and root of the attack to learn how the breach occurred, and which devices were affected, helping with better containment and improving the security strategy for future prevention.
- Incident Response Features:
An efficient EDR comes with incident response features to instantly contain a threat and resolve it. The responses can include isolating affected devices, stopping security incidents, and reducing the impact of aftereffects.
- Automation and Scalability:
A robust EDR tool automates activities like advanced threat detection and alerting, reducing the workload for security teams. This results in quicker responses and reduces false positives, making it a great investment for organizations.
Fidelis Endpoint®: The Powerful EDR Solution for Endpoint Protection
is a robust and industry-leading EDR solution that protects your endpoints with its deep visibility and incident response capabilities. With years of experience in helping many businesses, Fidelis offers:
- Continuous Monitoring:
Fidelis Endpoint® provides real-time monitoring of endpoint activity, detecting threats quickly—even those that traditional EPP solutions might miss.
- Comprehensive Threat Protection:
Fidelis offers 360-degree protection across all attack vectors, from ransomware and malware to insider threats and IoT breaches, eliminating the need for an additional EPP tool for organizations.
- Advanced Detection:
It detects post-breach attacks 9 times faster than other endpoint security solutions. Powered by behavioral analysis and machine learning, it can detect unknown threats like fileless malware and APTs that don’t fit typical signature patterns.
- Forensic Tools:
It helps security agents investigate and understand the full scope, including the nuances of an attack, and allows for faster containment and threat mitigation.
- Historical Data & Intelligence:
It aggregates and stores historical metadata for 30, 60, or 90-day windows, enabling advanced threat hunting and proactive defense.
- Automated Response:
It triggers automated incident responses, including isolating affected devices or quarantining malicious files, thereby reducing response time and damage.
- Scalability & Flexibility:
Whether deployed on-premises or in the cloud, Fidelis EDR scales to protect organizations of all sizes, including those with large-scale cloud environments.
Discover how Fidelis Endpoint® can:
- Detect and respond to threats in real-time
- Provide seamless integration across your security stack
- Help SOC teams investigate smarter and faster
- Reduce alert fatigue
With Fidelis EDR, you get the complete visibility and specifications you need to detect, investigate, and respond to advanced, unknown, and known threats. It’s a powerful solution that can go beyond EPP and cover a full layer of protection for endpoint devices.
Final Thoughts
Both EPP and EDR solutions are strong security solutions that businesses consider adopting to ensure the security of their endpoint devices, which are prone to many cyberattacks. But do you need both tools? Not necessarily!
EPP can help you detect and prevent known threats like malware, but it lacks certain specifications for detecting and responding to advanced threats. EDR comes with many advanced specifications compared to EPP, which means an EDR can solely handle complete endpoint protection and contribute to enhancing your company’s overall security posture. So, if you are looking for a single and comprehensive tool for your endpoint protection, a robust EDR tool like Fidelis Endpoint® would be enough!
Discover how top security teams are using Fidelis Endpoint® to:
- Gain deep visibility into endpoint activity
- Automate detection and quickly respond to threats
- Streamline investigations with advanced analysis
Frequently Ask Questions
What is the main difference between EDR and EPP?
EPP blocks known threats before they happen, while EDR can detect, investigate, and respond to threats that bypass other defenses.
Can I rely on just EPP for endpoint security?
EPP is strong at preventing known threats, but it may not catch newer or advanced attacks like fileless malware or Advanced Persistent Threats.
Do I need both EPP and EDR for complete endpoint protection?
Not necessarily. EDR can extend EPP’s capabilities, but a strong EDR can offer complete endpoint protection on its own.
