What is XDR?
XDR is an all-in-one platform made to detect, investigate, and respond to threats across various vectors of security, not just endpoints but networks, servers, and cloud infrastructure as well.
The relevance of XDR in modern cybersecurity cannot be overstated. XDR platforms facilitate more comprehensive threat detection by linking evidence across a wide range of security sources like endpoint, network and email-derived data. This unified approach reduces complications in managing security and further lowers the time taken to identify/respond to a threat, minimizing the impact on an organization.
In XDR there are two main categories: Open XDR and Native XDR. They both have the same objective, to add threat visibility and response capabilities but their mechanisms are different as well as architecture.
In this blog, we will compare Open XDR vs Native XDR by understanding their features as well as respective strengths and weaknesses to help you determine what would be the best XDR for you based on your own needs, infrastructure, and security goals.
What is Native XDR?
Native Extended Detection and Response (XDR) is an all-inclusive threat detection and response solution provided by a single vendor.
This unified approach provides a cohesive security ecosystem integrating the vendor’s own tools (such as endpoint protection, network monitoring and threat intelligence) into one cohesive platform. Native XDR aims to help automate security operations and threat detection and response.
Key Characteristics of Native XDR
- Unified Architecture: Native XDR is developed natively within one vendor's ecosystem, so solutions like threat detection, data correlation, and response capabilities work seamlessly together.
- Centralized Management: Unified and centralized management allows security teams to simplify the complexity of managing multiple security tools and can result in faster response times.
- Pre-built integrations: Since all tools are from the same vendor, Native XDR provides pre-configured solutions that are easier to deploy.
- Vendor-Specific Intelligence: Native XDR uses threat intelligence that is specific to the vendor's environment layer, and thus it increases detection accuracy as well providing less false positives.
What is Open XDR?
Open XDR stands for Open Extended Detection and Response: a threat detection and response solution that connects security functionalities across different vendor tools on one platform. Open XDR stands as vendor-agnostic and allows organizations the ability to integrate diverse security tools.
Key Characteristics of Open XDR
- Interoperability: Open-XDR offers the flexibility of integrating with third-party security tools and creates a multi-vendor environment with no friction in the system.
- Scalability and Customization: Open XDR architecture allows security teams to scale and customize by adding or swapping tools in the organization’s requirements change, so it can be tailored for the demands of your specific complex environment.
- Centralized Visibility: Open XDR provides a single-pane-of-glass view, correlating data from various sources to enhance threat detection and simplify incident response.
- Reduced Vendor Lock-in: Open XDR interfaces with multiple tools and reduce dependence on a single service provider, allowing you to govern their security landscape.
Open XDR Vs Native XDR
To find the best XDR solution, it’s essential to compare Open XDR and Native XDR to determine the right fit for your organization. Here is a detailed comparison to help guide your decision.
Integration Flexibility
- Open XDR: Open XDR platform facilitates flexibility to get integrated with tools and platforms already in place and provides a vendor-agnostic approach. This allows companies to use best-of-breed tools to enhance performance.
- Native XDR: Native XDR is designed to support a single vendor solution that can integrate only with its own range of products. The main limitation of Native XDR solutions is that a company has to abandon its current vendor solutions and implement tools that Native XDR can support.
Customization and Scalability
- Open XDR: Open XDRs are designed with higher customization options wherein companies can ask for tailored security options. It avoids unnecessary vendor lock-in and allows companies to leverage their current vendor ecosystem and can scale with the evolved security concerns.
- Native XDR: Since Native XDRs support a single-vendor ecosystem the customization options are not available. However, the limited integration ensures the accuracy of threat detection and response and streamlines cybersecurity.
Cost Considerations
- Open XDR: As Open XDRs are flexible to integrate with current security tools and vendor solutions, it is comparably easy and cost efficient to implement the Open XDR across the organization. The lack of vendor lock-in saves a lot of capital and allows the organization to use the best tools required for operations.
- Native XDR: The native XDRs are designed to integrate with a few or vendors own solutions, it requires complete implementation of new solutions that can integrate with the vendor’s XDR solution. The whole set-up may cost more to the company.
Deployment Complexity
- Open XDR: Open XDRs are more complex to deploy across the organization as they need to be integrated with different tools in place and require complex integration.
- Native XDR: It is easier to deploy Native XDR as the products belong to single vendor solutions. All the products are unified and centralized security can be implemented seamlessly across the organization.
Data and Threat Visibility
- Open XDR: Open XDR provides the broad visibility of threat sources and detection. The integration with current security products extends connectivity and helps to perform complex threat hunting and detection of advanced persistent threats (APTs).
- Native XDR: Native XDRs unified data source and correlation provides a single interface for threat hunting therefore help security teams to work faster. However, the company can rely on single-vendor reports, as provided by them, within their limited capacity.
Management and Maintenance
- Open XDR: Open XDR requires expertise for the management and maintenance of different toolsets and their security integration with the XDR solution.
- Native XDR: Native XDRs are easy to manage due to their unified interface property and hence reduce complexities. However, it may be limited to vendor’s product update and support.
Use Cases
Use cased of Native XDR
- Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): Native XDR is more recommended for SMEs with limited resources as it does not require complicated set-up and expertise management. The simplified deployment and centralized management make it easier to implement along with seamless data sharing and faster threat detection.
- Organizations Preferring a Single Vendor: Organizations having single vendor implementation across organizations can choose native XDR for smooth functioning with reduced complexities.
- Rapid Deployment Needs: The organizations which require quick deployment can opt for native XDR solution due to single vendor solution that simplifies the integration and response time.
Use cases of Open XDR
- Large Enterprises: Large enterprises with vast vendor solutions can implement open XDR due to customization and flexibility offered by it. The ability to integrate best-of-breed security products ensures complex threat detection with quick response.
- Organizations with Existing Security Investments: Organizations that already have invested in security tools can leverage the existing security measures with open XDR to maximize the effect.
- Advanced Threat Detection and Response: Organization with a complex environment requires advanced threat detection and response systems and therefore open XDR with its advanced analytics, machine learning and threat intelligence would be the best solution.
- Deep Visibility
- Expert Forensics
- Resilient Defense
Pros and Cons of Open XDR vs Native XDR
Open XDR
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Open XDR supports multi-vendor systems and can integrate with current security systems. It is more flexible and can scale with the organizational needs. | Open XDR architecture can be more complex to deploy and maintain within the system. A proper expertise management is required. |
| Open XDR has more customization options and provides greater control by centralizing security operations for various solution. | Open XDR may have potential integration challenges between different tools. Hence the integration process can be complex and requires additional effort. |
| Open XDR saves from unnecessary vendor lock-in and provides the option to use the best tools for the company’s operations. | Open XDR requires management training to the security department for different tools and security systems in place. |
Native XDR
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Native XDR provides streamlined solution which provides threat detection and response management through a single and consolidated interface. | Native XDR does not support all types of tools and hence the organization has to buy new tools and has abandoned the current tools in place. |
| Native XDR is easier to deploy and manage since it requires a single-vendor ecosystem. This saves time spent for managing and integrating heterogeneous tools. | Native XDR requires vendor lock-in and supports only a single-vendor ecosystem. Hence it works only in homogeneous solutions environment. |
| As there is no third-party tools in Native XDR, it provides real-time report for threats, uncover potential threats and has faster response time. | In Native XDR, a company has to implement new tools which can support the solution, the training has to be imparted for new tools and security solution comes in effect. |
Factors to consider when choosing between Open XDR vs Native XDR
When choosing between Open XDR and Native XDR, organizations should consider six key factors:
Infrastructure Complexity: Open XDR architecture works well for businesses with more security tools from different vendors as it can bring everything into one single view. On the other hand, Native XDR is for those who want to keep their configuration simple and integrated within a single-vendor ecosystem.
Customization Needs: Open XDR offers more flexibility, allowing teams to customize the use of tools as they adapt and change. Native XDR, while more rigid, is designed to optimize operational processes for a vendor’s own toolset.
Vendor Lock-In Tolerance: Businesses that want the versatility to switch or mix solutions should opt for Open XDR platform, providing third-party integrations. While Native XDR forces organizations to rely on a single vendor’s tool, limiting flexibility.
Security Team Expertise: Open XDR often requires more extensive knowledge for integration and customization management. Smaller teams with limited resources may benefit from Native XDR, which comes pre-configured.
Threat Visibility and Response Requirements: Open XDR provides broader visibility across diverse tools, which can improve threat correlation. Native XDR, optimized within a single ecosystem, may offer faster response times for vendor-specific threats.
Choosing the Right XDR Solution with Fidelis Elevate®
Choosing between Open XDR vs Native XDR will depend on your security needs and IT infrastructure. Open XDR platform offers adaptability and broad integration for diverse toolsets, making it ideal for enterprises with existing investments in varied security tools.
Fidelis Elevate® offers a strong, flexible XDR platform that seamlessly integrates with the existing IT environment. Fidelis Elevate® delivers an industry-recognized XDR platform that enables security teams to monitor and respond across endpoints, networks, cloud environments, and more. By choosing Fidelis, you get centralized visibility, threat intelligence that is richly augmented and security controls which can be tailored to suit the unique demands of your organization.
Fidelis Elevate® combines the strengths of Open XDR by providing the flexibility to integrate with your existing security infrastructure, ensuring that your team benefits from broader threat detection and faster response times. Whether you’re transitioning from a single-vendor system or building on a multi-vendor setup, Fidelis Elevate® equips you with the capabilities needed to protect against today’s advanced cyber threats.
