Defining Network Detection and Response (NDR)
Gartner defines Network Detection and Response (NDR) as a combination of machine learning, advanced threat analytics and rule-based detection to detect suspicious activities on enterprise networks.
What does NDR stand for?
NDR stands for Network Detection and Response, similar to Network Traffic Analysis (NTA), and Network Analysis and Visibility (NAV), that focuses more on the response aspect within the network. This cyber security detection and response process uses network data and NTA tools to provide visibility. This visibility allows for various methods to be used in identifying cyber threats and risks.
These methods encompass signature examining, malware identification, sandboxing, indicators examining, email and web security, machine learning and AI, and asset risk examining.
How Does Network Detection and Response (NDR) Work?
NDR solutions act as security analysts for your network. They keep an eye on your network traffic flows to identify unusual or suspicious activity that could indicate a cyberattack. Here’s a breakdown of the main techniques NDR tools use for Extended Detection and Response:
1. Machine Learning and Deep Learning
These advanced technologies form the core of many NDR solutions. Machine learning allows computers to gain knowledge from data without explicit programming. For NDR, these systems examine large volumes of network traffic to create a baseline of typical behavior. Any major departure from this baseline raises a red flag as a potential threat.
Deep learning, a specialized type of machine learning, has the ability to examine complex patterns making it even more effective at spotting subtle and sophisticated attacks.
2. Statistical Security Analysis
One more key tool in the NDR toolkit is statistical analysis. This uses math methods to spot patterns in network traffic. By comparing current traffic with past data, NDR tools can find oddities that might point to a cyberattack.
An NDR system can track the average login attempts from an IP address over time. If there is a sudden spike in attempts, it may indicate a brute-force attack. Additionally, statistical analysis can spot unusual traffic patterns, like a sudden increase in encrypted data or unexpected system communications.
An NDR system can monitor the average number of logins attempts from an IP address over time. If there is a sudden increase in attempts, it might mean a brute-force attack is happening.
The system can also analyze traffic patterns. For example, it can detect a sudden rise in encrypted data or unexpected communications. By applying statistical models to network data, NDR tools can quickly find unusual behaviors. This helps alert users to potential threats.
3. Heuristics
Heuristic analysis detects threats by analyzing data for suspicious properties. In NDR solutions, heuristics extend the power of signature-based detection methods to look beyond known threats and spot suspicious characteristics found in unknown threats and modified versions of existing threats. Some network sandbox vendors position analysis of file-based malwares as a variation of network behavioral analysis.
4. Threat Intelligence Feeds
Threat intelligence feeds are streams of data that contain information about known cyber threats. Timely and actionable threat intelligence can thus help NDR solutions identify known threats or, if one is detected, additionally contextualize for prioritization of risk against a detected network anomaly.
The limitation of threat intel feeds is that threat intel has to be actively procured, managed, and curated so that the information is relevant and timely to the enterprise, which can be beyond the scope for all except the most security mature enterprises.
5. Signatures
The signature-based methods for detection use a unique Indicator of Compromise, IOC identifier, about a known threat to identify that threat in the future. Signatures used to help protect against past threats. However, they are no longer effective against custom malware, malware toolkits, and other non-malware threats like credential replay.
The security landscape has changed, making traditional signature methods less reliable for protection. What’s more, nearly three quarters of all network traffic today is already encrypted. But this is just part of an upwards trend—the one rendering signature-based tools ineffective by preventing content inspection that would be necessary to match certain categories of IOCs.
The response is a combination of automated and manual methods to analyze detections and determine – what happens next.
Why is Network Detection and Response Important?
Advanced threat attacks are designed to evade traditional preventative and detection techniques. Network Detection and Response solutions help identify cyber threats in network and cloud traffic. One key attribute of NDR solutions is the coverage across all ports and protocols to ensure full visibility.
Network Detection and Response solutions use different methods to detect threats. These methods include machine learning, packet inspection, malware detection, sandboxing, and asset inventory.
Organizations use NDR solutions to quickly investigate and respond to incidents. They combine Network Detection and Response tools with Endpoint Detection and Response solutions to improve alert investigation and resolution.
For example, when a threat is detected, the tools analyze network traffic to confirm if any endpoints are compromised. If so, they can automatically isolate the affected endpoints from the network to prevent further damage. This helps organizations respond to security threats efficiently and effectively.
Apart from being the best network analyzer in monitoring network traffic, Network Detection and Response tools can also collect and store rich metadata that can be easily searched for deeper investigation and hunting efforts. Metadata is valuable because it can be easily searched, speeds up investigations, and is cheaper than storing full PCAPs.
What are the Key Aspects of a Network Detection and Response?
A robust Network Detection and Response solution should include:
1. Behavioral Analytics and AI
The power of behavioral analytics and artificial intelligence is harnessed in NDR solutions to detect anomalies and threats that might go undetected by traditional security tools.
A baseline of normal network behavior helps the performance of NDR tools in identifying deviations indicative of malicious activity. Advanced algorithms have analyzed vast amounts of data on the network to bring out hidden patterns and enable the timely detection of sophisticated attacks.
2. Contextual Network-wide Visibility
It provides complete transparency across the entire network for effective threat detection. The NDR solutions monitor all Network Traffic, whether it is north-south or east-west. This context allows security teams to correlate events correctly, identify attack chains, and thus prioritize incidents. It provides a clear view of the network environment and helps an organization to respond more accurately to threats.
3. In-Built Data Loss Prevention
NDR solutions that comes with integrated data loss prevention features can track and guard private information all throughout the network. These instruments can identify and stop illegal data flows by means of traffic pattern and user behavior analysis, therefore guaranteeing regulatory compliance and reducing the danger of data breaches.
Benefits of Implementing Network Detection and Response
1. Improved Security Posture
NDR tools provide excellent visibility into the network infrastructure and can monitor for unusual activity. They can detect various threats like ransomware, data breaches, insider threats, and unknown threats early on. Identifying and responding to these threats in real-time is crucial for a strong cybersecurity strategy.
2. Improved SOC Operational Efficiency
NDR solutions help Security Operations Center (SOC) teams by automating routine tasks and providing useful insights. This reduces alert fatigue and boosts productivity.
In order to identify network technologies, teams can focus on the most serious incidents and respond effectively to major threats. This improves their response times to incidents, and improves efficiency, allowing the security teams to devote more time to strategic initiatives and proactive threat hunting.
3. Real-time Attack Response
The real-time capabilities of NDR are cardinal in effective attack response. It allows the organization to contain and mitigate damage rapidly upon detection of threats while they are still unraveling.
Whether malignant traffic blocking, review network, isolation of compromised systems, or threats neutralization, NDR avails the necessary tools to respond decisively. This proactive approach immensely reduces the impact of cyber-attacks and protects critical assets.
4. Scalability and Flexibility
NDR solutions are flexible; they adapt to the evolving threat landscape and the growth of an organization. They scale to accommodate increasing network traffic and data volumes, ensuring that security remains robust as demands expand.
In addition, the flexibility and ability to integrate with earlier installed security infrastructure qualify NDR tools for total and unique visibility into threat detection and response. This adaptability for network insights is important in ensuring that institutions can retain a robust security posture as their businesses continue changing.
NDR threat detection and response solutions go a long way in ensuring that organizations are empowered enough to improve the detection, response, and recovery from cyber-attacks.
Choosing the Right NDR Solution
1. Core Functionalities to Look For
When evaluating a Network Detection and Response (NDR) solution, it’s crucial to understand its core functionalities to enhance your organization’s cybersecurity posture effectively. Here’s a refined look at what to consider:
By focusing on these key functionalities, you can select an NDR solution that not only enhances your network security but also integrates effectively with your existing measures. This approach provides a comprehensive defense against evolving cyber threats, ensuring robust network detection and response.
2. Integration with Existing Security Measures
Implementing an NDR solution should be carefully considered, especially in terms of its integration with the customer’s existing security stack to ensure seamless threat detection and response. This entails devices such as firewalls, endpoint detection and response, security information and event management, among others. Seek vendors who natively support some level of integration or provide an open standard that makes it easy to interoperate.
3. Comparing Vendors and the Evaluation Process
The vendors, out of a sea of so many NDR vendors in the market, should be compared to find the right fit for your organization. Consider factors such as:
- Vendor reputation and market presence
- Pricing models and total cost of ownership (TCO)
- Availability of onboarding training and support
- Roadmap and future development plans
Engage potential suppliers to offer demonstrations and then conduct proof of concept to test the performance of the solution and its usability in your very own specific environment.
By taking into account these key aspects with a profound evaluation so that you can make a decision through an NDR solution that will enhance your organization’s security posture and help in the fight against evolving cyber threats.
What Threats do an NDR Solution Avert?
A good NDR platform can help you avert a range of cyber threats in real time.
Here are some of the network threats that can be kept at bay with the NDR solution.
- Malware and ransomware: By examining network traffic patterns and behavioral anomalies, NDR solutions may identify the existence of malware and ransomware. Concerning these dangers, they can recognize abnormal file transfers, communication between command-and-control centers, and other signs of compromise.
- Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs): Often orchestrated by nation-states or sophisticated cybercrime organizations. APTs are highly skilled, and covert cyberattacks. The more subtle indicators of APT activity, like anomalous data exfiltration patterns, lateral network movement, and sustained exploit attempts, can be detected by NDR solutions.
- Data Breaches: By monitoring network traffic for unauthorized access attempts, data exfiltration, and other suspicious behaviors that may point to a breach in progress, NDR solutions assist in preventing data breaches. Utilizing network detector enables swift detection and management of data sources, mitigating their consequences and safeguarding sensitive information against compromise.
- Insider Threats: NDR security solutions can detect unusual activity within the company’s network, such as staff members gaining access to resources without authorization, trying to get around security measures, or doing malevolent tasks. Insider attacks can be identified and neutralized before they cause substantial damage by using NDR solutions, which monitor user activity and correlate it with other network events.
- Phishing and Social Engineering Attacks: NDR cybersecurity solutions check email and online traffic for signs of fraudulent behavior, including phishing emails, shady URLs, and malware attachments. Through this network-level threat detection and blocking, NDR platforms assist in shielding users against phishing schemes and other forms of social engineering.
Using NDR to Proactively Improve Security Posture
Perhaps the most important aspect of Network Detection Response tools is to determine security gaps in your environment and to correct your posture before an attack occurs. These capabilities include:
- Decryption: To gain visibility into network traffic, decryption is highly advised. Most importantly, the use of decryption technology, that is integrated with the NDR product, is required to fully gain the system’s detection and response capabilities.
- Cyber Terrain: NDR solutions can analyze network traffic to identify and classify assets and communication paths within the environment. Cybersecurity defense must start with an accurate understanding of the environment.
- Risk Analysis: The combination of terrain and current events leads to a risk analysis. Risk includes alerts, incidents, vulnerabilities, and available mitigation paths in the environment.
Fidelis Network®: Elevating Network Security Standards
If Network Detection and Response is what you are looking for, Fidelis Network®, our ultimate defense solution against cloud and on-premises network threats is the way to go. With unrivaled visibility and control, it safeguards your entire threat framework from start to finish. Discover how it calculates cyber risks in real-time, providing proactive protection against evolving threats.
Frequently Ask Questions
How Does NDR Differ from Traditional Network Security?
It differs significantly from traditional tools of network security like firewalls and antivirus, which were basically about perimeter defenses. Traditional security tools are largely reactive in nature—they depend upon known signatures and rules to cue off threats. This contrasts with the way NDR solutions have to continuously monitor and analyze the raw network traffic to baseline what is normal; anything that doesn’t fit is likely to be malicious.
NDR uses advanced analytics, including machine learning, based on threat detection capabilities other tools miss—much of which is internal or lateral to the network. This is very key, since most modern attacks now target the internal environment rather than directly breaching perimeter defenses. Modern NDR solutions provide full real-time visibility into every inbound and outbound network activity, thereby increasing the possibility of detecting and responding to threats within an organizational setup. In so doing, these tools become a crucial extension of the conventional security arsenal for an enterprise.
Is It Possible to Get Help from NDR in the Case of Encrypted Traffic?
Yes, next-generation NDR solutions support the analysis of encrypted traffic without decryption. Nearly 75% of network traffic is encrypted, and much of it goes undetected by traditional methods of threat detection within the traffic. These might involve the out-of-band decryption method and in-depth analytics that can be leveraged by NDR solutions to track effectively encrypted communications. That enables the identification of malicious activities masquerading in these encrypted data streams and sustains the level of visibility and control an organization can retain over its networks in the face of encryption.
