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What is Extended Detection and Response?

Defining Extended Detection and Response (XDR)

Extended Detection and Response (XDR) is a comprehensive security solution which integrates various security products and data into a simplified, unified system. XDR security combines prevention, detection, investigation, and response to provide a holistic cloud-based security approach.

Gartner defines XDR as a “unified security incident detection and response platform that automatically collects and correlates data from multiple proprietary security components.”

How XDR Works?

XDR technology can bring together data from different security solutions. This helps them work together better. It increases the visibility of unknown threats. It also reduces the time needed to find and respond to an attack.

The XDR architecture makes possible advanced forensic investigation and threat hunting functions in several domains from a single console.

Here is the straightforward step-by-step process of how XDR works:

  • Step 1. Ingest

    Ingest and normalize volumes of data from endpoints, cloud workloads, identity, email, network traffic, virtual containers, etc.

  • Step 2. Detect

    Resolve and correlate data to automatically detect stealthy threats using advanced processes.

  • Step 3 Respond

    Prioritize threat data by severity so that threat hunters can rapidly analyze and triage new events and automate investigation and response activities.

5 Core XDR Capabilities

XDR platforms are game changers when it comes to orchestrating cyber threat detection and response across an organization’s entire digital landscape. They help stop cyberattacks in their tracks by bringing together all multiple security tools into a single open XDR platform. This approach breaks down those traditional security isolations and offers maximum protection against cyber threats. Let’s dive into the five primary capabilities of XDR:

Incident-based Investigation

One of the unique features of XDR is its ability to collect low-level alerts and stitch them together into incidents. This gives security analysts a complete picture of potential cyberattacks much faster than before. Instead of sifting through random bits of information, they can quickly uncover and understand cyber threat activity, boosting productivity and enabling quicker responses.

Automatic Disruption of Advanced Cyberattacks

XDR leverages high-quality security signals and built-in automation to detect ongoing cyberattacks. It can automatically take action, like isolating compromised devices and user accounts to thwart attackers. This means organizations can reduce risks, lessen the impact of incidents, and make cleanup easier for their security professionals.

Cyberattack Chain Visibility

XDR can gather alerts from many sources. This includes EDR solutions and traditional SIEM systems. As a result, analysts can view the whole cyberattack chain. This visibility cuts down investigation time. It also boosts the chances of fixing serious cyberattacks. This is very important in today’s fast-changing threat environment.

Auto-healing of Affected Assets

XDR has another useful feature. It can automatically restore assets that have been affected by ransomware, phishing, and email attacks. This helps bring them back to a safe state. It stops harmful processes. It removes bad forwarding rules. It isolates infected devices and user accounts using XDR sensors. This automation allows security teams to focus on more complex and high-risk cyber threats. They also have support from a security operations center (SOC) for ongoing monitoring.

Find Threats Faster With Fidelis Elevate® XDR

Download the datasheet now to see how Fidelis’ XDR platform can enhance your cybersecurity!

Benefits of an XDR Security solution

XDR vs. Other Security Solutions

Cyber threats have become more complex and advanced. Organizations are seeking various solutions to improve their security. The XDR in cybersecurity is different from other solutions. It provides a more complete and connected way to detect, respond to, and reduce threats.

XDR Vs. EDR

XDR solutions come with at least one built-in sensor. This is usually an Endpoint agent or a threat prevention, detection, and response agent. The latter is also known as Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR).

EDR generally uses endpoints to connect to many sources. It collects data from the network, cloud, identity and access management, and applications. This creates a wider view. It helps with better threat hunting, quicker incident response, and stronger overall security.

XDR Vs NDR

Network Detection and Response (NDR) focuses on analyzing and monitoring network traffic. This helps detect and respond to real or possible security threats. Cloud XDR combines network data analysis with endpoint, cloud, identity and access management, and application telemetry. This creates a more complete and connected security approach.

XDR compared to ITDR

ITDR counteracts the identity and credential compromise threats by detecting them. XDR includes identity data as part of the larger data it collects and analyzes. This helps detect and reduce many security threats, including those related to identity. ITDR increasingly builds as integrated functions of XDR solutions.

XDR Vs. SIEM

SIEM systems collect and correlate log data across the IT environment. It offers real-time analysis of security alerts and enables compliance reporting and incident response – all in one place.

However, SIEM is inherently reactive. Also, some SIEM solutions are dependent on predefined rules. In unifying control points, security infrastructure, and threat intelligence, XDR automatically correlates data from multiple security products, so proactive threat detection and better incident response can be made possible.

6 Industry XDR Use Cases

Cyber threats vary in relevance and type, making the need to detect, investigate, and remediate differ, while the enterprise approaches differ in how they address a variety of cybersecurity challenges across IT environments. Some of the most use cases of XDR include:

Cyber threat hunting

With XDR, organizations automate cyber threat hunting. Cyber threat hunting refers to the proactive search for unknown or undetected threats across an organization's security environment. A security team can use these tools to disrupt pending threats and in-progress attacks before they cause significant harm.

Security incident investigation

The attack surfaces will automatically have data collected from them, correlation of abnormal alerts, and root-cause analysis performed. Complex attacks will now have a central management console. This console will include visualizations. These tools will help security teams see which incidents might be harmful. They can then decide which cases need more investigation.

Threat intelligence and analytics

XDR exposes firms to large volumes of unfiltered data regarding new or ongoing emerging threats. Its powerful threat intelligence capabilities monitor and plot global signals daily, analyzing them to help firms detect and respond in a proactive manner to ever-changing internal and external threats.

Email phishing and malware

Employees and customers often send emails they think are phishing attacks to a special mailbox. This mailbox is for security analysts to check manually. With XDR, that same malware from the email attachments is automatically analyzed and the emails identified with malicious attachments deleted entirely across an organization. It offers enhanced protection while eradicating most repetitive tasks. Also, with XDR's automation and ML capabilities, teams can detect and contain malware even more proactively than this.

Insider threats

Insider threats, whether malicious or by mistake, cause compromised accounts, data exfiltration, and reputational harm for the company. XDR in cyber security makes use of behavior, amongst other analytics, to detect suspicious online activities such as credential abuse and large data uploads that may imply insider threats.

Endpoint device monitoring

With XDR, security teams can automatically check endpoint health. This is done using indicators of compromise and attack. It helps identify and respond to ongoing and future threats. XDR provides visibility across endpoints. This helps security teams understand where threats started and how they spread. With this information, they can isolate and stop the threats.

Future of XDR Security

Here is what the future of extended detection and response solutions could look like:

What to look for in an XDR Security platform?

Extended Detection and Response is a leading cyber defense strategy. An XDR cybersecurity tool provides visibility, detection, and response capabilities across every phase of a cyber-attack in on-prem, hybrid- and multi-cloud environments.

Key components to look for in an XDR tool often include:

Fidelis Elevate XDR® - Stops Cyber Threats 9X Faster

Fidelis Elevate® is an automated Extended Detection and Response (XDR) platform. It is designed for proactive cyber defense. This platform helps security teams meet their goals. It also supports the main needs of adaptive security architecture.

Fidelis Elevate®, enables IT security teams to be more efficient and effective.

This active XDR security platform:

This solution combines deception with traditional detection and response. It works across network security, endpoint security, and cloud security. This helps quickly change the attack surface. You can stop attackers earlier in their attack lifecycle.

This enables security teams to find, study and stop attackers earlier, while making it more costly and expensive for cyber adversaries.

See How Fidelis Elevate® XDR Outmaneuvers Cyber Threats!

Frequently Ask Questions

Is XDR suitable for all types and size organizations, or is it more oriented toward specific industries or use cases?

XDR benefits can be applied to any organization, regardless of size or industry. Though implementation varies according to specific needs, it is a holistic cybersecurity solution adaptable to all.

What is the difference between native and hybrid XDR?

Native XDR systems integrate with an enterprise’s existing portfolio of security tools, while hybrid XDR also uses third-party integrations for telemetry data collection.

Do I need both EDR and XDR?

XDR extends EDR by integrating with other security tools, including but not limited to, EDR that provides holistic detection and response across endpoints, networks, and cloud environments. EDR focuses solely on endpoint security but offers holistic solutions through correlating data from disparate sources. If your organization demands holistic visibility and threat detection, XDR would be less critical as it would not need to install a separate EDR tool.

What is the difference between XDR and managed XDR?

Managed detection and response (MDR) is a human-managed security service provider. Often MDRs use XDR systems to meet an enterprise’s security needs.

Does XDR include NDR?

Yes, an XDR solution will certainly incorporate NDR into it, part of a larger range of detection capabilities. XDR includes NDR as well as EDR, along with other security data to give you a more cohesive approach to detection across all your security environments.

About Author

Maria Glendinning

Maria has worked at Fidelis Security for over 6 years, where she has evolved from an ISR to a strategic role as the Business Development and Channel Marketing Manager for the EMEA region. Her journey reflects a passion for cutting-edge technologies, particularly in the cyberspace, driving her relentless pursuit of new skills and knowledge to excel in her role. With a multicultural background, and fluency in three languages, Maria possesses a profound appreciation for diverse cultures and traditions, enriching her professional interactions with a global perspective. Beyond her professional pursuits, In her free time, Maria enjoys hiking, travelling, theatre and cinema, and socializing with friends and family.

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