When it comes to protecting your business, you’ve probably heard that a robust cybersecurity strategy is key to securing your digital assets and mitigating risks. Organizations are safest when they have as many layers of security as possible. But what should that include?
There are a variety of options on the market, but two cornerstones of every cybersecurity arsenal are managed detection and response (MDR) and endpoint detection and response (EDR). Even though they sound similar, these two security solutions serve complementary purposes, helping to better detect threats facing organizations. Here’s what you need to know about the difference between MDR and EDR.
What Is MDR?
In a nutshell, managed detection and response is a comprehensive solution that combines human expertise and 24/7 automated monitoring to protect organizations from bad actors. MDR security solutions offer a proactive and rapid approach to identifying threats and mitigating them as they arise.
For example, our MDR solutions:
- Monitor your cloud email environment to ensure security and breach containment
- Monitor the dark web for your data
- Scan hybrid networks for vulnerabilities
- Watch edge devices for data exfiltration
- Contain threats as they emerge
Thanks to the mix of human agents and automated responses, MDR can offer end-to-end coverage for a lower budget than a traditional workforce of cybersecurity experts.
What Is EDR?
On the other hand, endpoint detection and response focuses on the devices that connect to your network and the potential threats they pose. EDR solutions can provide transparency and security when desktops, laptops, servers, mobile devices, and other hardware connect to your network or domain.
What’s particularly important is that EDR technology can analyze billions of events in real-time to build contextual information about normal operations. By continuously monitoring and defending these endpoints, organizations can separate suspicious behavior from routine operations to better block malicious attackers before they strike.
What Is the Difference Between MDR and EDR?
Though both solutions share continuous monitoring, there are core differences between the two cybersecurity solutions.
EDR solutions are limited in their scope (i.e., endpoints) and typically reactive, where MDR security solutions can incorporate EDR within their repertoire of proactive monitoring and threat responses. Plus, MDR has much broader incident response, investigation, and advisory capabilities than an endpoint-focused solution, especially when it comes to monitoring environments that aren’t necessarily owned by the end client.
Why Having Both MDR and EDR Matters
Hackers are diligent and given enough time will always find a way to breach a single barrier. Recently, cybersecurity researchers found attackers have started using a tool called EDRSilencer to mute alerts to security tools in managed consoles. Though resourceful cybersecurity experts might be able to find a fix, there’s vulnerability here and now unless you have other layers of protection.
When you combine MDR, EDR, and other cybersecurity measures, you create a network of trenches that cybercriminals need to bypass to reach their goal. Though they might pass one or two patrols, they’re far less likely to make it to their desired target.
Are you looking to harness the potential of EDR and MDR in your cybersecurity strategy? Our Cubex Group Security Solution (CGSS) has you covered. Discover how we can protect your assets.
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