XDR is an alternative to the reactive endpoint solutions that provide only single-layered visibility over specific points. Though these layer-specific solutions are quite effective, they deliver a large volume of alerts that require a considerable amount of time in their investigation, response, and management.
XDR is a solution environment that takes EDR to the next level. XDR provides a multi-level approach to monitoring and reacting to an organization’s cybersecurity infrastructure through filling gaps and integrating deployed solutions into a common reporting platform.
This blog will provide a quick picture of XDR, its benefits, and how it works. Let’s get started.
What is XDR?
XDR stands for ‘Extended Detection and Response.’ It is a new and progressive approach to orchestrating a complete cybersecurity infrastructure. XDR facilitates extended threat detection across multiple security points and renders a sophisticated reporting environment and response capability.
The ‘X’ in XDR conveys the concept of integrating multiple security control points and data sources, the ‘D’ for faster, smarter, and robust threat detection with ML-enhanced analytics. The ‘R’ refers to quick responses and investigation via automation. To leverage XDR’s benefits, it must deliver diverse solutions that provide complete overwatch of the cybersecurity infrastructure.
XDR automatically collects and correlates data across multiple security vectors, facilitating faster threat detection so that the security analysts can respond quickly before the scope of the threat broadens.
While traditional approaches provide only layered visibility into attacks such as EDR for endpoints or NTA for networks, XDR has the potential to provide unified visibility and control across all security points.
Although these layered visibility solutions are effective, they often fail to detect the full scope of threats. For instance, EDR, while highly effective and a great addition to endpoint management, depending on the robust nature of the EDR solution, may only detect 26% of the initial vector of attack. The other issue with an unsophisticated EDR solution is creating a high alert production that many administrators will tend to ignore.
Why Enterprises Need XDR
The threat landscape continues to expand. Organizations need to and will continue to increase their cybersecurity structure. However, as the number of deployed security solutions grows in the enterprise, the capacity to manage them and effectively respond to their alerts also grows; therefore, integrating solutions into a more manageable environment will become necessary.
As malicious actors become more sophisticated in their tactics, techniques, and procedures, successfully circumventing their attack falls upon the organization to roll up their sleeves and implement effective and efficient security barriers.
It can be challenging for organizations to manage the totality of the security solutions deployed, their reporting, and alert production. Administrators can quickly become overwhelmed by the entirety of data produced from multiple locations and systems and manage a consistent stream security alert. XDR enables organizations and system administrators to manage the deployed security solutions and, most importantly, manage their produced data and quickly and effectively act on alerts.
How XDR Works
XDR is a platform environment where deployed solutions send their security data and alerts and, through a unified managed environment, allows administrators to react. The management of multiple solutions improves detection and response across the entire network and enhances the organization’s overall security.
XDR scans the entire threat landscape and exposes the full extent of an attack. It differs from the conventional threat detection methodologies in more than one way. Unlike other methods, it aims to solve issues created by the silo approach of segmenting the attack surface into multiple primary solution categories that report independently and do not support each other. It also takes pivotal steps to respond to the threat and eliminate it right after detection.
XDR brings value in multiple ways.
Intelligent & Unsurpassed Detections
XDR provides extended detection of targeted threats by monitoring internal and external assets. After detecting an attack, XDR incorporates information from the attack and uses it to scan for similar incidences across the enterprise.
By correlating between data and alerts, XDR builds attack timelines and prioritize events; it enables the cybersecurity teams to quickly capture the root cause of the incident, other affected devices and hopefully predict further actions of the malicious actor.
XDR solutions operate through automation and ensure that the deployed security solutions reporting into the platform are properly functioning and accurately reporting on their monitored environments.
XDR vs. EDR
EDR stands for ‘Endpoint Detection and Response’, which means it takes necessary actions to detect cyber threats explicitly at the endpoint and responds decisively towards eliminating them.
XDR takes EDR to the next level, evolving its capabilities and extending its benefits beyond endpoints. XDR incorporates and manages security from multiple locations and solutions across the network, including endpoints, email security, server security, and deception environments.
XDR’s goal is to deliver integrated control and response across multiple security solutions and deliver greater capability than simply deploying EDR.
Benefits of XDR
XDR adds value to an organization’s security architecture by unifying the segmented security products into an integrated security detection and response platform.
- Single, integrated, and automated platform for complete visibility
- Better Operational Productivity
- Precise monitoring for threats
- Ensure response across all devices, whether they are managed or unmanaged
- Better security outcomes due to reduced detection times
- Faster data access
- Improved compliance
- Visualized root cause analysis
- Automation capabilities for repetitive tasks
RevBits Cyber Intelligence Platform — XDR at Full Speed
XDR solutions are a considerable improvement to the management of multiple deployed security solutions. Considering an XDR platform, it is essential to consider the different security tools reporting into the XDR environment. How broad-ranged are those solutions to give a full security picture across the total environment? How quickly can an administrator maneuver between reporting solutions to act on intelligence and alerts? And finally, how robust is the reporting and response capability of the platform?
RevBits Cyber Intelligence Platform (CIP) is a multi-solution XDR platform leveraging eleven security modules to enhance enterprise security. With the capability of delivering solution awareness and actionable intelligence from security modules including endpoint security, EDR, email security, deception technology, privileged access management, privileged session management, password management, service account management, key management, and certificate management, system administrators are in full control of their security environment.
Operating through a single sign-on dashboard that is configurable by the administrator, each solution is reachable within one click, and alerts from all security solutions are populated and actionable. Additionally, RevBIts CIP integrates into the organization’s SIEM environment.
RevBits CIP integrates primary cybersecurity solutions into one operational environment with a single vendor structure to enhance organizational security.
Originally published at https://www.revbits.com on September 14, 2020.
