Today, Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is approached as an essential part of EPP. Central to EDR is the detection of attackers that evaded the prevention layer of an EPP solution and are active in the target environment. In this article, we’ll provide an overview of the endpoint security market and offer insight into EDR security capabilities.[1]

What is Endpoint Detection and Response? Endpoint Detection and Response is defined as a cybersecurity system that monitors endpoint devices for signs of threat, detects vulnerabilities and attacks in real time, alerts stakeholders, and initiates the appropriate response via automated workflows, human intervention, or a combination of the two. Certain businesses may not see the importance of endpoint detection and response, they may believe that they only need antivirus software to protect themselves. Antivirus solutions only block threats as they attack your devices. EDR blocks threats before they reach you. Using both is the best way to protect your business and react to evolving threats.

The primary functions of an EDR security system are to:

  • Monitor and collect activity data from endpoints that could indicate athreat.
  • Analyze this data to identify threat patterns.
  • Automatically respond to identified threats to remove or contain them, andnotify security personnel.
  • Forensics and analysis tools to research identified threats and search forsuspicious activities.
    Endpoints, which can be any computer system in a network, such as end-user workstations or servers are what EDR is largely focused on. Although they do not contain network monitoring, they can safeguard the majority of operating systems (including Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD, etc.).

How Endpoint Detection and Response works.

Agents set up on local devices are how EDR systems function. Each agent continuously monitors the environment of its local devic0e and gathers data while being connected to a central hub with other agents. Intelligent technologies like Artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine learning (ML) are frequently used to transmit this data to the centralized hub for processing and analytics. To analyze incoming endpoint data in real time and identify threats, statistical models developed through this process are used. Threat detection techniques used by EDR solutions include: Signature analysis, Behavior alanalysis Sandbox analysis, Whitelist/blacklist matching.

The EDR system initiates an alert and distributes it to the necessary stakeholders via the user console whenever a threat, anomaly, or vulnerability is found. EDR has the ability to automatically react to specific threats[2]. For instance, unfamiliar or suspect file types are promptly quarantined before a human stakeholder is notified. Actions on alarms can be taken by stakeholders like the IT manager or the cybersecurity team by isolating a suspect file, deleting it,

putting it in a sandbox for more study, isolating the entire endpoint device, and so forth. Desktop computers, laptops, mobile devices, and other endpoint types are among the many that EDR is intended to safeguard. For ease of information transmission from endpoint agents, the system is typically hosted in the cloud.

Best practices.

The reliance of the enterprise on endpoint devices will increase as remote and hybrid work practices continue. The following are some best practices for improving EDR and safeguarding endpoint systems in 2022 [3]

  • Inspect your landscape before EDR adoption and automate device discovery
  • Complement EDR with an automated patching service
  • Use EDR systems that are cloud-native to enhance scalability.
  • To support BYOD, choose a straightforward device onboarding procedure.
  • Create threat detection configurations for use on international networks.
  • Select a silent installation and feature enablement procedure for EDR agents.

Conclusion

Organizations all over the world are now utilizing EDR systems in large numbers. Organizations largely rely on a dispersed endpoint landscape to manage remote employees and boost productivity, especially in the age of remote and hybrid work. In order to accommodate this growth and guarantee that company security is not jeopardized, the global EDR market is anticipated to increase from $1.76 billion in 2020 to $6.72 billion by 2026, according to Report Linker [3]Gartner says that EDR is quickly attaining maturity and wide use in its most recent Hype Cycle for Endpoint Security, 2021. Organizations must soon investigate more sophisticated capabilities like XDR and secure access service edge in order to defend the enterprise (SASE). This represents the next step in endpoint security, moving beyond localized threat detection and toward comprehensive protection.

Reference

  1. [1]  “What Is Endpoint Detection and Response? Definition, Importance, Key Components, and Best Practices | Spiceworks It Security.” https://www.spiceworks.com/it- security/endpoint-security/articles/what-is-edr/ (accessed Jul. 05, 2022).
  2. [2]  “The Evolution of EDR Acceleration of Intelligence and Actions.”
  3. [3]  “Best Practices for Endpoint Detection and Response – Bridgehead IT.”https://www.bridgeheadit.com/bestpractices_edr/ (accessed Jul. 05, 2022).