XDR: The solution to block all attacks

XDR: A Necessary Technology Today

To keep up with the volume, velocity, and variety of data, Extended Detection and Response (XDR) technologies are needed to collect and process security data at scale in hybrid IT environments. SIEM has been doing this for many years, but marketers have coined a new term: XDR, which is similar to SIEM (in fact, it is the same thing). Moreover, since EDRs cannot process data outside of endpoints—specifically Windows and Linux—XDR makes it possible to explain that we will be looking for data sources beyond these endpoints. XDR is therefore the natural evolution of EDR.

XDR definition: What is extended detection and response?

Extended Detection and Response (XDR) is a new, holistic approach to threat detection and response that provides comprehensive protection against cyberattacks, unauthorized access, and malicious use. According to Gartner, XDR is “a SaaS-based security threat detection and incident response tool that natively integrates multiple security products into a cohesive security platform that unifies all components.” In fact, this is nothing new—it is essentially the functionality of a SIEM, with the addition of endpoint, Windows, and Linux log data to justify the new term.

The main benefits of Extended Detection and Response (XDR)

XDR enables an organization to go beyond traditional detection controls by providing a simplified, holistic view of threats across the technology landscape. XDR provides real-time, actionable threat intelligence for better and faster results. The three main benefits of Extended Detection and Response (XDR) are:

• Improved protection, detection, and response capabilities
• Improved staff productivity
• Reduced total cost of ownership for effective detection and response to security threats.

The XDR solution promises to consolidate multiple products into a single, consistent, unified security incident detection and response platform.

What is the difference between XDR and traditional SIEM?

Traditional SIEMs are a core component of security operations center (SOC) technology tools. They collect log data from dozens or hundreds of security tools, correlate it, and generate meaningful alerts. While traditional SIEMs have limited detection capabilities, “next-generation” SIEMs are enhanced with UEBA and threat intelligence. In this case, they can be more effective than XDRs. As you can see, there is a fine line between modern SIEMs and XDR.

We could simplify this by saying that, generally speaking, an XDR is also equipped with EDR and, in this case, is capable of immediate remediation. But be wary of SIEMs such as Reveelium, for example, which are also capable of performing remediation.

What a lot of barbaric words! The cyber business has always made a simple field more complex:

• The more data we recover from different sources (SIEM or XDR), the better the protection,
• Remediation in the event of an incident can be performed by agents on the workstations (EDR)
• Event management is often associated with SOAR (we'll discuss this in another post)

Let’s remember that the best protection comes from a combination of different detection engines: correlation, UEBA, and threat intelligence. And in this field, marketing promises are rarely kept.

What is the connection between XDR and SIEM?

XDR can complement traditional SIEMs to add some missing capabilities:

Interaction with security tools: not only to retrieve data on events, but also to enable defensive capabilities to address those events (remediation).

What is the difference between EDR and XDR?

XDR represents a logical evolution of endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions into a primary incident response tool. Before discussing the differences between these two solutions, let’s look at their similarities:

EDR vs. XDR: Key Similarities

Both EDR and XDR solutions are designed to replace traditional, reactive approaches to cybersecurity. As a result, EDR and XDR solutions are similar in several ways, including:

Preventive approach:

Traditional security solutions often focus on detecting and addressing ongoing threats. EDR and XDR solutions aim to prevent security incidents by collecting in-depth data and applying data analysis and threat intelligence to identify threats before they occur.

Rapid threat response:

Both EDR and XDR support automated threat detection and response. This enables an organization to minimize the cost, impact, and damage caused by a cyberattack by preventing or quickly resolving it.

Threat hunting: Threat hunting enables proactive security by allowing analysts to identify and resolve potential security issues before they can be exploited by an attacker. EDR and XDR provide deep visibility and easy access to data, which facilitates threat hunting efforts.

Key Differences Between EDR and XDR

Despite their similarities, EDR and XDR take different approaches to cybersecurity. Here are two of the main differences between EDR and XDR:

Focus: EDR focuses on endpoint protection, providing deep visibility and threat prevention for a specific device. XDR, on the other hand, takes a broader view, integrating not only endpoint security but also cloud security, email, and other solutions. Just like SIEM.

Integration solution: EDR solutions can provide “best-in-class” protection for endpoints, and an organization may be able to integrate them manually with a set of point solutions. XDR is designed to provide integrated threat visibility and management within a single solution, greatly simplifying an organization’s security architecture.

What is the difference between this and Managed Detection and Response (MDR)?

Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is endpoint security “as a service.” This service manages EDR security technologies for organizations, including detection and response. The service typically includes the following activities:

Continuous monitoring
Threat hunting
Threat and alert prioritization (SOAR)
Managed investigation services
Guided response
Managed remediation

The main benefit of an MDR is that it allows threats to be identified quickly and their impact mitigated without the need for additional in-house staff. This is particularly important given the global shortage of highly skilled cybersecurity professionals and the resulting skills gap, especially when it comes to protecting cloud-based systems and assets.

EDR, MDR, XDR: To Summarize

EDR is the basic threat detection and monitoring tool for Windows and Linux endpoints. Antivirus software, while essential, currently detects only 4% of attack techniques. EDR covers slightly more than 40% of Mitre attack techniques. This solution uses software agents or sensors installed on endpoints to capture data. This data is then sent to a centralized platform for analysis.

The MDR is essentially an EDR purchased as a service. This service manages endpoint security and focuses on threat mitigation, elimination, and remediation with a dedicated and experienced security team.

XDR extends the capabilities of EDR to protect more than just endpoints and recover data from firewalls, proxies, DNS, etc. … The XDR solution “scales” across the infrastructure, streamlining the ingestion, analysis, and flow of security data across an organization’s security tools to improve visibility into hidden and advanced threats and unify the response.

XDR then functions as a SIEM. When purchased as a managed solution, XDR also provides access to experienced threat hunting, threat intelligence, and analysis experts.

Which solution should your organization choose?

Every organization’s IT security needs are different. Since security is essential, it is important to choose a security tool that provides the right level of protection based on the company’s risk profile.

Choose the EDR solution if your organization

• wants to improve its security posture and the level of endpoint security beyond antivirus protection.
• has an information security team capable of responding to the alerts and recommendations generated by the EDR solution
• is in the early stages of developing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy and wants to lay the foundation for a scalable security architecture.

Choose the MDR or MSSP solution if your organization

• does not have a cybersecurity team
• Does not have a mature detection and response program capable of quickly addressing advanced threats using existing tools or resources.
• wants to develop new skills and gain experience without hiring additional staff
• Struggles to fill skill gaps on the IT team or to attract highly skilled and specialized talent
• They want protection that keeps them up to date on the latest threats to organizations.

Choose XDR or Next-Generation SIEM if your organization

• wants to improve advanced threat detection
• wants to accelerate multi-domain analysis, investigation, and threat hunting from a single console
• suffers from alert fatigue in a disconnected or siloed security architecture
• wants to improve response times to security alerts and threats
• wants to improve the return on investment for all of its security tools.

To understand the varying detection capabilities of different technologies, a study provides further insight: Who comes out on top? The MITRE Matrix-based ranking of the best protection technologies

In conclusion, the solution that offers the highest level of protection remains the implementation of a UEBA combined with a SIEM and an EDR.

Discover the ITrust XDR solution

With 15 years of experience in cybersecurity, ITrust offers a unified XDR solution capable of covering 90% of MITRE Attack threats. As a result, your teams become more effective and efficient. Prevent, detect, and respond to advanced threats through automation, machine learning, and threat intelligence.