The average IT department manages thousands of endpoints, each coming with a very real risk of cyberattack. From laptops and servers to IoT devices and digital assistants, hackers are constantly on the lookout for an open door to infiltrate.

Standard security measures are not enough to dam the tide of breaches waiting to overtake your system. Let' discuss how integrated endpoint protection like EDR can coordinate alerts and responses to take threat hunting to a whole new level.

What Is EDR?

EDR stands for endpoint detection and response but is sometimes referred to as ETDR (endpoint threat detection and response). No matter how you say it, EDR is an integrated endpoint security solution that combines real-time continuous monitoring and collection of data using advanced rules-based, automated response and analysis.

The primary functions of EDR endpoint protection are to help mid-size to enterprise organizations with endpoint detection:

• Monitor, collect, and analyze data that indicate a potential threat.
• Identify threat patterns, respond automatically by removing or containing them, and immediately notify security personnel.
• Research identified threats and search for suspicious activities by using forensics and analysis tools.

EDR is especially important for mobile endpoints as mobile ransomware is increasingly common in a remote-work world and is notoriously difficult to detect and remove.

How EDR Works

A real-time analytics engine uses algorithms to evaluate large volumes of data, searching for patterns. EDR works by deftly responding to immediate threats. This is accomplished by integrating all processes, connections, activities, and data transfers into a central database.

Preconfigured rules recognize security breaches and trigger an appropriate response. Threats that don't fit such rules are rapidly diagnosed via forensic tools that hunt threats and conduct post-mortem analysis to learn how a threat penetrated security, therefore preventing any similar attack in the future.

How Is EDR Different from XDR?

EDR endpoint security is often confused with XDR, so to clear things up, here' a primer on each:

• EDR (endpoint detection and response) identifies and reacts to advanced security threats designed to evade traditional security defenses. It uses AI, machine learning, and advanced file analysis in threat hunting.
• XDR (extended detection and response) broadens the security scope beyond endpoints to networks, servers, cloud workloads, SIEM, and more. SentinelOne Singularity XDR provides greater visibility into security processes and is on the path to disrupting the security industry with its highly advanced techniques.

5 Benefits of EDR

You've been provided with a general understanding of what EDR is and how it works. From that, you can gather an idea of why your business needs it, but we want to explain it in greater detail so there are no misunderstandings.

Here are five of the main benefits of EDR for businesses.

1. EDR Utilizes AI
Static methods don't cut it with today' hackers, who are always working to stay one step ahead of traditional security methods. EDR uses AI to keep abreast of ever-evolving threats and techniques to combat this problem, so intrusion is fought off time and time again.

2. EDR Delivers in Real-Time
Unlike legacy antivirus software that scans for viruses once a day or every several days, EDR functions in real-time to respond immediately to potential threats and intrusions, mitigating damage before it becomes significant.

3. EDR Finds Hidden Patterns
EDR finds patterns that aren't visible to a human analyst by searching for and analyzing millions of historical actions. This greatly increases the likelihood a potential threat is detected, contained, and remediated before causing any real damage.

4. EDR Prevents Lateral Movement
Attackers use reconnaissance techniques to infiltrate a network and move within its low-level servers, email accounts, employee devices, and such. Their goal is to attack and exfiltrate financial data, intellectual property, personal identities, and other sensitive information. But EDR stops active attacks by quickly isolating them, removing malicious files, and repairing any damage left behind.

5. EDR Restores Devices to Its Pre-Infected State
In the past, getting infected with malware meant removing the malicious code, a process that could take an inordinate amount of time. However, EDR has rollback capability that renders most attacks essentially useless.

Get Your Security Covered. Lumifi is here to remove the stress of security. Contact us today!