There are many network security solutions that focus on a specific area of the overall security posture. It’s important for enterprises to have a wide variety of these when building a defense strategy. Extended detection and response (XDR) takes some of the key security tools and bundles them into a single package.
There are some clear advantages to this. For starters, it’s going to be less expensive to get a comprehensive service-based offering than it is to create one piecemeal from a list of different vendors. But beyond this, getting multiple security solutions under one overarching platform can lead to synergies in analysis and response time.
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So, what exactly should you expect from an XDR solution? These are the individual elements that will go into a full offering:
- Network detection and response (NDR) – By integrating with the network via the SD-WAN, NDR can spot and stop incoming threats. Next-gen tools powered by artificial intelligence allow NDR to rapidly mitigate attacks.
- Endpoint detection and response (EDR) – Endpoints are increasingly becoming a critical consideration for network security. An endpoint is any kind of device that connects to enterprise networks, including tablets, sensors, smartphones, and more. About seven in 10 breaches originate at an endpoint. This is part of the reason why a dedicated EDR offering is so essential for any complete XDR solution.
- Managed detection and response (MDR) – MDR is in its own right a sort of curation of security services wrapped up as one managed solution. When you opt for XDR, you should get all the benefits of an MDR solution, plus even more advanced tools and services.
A worthwhile XDR offering is going to have all of these tools and services, as well as some more specific additions we’ll investigate in the next section. Let’s look at how organizations can implement next-gen monitoring, detection, and response with XDR.
Implementing Next-Gen Monitoring, Detection, and Response with XDR
All enterprises want to get the most out of their security tools and services. When you get a premium XDR, such as Open Systems XDR+, you don’t only get a compilation of security solutions. Instead, their XDR+ solution runs on a concept of being worth more than just the sum of its parts.
This power is derived from what’s known as cross-domain intelligence. When all systems of an XDR are correctly integrated, it’s possible to gain even deeper knowledge about network behavior—allowing for the development of highly sophisticated security protocols. This is the foundation of next-gen monitoring, detection and response with XDR.
The extent of next-gen XDR capabilities goes further than that. By combining AI and automated tools, XDR can react to and cut off threats before they can proliferate.
Why Should Your Organization Adopt XDR?
The ultimate question when it comes to implementing next-gen monitoring, detection, and response is whether or not it makes sense for the enterprise. While there are obviously benefits to XDR, maybe not every organization will find it’s exactly what fits their needs.
At the same time, there are more motivations to XDR adoption than the prospects of greater protection. While this in itself is of the utmost importance, it’s also essential to consider the costs of choosing to go with or without XDR. Not only can XDR lead to massive savings in recurring security spend, it also has the potential to drastically reduce the overall cost of a data breach—by up to 80 percent. This is significant when you consider the average breach costs an organization over $4 million.
Thanks to next-gen monitoring, detection, and response technologies, XDR is one of the most compelling network security solutions in existence. Deploying XDR services on your enterprise network can be a wise decision in today’s world of constant network threats.