Best 10 Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Solutions For Enterprise (2026)
We reviewed the leading EDR platforms on detection accuracy, the quality of behavioral analysis, and how well automated response handles threats that require speed over manual investigation.
Written by
Caitlin Harris
Technical Review by
Laura Iannini
Quick Summary
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions provide continuous endpoint monitoring, behavioral threat detection, and automated response — replacing traditional antivirus with capabilities designed for modern attack techniques. Endpoint threats have an average dwell time measured in months when undetected; fast detection and automated response are the primary differentiators. We reviewed the top platforms and found ESET PROTECT Enterprise, Huntress Managed EDR, and ThreatLocker Detect to be the strongest on detection accuracy and response speed.
Endpoint detection and response feels straightforward until you’re actually deploying it. You need to see threats in real time, respond faster than attackers escalate, and do this across hundreds or thousands of endpoints without crushing your infrastructure or driving up false positives.
The real problem isn’t finding a tool that detects malware. The problem is finding one that surfaces threats faster than your team can actually respond to them, integrates smoothly into your existing security stack, and doesn’t require hiring additional analysts just to tune out the noise. Get it wrong, and you end up with alert fatigue that actually degrades security.
We evaluated 10 EDR and XDR platforms across Windows, macOS, and Linux environments, evaluating each for detection speed, false positive rates, investigation capabilities, integration depth, and deployment ease. We examined how each handles ransomware, alongside lateral movement and privilege escalation. We also reviewed how teams actually use them in production and where implementations stumble.
Our Recommendations
Your choice depends on whether you prefer unified bundled protection, managed threat hunting, or automated policy-driven response.
- Best For Bundled XDR and Encryption: ESET PROTECT Enterprise bundles endpoint protection, full disk encryption, and threat detection under a single console.
- Best For Managed Threat Hunting Without Headcount: Huntress Managed EDR pairs always-on monitoring with 24/7 human-staffed SOC that hunts threats and handles response.
- Best For Policy-Driven Automated Response: ThreatLocker Detect uses policy-based monitoring and automated remediation to catch unusual endpoint activity without manual intervention.
- Best For ML-Driven Enterprise Detection: Cisco Secure Endpoint uses machine learning and Talos Intelligence to detect, isolate, and respond to endpoint threats across mid-to-large enterprises.
- Best For Cross-Domain Threat Correlation: CrowdStrike Falcon Insight XDR extends EDR foundation into cross-domain detection, correlating threats across endpoints, cloud, and identity systems with MITRE ATT&CK mapping.
ESET is a market-leading provider of lightweight, highly effective cybersecurity solutions designed to protect both consumers and enterprises against known and zero-day threats. ESET PROTECT Enterprise is their extended detection and response (XDR) platform, combining endpoint security, full disk encryption, file server security, proactive threat detection, and facilitated response. We think it’s a strong fit for mid-sized to larger organizations that want XDR, encryption, and endpoint protection under a single console.
ESET PROTECT Enterprise Key Features
ESET PROTECT Enterprise leverages machine learning algorithms, adaptive scanning, and behavioral analysis, alongside crowdsourced intelligence from 110 million endpoints protected by ESET, to identify and remediate zero-day threats in real time. Admins can leverage root-cause analysis and system visibility insights from ESET Inspect to respond immediately to threats. Response options include one-click actions such as rebooting or isolating endpoints, as well as a full suite of PowerShell remediation options, with risk scoring to help prioritize threats.
The platform features endpoint security tools including mobile device management, brute force protection, a built-in sandbox, and a ransomware shield. Full disk encryption capabilities for Windows and macOS devices help protect corporate data and ensure compliance with data protection regulations. ESET PROTECT Enterprise offers on-premises and cloud deployments and integrates with SIEM, SOAR, and ticketing tools via a public API.
Our Take
We think ESET PROTECT Enterprise is a strong solution for mid-sized to larger organizations looking to protect their endpoints and extended network against known and zero-day threats. Existing users praise the solution for its friendly interface and powerful forensic analysis capabilities, as well as its ability to adjust alert sensitivity automatically to reduce false positives. The public API integration with SIEM and SOAR tools makes deployment into existing security stacks straightforward.
Strengths
- XDR with root-cause analysis and real-time threat remediation
- Crowdsourced intelligence from 110 million ESET-protected endpoints
- One-click endpoint isolation and PowerShell remediation options
- Full disk encryption for Windows and macOS included
- Public API integrates with SIEM, SOAR, and ticketing tools
Cautions
- Pricing not publicly available; requires contacting ESET for a quote
Huntress offers a fully managed EDR solution that delivers endpoint security to detect and respond to attacks like ransomware and infostealers, backed by a 24/7 AI-assisted SOC staffed with industry-recognized analysts and threat hunters. We think the focus on hacker tradecraft, including persistent footholds, privilege escalation, lateral movement, and ransomware detection, addresses the gaps where traditional antivirus often fails. Managed EDR supports Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints with OS-specific agents and threat detections.
Huntress Managed EDR Key Features
Huntress Managed EDR provides continuous endpoint monitoring across Windows, macOS, and Linux. Features include malicious process behavior monitoring, persistent foothold identification to eliminate hidden backdoors, and ransomware canaries for early-stage ransomware detection. The platform includes managed Microsoft Defender Antivirus and support for Defender for Endpoint and macOS XProtect. The External Reconnaissance feature automatically scans the network perimeter for exposed ports and services and surfaces potential vulnerabilities to your team. You can view all data and real-time security insights in the Huntress Security Platform dashboard.
Our Take
We think Huntress Managed EDR is a strong option for organizations of all sizes that need EDR technology, threat experts, and 24/7 detection and response without the overhead of staffing a team of threat experts and building an internal SOC. It’s also a good fit for Microsoft Defender users who want a highly complementary EDR solution. The hands-on SOC team hunts and stops threats, giving you critical alerts rather than a flood of noise to triage.
Strengths
- 24/7 real-time monitoring and threat detection
- Detailed incident reports with automated remediation
- Minimal admin overhead and easy deployment
- Trusted across over 215,000 organizations and 4.5M endpoints
- Fast support responses via phone, chat, and email
Cautions
- Fully managed model may not suit enterprises that want to self-manage EDR with internal resources
ThreatLocker Detect is an EDR solution that provides automated policy-based monitoring, alerting, and remediation when unusual endpoint activity is identified. We think it works best as part of the broader ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform, where the combination of application allowlisting, Ringfencing, and storage control creates layered defense that most standalone EDR tools can’t match.
ThreatLocker Detect Key Features
ThreatLocker Detect is powered by telemetry data gathered from ThreatLocker agents on the endpoint and Windows event logs, used to identify and address malicious activities on endpoint devices. The platform can identify a wide range of potential risks, including unusual traffic and multiple failed login events. Automated alerting triggers when unusual behavior is detected, including detailed threat information. The platform can automatically respond to issues, including enforcing rules, disconnecting endpoints from the network, or enforcing lockdown mode which prevents all endpoint activities. All responses are controlled via incident response policies configured in the admin console, and policies can set a severity threshold before an alert is generated to reduce alert fatigue.
The ThreatLocker Zero Trust Endpoint Protection Platform provides application, network, and storage control tools alongside the EDR. These allow you to control which apps users can install, lock down installed applications to prevent the spread of ransomware, and enable dynamic Zero Trust network controls to allow and block devices from connecting to your servers. ThreatLocker also offers a managed detection and response (MDR) add-on for this solution.
Our Take
We think ThreatLocker Detect delivers the most value when paired with the rest of the Zero Trust platform. The policy-driven approach gives you granular control that behavioral-only EDR tools lack. The admin console is intuitive and well designed, and configuring policies and controlling applications for end users is straightforward. If your team wants a prevention-first EDR with strong automated remediation, ThreatLocker Detect is well worth considering.
Strengths
- Automated remediation enforces policies without analyst intervention
- Layered defense with allowlisting, Ringfencing, and storage control
- Configurable severity thresholds reduce alert fatigue
- MDR add-on available for 24/7 managed monitoring
Cautions
- Pricing requires a custom quote; no publicly listed plans
Cisco Secure Endpoint
Cisco Secure Endpoint is cloud-native EDR powered by Cisco Talos, one of the largest commercial threat intelligence operations in the world. We think this is the natural EDR choice for organizations already running Cisco security infrastructure, where the native integration with firewalls, Umbrella, and Duo extends detection without adding standalone management overhead.
Cisco Secure Endpoint Key Features
Machine learning models trained on Talos data catch fileless malware and ransomware that signature-based tools miss. Behavioral analysis monitors endpoint activity in real time, matching streams of activity against attack patterns that update dynamically as threats evolve. One-click endpoint isolation contains active threats fast. Over 200 pre-built search queries give your team a head start on investigations. The Premier license tier adds proactive threat hunting from Talos analysts. Continuous endpoint recording provides full forensic context and attack timeline for post-incident analysis.
What Customers Say
Customers say detection depth and early threat visibility are strong points. The platform runs quietly without disruptive notifications, and initial agent setup is straightforward. Integration with other Cisco security tools extends coverage cleanly. Some users report that the management console feels complex, particularly for investigations and policy creation. Customers also note that reporting and dashboards lack the visual depth needed for quick insight extraction.
Our Take
We think Cisco Secure Endpoint fits mid-to-large enterprises with dedicated security teams, especially those already running Cisco infrastructure. The Talos intelligence backing is a genuine advantage. If you need a simple, self-service EDR or run a multi-vendor security stack, the complexity and ecosystem dependency may not be worth it.
Strengths
- Talos threat intelligence feeds detection across all endpoints
- One-click isolation contains active threats fast
- 200+ pre-built search queries accelerate investigations
- Continuous endpoint recording provides full forensic timeline
Cautions
- Users report the management console is complex for investigations
- Reviews note reporting and dashboards lack visual depth
CrowdStrike Falcon Insight XDR
CrowdStrike Falcon Insight XDR delivers extended detection and response through a single lightweight agent that covers Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, and Linux. We think this is one of the strongest EDR platforms for organizations that need cross-domain threat correlation and fast triage, backed by CrowdStrike’s cloud-native architecture and rapid threat intelligence updates.
CrowdStrike Falcon Insight XDR Key Features
Behavioral analytics run continuously, catching threats that signature-based detection misses. MITRE ATT&CK mapping adds context to every alert, so your team understands which technique is in play without digging through raw event data. AI-driven threat intelligence prioritizes which incidents need attention first. Real-time containment actions let analysts isolate compromised endpoints during active incidents. The single-agent architecture keeps deployment simple, and the API opens cross-platform visibility when you connect other security tools into the ecosystem.
What Customers Say
Customers say the platform runs quietly and protects endpoints without noticeable performance impact. The centralized console makes monitoring large endpoint fleets manageable, and support gets consistent praise for responsiveness. Some users report that advanced features feel overwhelming initially, and onboarding takes longer than expected across large deployments. Customers also note that endpoint offboarding from the console is not always immediate or well-automated.
Our Take
We think Falcon Insight XDR fits security teams that want deep visibility and fast triage without managing multiple agents. The MITRE mapping and behavioral analytics are genuine differentiators for investigation speed. Budget the licensing carefully, as pricing places it out of reach for smaller organizations.
Strengths
- MITRE ATT&CK mapping adds attack context to every alert
- Single lightweight agent covers Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, and Linux
- Real-time containment actions isolate threats during active incidents
- API-based integrations extend visibility across the security stack
Cautions
- Reviews note advanced features overwhelm new users initially
- Endpoint offboarding is not always immediate or well-automated
Heimdal Endpoint Detection and Response
Heimdal EDR bundles next-gen antivirus, privileged access management, application control, patch management, DNS filtering, and encryption into a single platform. We think this suits organizations tired of managing separate tools for each security function, where the consolidation value outweighs the trade-off of individual module depth against best-of-breed alternatives.
Heimdal Endpoint Detection and Response Key Features
Machine learning drives the detection engine, catching malware, vulnerability exploits, and social engineering attacks proactively. The unified dashboard manages threats across email, endpoint, web, and identity layers without switching tools. DNS-level filtering blocks threats before they reach endpoints. Built-in patch management covers both OS and third-party applications, reducing the attack surface proactively. Privileged access management is included natively, and automated remediation workflows handle response actions so your team spends less time on manual cleanup.
What Customers Say
Customers say deployment runs smoothly and the platform catches threats that previous antivirus solutions missed. The central console gets praise for clear analytics that help quantify organizational risk. Support earns positive marks for resolving issues quickly. Customer feedback for this product is limited in depth. Available reviews focus on deployment ease and general satisfaction but lack detail on edge cases or performance under load.
Our Take
We think Heimdal EDR works best for organizations that want to reduce vendor sprawl across endpoint protection, PAM, and patching. The breadth is genuine, though individual modules may not match dedicated tools in their category. If consolidation and operational simplicity are your priorities, Heimdal delivers.
Strengths
- Bundles EDR, PAM, patching, DNS filtering, and encryption in one console
- DNS-level filtering blocks threats before they reach endpoints
- Automated remediation workflows reduce manual response time
- Catches threats previous antivirus solutions missed
Cautions
- Limited detailed customer feedback makes edge-case assessment harder
- Pricing not publicly available, requiring direct vendor engagement
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is Microsoft’s EDR platform covering Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and IoT devices. We think this delivers the most value for organizations already committed to Microsoft 365 and Azure, where native integration eliminates the connector overhead and policy fragmentation that comes with third-party EDR tools.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Key Features
The platform processes over 78 trillion daily signals through Microsoft’s global intelligence network. Cross-service signal correlation connects a phishing email flagged in Outlook to lateral movement on an endpoint automatically, giving your team attack context fast. Copilot for Security adds AI-assisted alert prioritization and natural language investigation queries. Device discovery maps both managed and unmanaged endpoints into a single attack surface view. Automated response capabilities handle containment without waiting for analyst intervention.
What Customers Say
Customers say the Microsoft ecosystem integration is the strongest selling point, with unified investigation across endpoints, identities, cloud apps, and email. Setup runs smoothly for teams already familiar with Microsoft tooling. Automated response capabilities get consistent praise. Some users report that policy management spans Entra, Intune, Defender, and Purview, creating confusion about where settings live. Customers also note that detection quality on macOS and Linux still trails the Windows experience.
Our Take
We think Defender for Endpoint makes the most sense paired with the broader Defender XDR suite inside a Microsoft-committed environment. The signal volume and cross-service correlation are genuine advantages. If you run a mixed environment or need consistent detection across all operating systems, evaluate the platform gaps on non-Windows endpoints.
Strengths
- 78 trillion daily signals feed real-time threat intelligence
- Cross-service correlation connects email, identity, and endpoint threats
- Copilot for Security adds AI-assisted triage and natural language queries
- Device discovery maps managed and unmanaged endpoints in one view
Cautions
- Policy management spans multiple portals, creating confusion
- Reviews note macOS and Linux detection trails the Windows experience
Palo Alto Cortex XDR
Palo Alto Cortex XDR correlates endpoint, network, and cloud telemetry to detect and respond to advanced threats from a single platform. We think this is one of the most capable EDR/XDR platforms available, backed by strong independent test results. Cortex XDR achieved 99% in both threat prevention and detection in the 2025 AV-Comparatives EPR evaluation and claims to eliminate up to 99.6% of alert noise.
Palo Alto Cortex XDR Key Features
Intelligent alert grouping clusters related events and ranks them by severity, so analysts focus on incidents rather than drowning in individual alerts. MITRE ATT&CK mapping adds investigation context out of the box. Visual investigation tools and root cause analysis help analysts trace attack chains without switching consoles. Process tree analysis digs into command-line activity and TTPs at a granular level. The response toolkit includes Live Terminal for hands-on remediation, Search and Destroy for threat hunting, and Host Restore for rapid recovery.
What Customers Say
Customers say the platform reliably detects advanced threats including malware, ransomware, and targeted attacks. Integration with native Palo Alto tools works smoothly, and endpoint setup is straightforward with real-time alerting. Some users report that tuning policies and customizing detections involves a steep learning curve. Customers also note that false positives on common applications require early attention and manual adjustment.
Our Take
We think Cortex XDR fits enterprise teams with dedicated analysts who can invest time in tuning and configuration. The alert grouping and visual investigation tools are genuine operational wins. If your team lacks the bandwidth for upfront optimization or you’re working with a tight budget, the complexity and cost may outweigh the benefits.
Strengths
- 99% prevention and detection in 2025 AV-Comparatives EPR evaluation
- Intelligent alert grouping reduces analyst fatigue significantly
- Visual investigation tools trace full attack chains in one view
- Live Terminal and Host Restore enable fast hands-on remediation
Cautions
- Reviews note policy tuning and detection customization have a steep curve
- False positives on common applications require early manual adjustment
SentinelOne Singularity XDR
SentinelOne Singularity XDR uses behavioral AI to detect and remediate threats across Windows, macOS, Linux, and IoT devices. We think the automated remediation with rollback is a genuine differentiator for teams that lack 24/7 SOC coverage, and the Storyline feature eliminates the manual timeline reconstruction that eats investigation hours.
SentinelOne Singularity XDR Key Features
The behavioral AI engine monitors endpoints in real time, catching threats based on activity patterns rather than signatures alone. Storyline chains related events into a visual narrative so analysts understand how an attack unfolded without manually piecing together logs. MITRE ATT&CK mapping adds standardized investigation context. Automated remediation detects, isolates, and rolls back changes without waiting for analyst intervention. Three tiers ship as Core, Control, and Complete, with full EDR, USB management, and network control in the top package. Data residency options span US, EU, and APAC.
What Customers Say
Customers say the platform makes threat detection clearer, with alert context that speeds up response. Smaller security teams praise centralized visibility across endpoint, network, cloud, and identity telemetry. Alert correlation reduces fatigue by surfacing real incidents over noise. Customer feedback is largely positive but light on specific friction points, which makes it harder to assess real-world operational challenges during evaluation.
Our Take
We think SentinelOne fits organizations wanting automated detection and response without heavy analyst overhead. The Storyline visualization and rollback capabilities reduce time-to-resolution significantly. If you need granular control over detection tuning or the deepest possible forensic tools, dedicated EDR platforms may offer more flexibility.
Strengths
- Storyline visualizes full attack chains without manual log correlation
- Automated remediation with rollback handles threats independently
- Cross-telemetry correlation spans endpoint, network, cloud, and identity
- Data residency options across US, EU, and APAC for compliance
Cautions
- Limited critical customer feedback makes operational assessment harder
- Reviews note the depth of features creates a learning curve for new teams
Sophos Intercept X Endpoint
Sophos Intercept X Endpoint uses deep learning AI to detect threats and provides automated ransomware recovery with file rollback. We think this is a strong fit for mid-market organizations that want AI-driven protection with built-in ransomware response, especially those already running Sophos firewalls where Synchronized Security coordinates endpoint and firewall response in real time.
Sophos Intercept X Endpoint Key Features
The deep learning engine identifies malware variants that traditional signature-based tools miss. CryptoGuard detects ransomware encryption behavior, blocks the attack, and automatically rolls back affected files to their pre-attack state. Behavioral analysis and malicious traffic detection add extra layers without separate products. Sophos Central manages endpoints, servers, firewalls, and mobile devices from one console. Application controls, peripheral device management, and web traffic filtering are built in. Live response gives your team real-time remediation when automated actions need a human touch.
What Customers Say
Customers say detection is sharp and the Sophos Central console is clean and intuitive. Teams praise deployment ease and integration with existing tools. The Intercept X engine gets strong marks for catching threats that previous solutions missed. Some users report that scans slow down older hardware, especially with large files. Customers also note that false positives on legitimate applications require manual whitelisting by IT staff.
Our Take
We think Intercept X fits mid-market organizations that want AI-driven detection with built-in ransomware rollback and don’t want to manage multiple point solutions. The Sophos ecosystem extensibility pays off if you’re already in the Sophos world. If you need tight integration with non-Sophos tools or run a lot of legacy hardware, factor those limitations into your evaluation.
Strengths
- CryptoGuard rolls back ransomware encryption automatically
- Deep learning catches new malware variants beyond signature detection
- Sophos Central manages endpoints, servers, firewalls, and mobile in one console
- Live response provides real-time remediation when automation falls short
Cautions
- Users report scans slow down older hardware with large files
- False positives on legitimate applications require manual whitelisting
Other Endpoint Security Services
Offers endpoint protection with EDR capabilities, focused on threat prevention, detection, and response.
Offers a suite of endpoint protection, including detection and response capabilities.
An endpoint security solution that includes EDR capabilities to enhance threat detection and response.
What To Look For: EDR and XDR Solutions Checklist
Evaluating EDR and XDR platforms requires careful attention to detection quality, operational burden, and integration depth. Here are the essential criteria:
- Detection Quality and False Positive Rate: How does the platform catch ransomware, lateral movement, and privilege escalation? Does it use behavioral analysis, machine learning, or both? What percentage of alerts are false positives? Can you find independent third-party testing data?
- Automation and Response Capabilities: Can the platform automatically isolate infected endpoints without analyst approval? Does it handle remediation actions like process termination or file rollback? How much manual effort remains for your team?
- Investigation and Forensics: Does it provide full process trees and command-line activity visibility? Can you reconstruct attack chains without manual log correlation? Are there pre-built search queries and analysis templates? How intuitive is the investigation interface?
- Platform Coverage: Does it handle Windows, macOS, and Linux equally well? What about mobile devices or IoT? Does a single agent cover everything or do you need separate agents? How does it integrate with your identity and cloud monitoring?
- Deployment Simplicity: How long does agent deployment take across a large fleet? Are there RMM integrations? How disruptive is the rollout to production systems? Can you automate policy updates?
- Integration and Ecosystem: Does it integrate with your SIEM, ticketing system, or security orchestration platform? Are there APIs for custom workflows? How well does it work with your existing security stack, cloud email, identity, firewall?
- Cost and Scaling: Is pricing per-endpoint or per-user? How does it scale as your organization grows? Are there licensing tiers with different capabilities? Do you understand the true cost of ownership including onboarding and ongoing administration?
Weight these based on your environment. Teams with limited security resources should prioritize automation. Organizations with dedicated analysts should focus on investigation depth. Teams already invested in specific ecosystems should evaluate integration quality.
How We Compared The Best Endpoint Detection And Response Solutions
Expert Insights is an independent editorial team that evaluates endpoint detection and response platforms. We do not accept payment for favorable reviews. Our scores reflect product quality only.
We evaluated 10 EDR and XDR solutions across Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints. We evaluated detection accuracy across ransomware, lateral movement, and privilege escalation scenarios. We examined false positive rates, automation capabilities, alongside investigation tools and deployment ease. Each solution was deployed in simulated enterprise environments representing real-world complexity.
Beyond hands on testing, we conducted vendor interviews and reviewed extensive customer feedback to understand operational realities. We examined how teams actually use these platforms during active incidents and where implementations stumble. We analyzed detection performance reports from independent security researchers where available.
This guide is updated quarterly. For complete details on our methodology, visit our How We Test & Review Products.
The Bottom Line
EDR and XDR platforms differ significantly in approach. Your choice depends on team size, security maturity, and whether you prioritize automation or investigation depth.
For lightweight enterprise XDR with strong triage, CrowdStrike Falcon Insight XDR delivers on a single agent. MITRE mapping speeds investigation. Real-time containment actions move fast during incidents.
If automated remediation is your priority and analyst availability is constrained, SentinelOne Singularity XDR detects, isolates, remediates, and rolls back without waiting. Storyline technology visualizes attacks. Three tiers let you match capabilities to your needs.
For teams fully committed to Microsoft 365 and Azure, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint processes 78 trillion daily signals and correlates threats across your entire stack. Best value paired with the broader Defender XDR suite.
If deep investigation and cross-telemetry correlation matter most, Palo Alto Cortex XDR excels. Alert grouping and visual attack chain analysis reduce analyst friction. Best for enterprise teams with dedicated forensics capability.
For MSPs and lean teams wanting managed detection without internal staffing, Huntress Managed EDR pairs 24/7 human hunting with low false positives. Pre-built RMM scripts deploy same-day.
Read the individual reviews above for deployment specifics, detection capabilities, and the trade-offs that matter for your environment.
FAQs
Everything You Need To Know About Endpoint Detection and Response (FAQs)
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) is a type of software solution that enables IT and security teams to identify endpoint threats such as malware, viruses, fileless attacks and the misuse of legitimate applications—be that malicious or mistaken. But not only do EDR security solutions help organizations to detect these threats; they also help them to remediate security incidents and analyze them, to help prevent the same thing from happening in the future.
81% of businesses have experienced an attack involving some sort of malware, and 53% of organizations were hit by a successful ransomware attack in the last year alone. It’s clear that organizations need to protect their endpoints against threats such as these, and implementing an EDR tool is one of the ways in which they can do that.
Endpoint detection and response solutions enable IT and security teams to more efficiently identify malicious activity across their organizations’ endpoints, and then quickly and effectively remediate that activity.
EDR solutions monitor each endpoint—be it a desktop, laptop, mobile device, cloud system or server—in real-time for suspicious or unusual behavior that could indicate the system has been compromised. When a threat is detected, the solution can either initiate a response automatically to contain and remediate the threat, or provide suggestions to the security team to help inform their manual threat response processes. The level of automated remediation available varies from solution to solution, and is usually configurable so that system admins can integrate the platform’s remediation actions with the organization’s existing security tools and workflows.
As well as helping organizations to identify and respond to threats, many EDR tools also offer threat intelligence functionality, which helps security teams work out exactly how each threat entered their system and what actions allowed it to spread. This enables them to fix the root cause of the problem and prevent repeat attacks.
EDR solutions monitor a company’s endpoints—including desktops, laptops, mobile devices, cloud systems, and servers— in real-time for anomalous behavior that might indicate that the endpoint has been breached. When the solution detects anomalous or malicious activity, it either automatically responds to it as per admin-configured remediation workflows, or it alerts admins to the activity so that they can respond to it manually.
Some EDR products also offer threat intelligence features. These help SOC teams to identify the root cause of the attack so that they can fix the vulnerability and prevent any repeat attacks in the future.
There is a, seemingly, endless list of acronyms in the world of cybersecurity, so it is worth breaking down how EDR is different to MDR and EPP:
- EDR vs. EPP: EDR tools differ from traditional endpoint protection platforms (EPPs), or endpoint security solutions, as they provide heightened threat intelligence and automated incident response.
- EDR vs. MDR: Managed detection and response (MDR) solutions offer the same functionality as EDR products, but the management of the solution—including the remediation of any threats it detects—is taken care of by a team of security experts external to your own company, who work for the MDR provider. This can be a strong option for businesses that don’t have the in-house resource to manage an EDR system or respond to incidents themselves. Some EDR providers offer managed response as an add-on to their core EDR technology.
EDR solutions allow businesses to identify endpoint threats such as viruses, malware, fileless attacks, the use of illegitimate applications, and the misuse of legitimate applications. They also help you to remediate threats and provide in-depth analysis on how each incident began and spread, so that you can take steps to prevent future attacks.
Endpoint attacks are some of the most common threats—and in the case of ransomware, the most expensive—that business today are facing, so it’s important that you’re able to identify and remediate them when they do occur. Due to their frequency and severity, we recommend that every business invest in some type of endpoint security solution. However, you need to analyze the needs of your business when choosing which type of solution to go for.
If you don’t have too many endpoints to manage and your team has sufficient resource to respond efficiently to any incidents that they’re alerted to, then you may just want an endpoint protection platform.
If you have a large network with a diverse range of endpoints to monitor, and a security team that can dedicate their time to threat monitoring and incident response, you may wish to consider an EDR tool.
If you don’t have the in-house resource to investigate alerts and conduct incident response, however big or small your endpoint fleet is, an MDR solution might be better suited to your needs.
There are five key features that you should look out for when choosing an EDR solution:
- Effective threat detection.
This is the “D” in “EDR”. Once you’ve deployed your EDR tool, it should use machine learning and behavioral analytics to create a baseline of “normal” activity for each endpoint, including user interactions such as logins and process executions. The EDR solution can then use this baseline to highlight any anomalous (and therefore potentially malicious) activity across your endpoints. If an EDR solution can’t do this effectively, it isn’t an EDR solution.
- Automated threat response.
There are several ways in which an EDR tool can offer incident response. “Guided remediation” usually means that the solution will give your SOC team suggestions on how to respond to a threat. “Automated incident response” usually means that your SOC team can create incident response workflows that enable the platform to automatically remediate or contain certain types of threat on your behalf. “Managed threat hunting” usually means that the EDR provider will also offer you a dedicated SOC team that will guide your own in-house team through the entire incident response process—though this often comes at an additional cost.
- Intuitive, prioritized alerting.
No matter what your solution’s level of automated incident response is, it needs to alert your security team to any incidents it discovers. The best solutions also triage these alerts, so that your team knows which ones they need to prioritize. Ultimately, this helps them to reduce their mean-time-to-respond (MTTR) and the overall damage caused by the attack.
- Threat intelligence.
This is one of the biggest differences between EDR and EPP solutions: an EDR solution should use the behavioral data it’s collected to create a full trail of the attacker’s activities within your network. This begins at the moment the account was breached, and all of their movements after that. This can help you prevent future breaches of the same nature and fix any vulnerabilities that enabled the attack to spread.
- Intuitive, customizable management.
The best EDR tools not only provide powerful protection but make it easy for your team to manage that protection by offering a user-friendly interface and high levels of customization. This not only enables security teams to gain clearer visibility into their endpoint data, but also to fine-tune the solution to their environment, which can help reduce false positives.
Some of the common threats identified by EDR security solutions are listed below.
Multi-Stage Attacks
As an EDR solution collects endpoint data from across your entire network, it has complete visibility into the threats you face. It can correlate data and events that seem isolated and benign on their own. When taken together, EDR can uncover evidence of multi-stage attack patterns. This might include evidence of “reconnaissance”, where a series of smaller breaches are used to probe a network and find vulnerabilities. By identifying these indicators early, an attack can be prevented before it comes to fruition, thereby keeping you safer.
Zero-Day Threats
The term “zero-day threat” is used to describe a threat that has never been seen before. As such, there is no predefined route to respond to the threat. In these cases, EDR solutions must react proactively to isolate the threat from the wider network and monitor behavior to identify the best way to resolve it. It is important to ensure that the threat has not replicated or hidden, and that the threat is fully resolved.
Fileless Malware
Fileless malware is a form of malware attack that does not require any new software to be installed on a user’s device in order to carry out the attack. It will modify native, legitimate tools and software on the user’s device. As there is no malicious code being installed, legacy AV, sandboxing, and allow-listing tools may struggle to detect fileless malware. Attackers may use exploit kits, memory-only malware, or stolen credentials to gain access to a device.
It is essential that an EDR solution gathers as much data as possible and analyzes it in an effective way. This ensures that it can provide comprehensive network coverage and respond at the earliest sign of a threat. Understanding how the threat entered your network, and predicting its future movements through behavioral analysis, can help to ensure that remediation efforts are targeted and effective.
With this data ingested and analyzed, EDR is able to perform effective remediation.
Written By
Caitlin Harris is the Deputy Head of Content at Expert Insights. As an experienced content writer and editor, Caitlin helps cybersecurity leaders to cut through the noise in the cybersecurity space with expert analysis and insightful recommendations.
Prior to Expert Insights, Caitlin worked at QA Ltd, where she produced award-winning technical training materials, and she has also produced journalistic content over the course of her career.
Caitlin has 8 years of experience in the cybersecurity and technology space, helping technical teams, CISOs, and security professionals find clarity on complex, mission critical topics like security awareness training, backup and recovery, and endpoint protection.
Caitlin also hosts the Expert Insights Podcast and co-writes the weekly newsletter, Decrypted.
Technical Review
Laura Iannini is a Cybersecurity Analyst at Expert Insights. With deep cybersecurity knowledge and strong research skills, she leads Expert Insights’ product testing team, conducting thorough tests of product features and in-depth industry analysis to ensure that Expert Insights’ product reviews are definitive and insightful.
Laura also carries out wider analysis of vendor landscapes and industry trends to inform Expert Insights’ enterprise cybersecurity buyers’ guides, covering topics such as security awareness training, cloud backup and recovery, email security, and network monitoring. Prior to working at Expert Insights, Laura worked as a Senior Information Security Engineer at Constant Edge, where she tested cybersecurity solutions, carried out product demos, and provided high-quality ongoing technical support.
Laura holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of West Florida.