In the world of cyber security, one rule rings true:
if you control the endpoints/devices that link to your systems, you’ll control your cyber security risk.
In fact, according to IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report, 90% of successful cyberattacks and 70% of successful data breaches originate at endpoint devices. With a risk spread like that, endpoint security tools are definitely one of the most important strategies in your cyber security defenses.
Unfortunately, finding the right endpoint security tool isn’t always so simple. Acronyms abound, and the differences between endpoint detection response (EDR) tools, managed detection response (MDR) tools, and extended detection response (XDR) tools are too nuanced and too important to ignore. Understanding the arguments around EDR vs. MDR vs. XDR will be critical to your IT strategy.
At Integris, we sell all these options, and we pride ourselves on matching our customers with the right endpoint security tool at the right time. Let’s dig deeper into the differences between these three endpoint security options, so you can shop smart for these tools.
EDR vs. MDR vs. XDR: What’s the Difference?
All these tools do one central thing: they monitor the devices within your networks for unusual activity that could indicate the presence of malware, viruses, or ransomware attacks. However, different tools cover different types of devices and offer different levels of service and response. Here’s how it breaks down:
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) focuses on monitoring and protecting individual endpoints, such as computers, servers, and mobile devices, from cyber threats. It provides real-time visibility, automated threat detection, and response capabilities.
Managed Detection and Response (MDR) does everything that EDR does, but it adds a level of live, staffed monitoring and remediation. It includes continuous monitoring, threat detection, and rapid incident response, usually provided by a dedicated security operations center (SOC).
Extended Detection and Response (XDR) takes it a step further by integrating multiple security tools and data sources into a unified platform. XDR enhances threat detection and response across an organization’s entire digital environment. This can include endpoints, networks, telemetry, firewalls and cloud services. This integrated approach is particularly beneficial for larger organizations with complex IT environments that require a holistic security solution.
EDR vs. MDR vs. XDR: Key Pros and Cons
What do each of these cybersecurity tools offer? Let’s dig deeper into the pros and cons, and what kind of organizations benefit most for EDR vs. MDR vs. XDR.
What is Endpoint Detection Response (EDR)?
Standard Endpoint Detection Response works well for companies who are primarily operating in the cloud and have a smaller network with fewer servers. A good EDR system should integrate well with your other cybersecurity tools, and offer:
- Advanced Threat Detection—which finds anomalies/suspicious behaviors that may indicate a cyberattack or the presence of malware.
- Real-Time Incident Response—which has the ability to isolate affected endpoints to prevent the spread of malware, conducting root cause analysis to understand the nature of the threat.
- Comprehensive Forensics —offering detailed endpoint activity data, helping security teams to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to an incident, and understand the attack vectors used.
- Cloud-Based Analysis —which sends potential threats to a secure cloud environment for further examination, reducing the risk of compromise.
- User Behavior Analytics— mapping the normal behavior patterns of users, so the system can quickly identify deviations that may indicate malicious activity. This includes detecting manipulated files, unusual login attempts, and unauthorized access to sensitive data. The system’s ability to learn and adapt to user behavior enhances its detection accuracy and reduces false positives.
What are the Pros and Cons of EDR?
Endpoint Detection Response is a standard system monitoring tool that covers servers, as well as company-issued workstations, phones, and tablets.
EDR Pros:
- Cost—As a simpler system, it’s generally the lowest cost option. If your system is smaller in scope, it will cover exactly what you need.
- Scalability—It’s easy to move up to more comprehensive tools when your system demands expand.
EDR Cons:
- Remediation—While the system will quarantine, flag, and analyze anomalies, many EDR tools may require that your IT team manage remediations. This could be an issue for small IT departments without the resources to handle the flurry of notifications coming in.
- Narrow scope—If your systems have associated server rooms or other tech assets beyond standard workstations, EDR alone may not offer the kind of coverage you need.
Now that you understand EDR, let’s take a step up to the next level of security, Managed Detection and Response.
What is Managed Detection and Response?
Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provides continuous, round-the clock monitoring of your IT environment, combining machine learning, behavioral analytics, and live-staffed service to minimize your risk of breaches and security incidents. It monitors your workstations and endpoints, providing a higher level of service and response than EDR. A good MDR plan will offer:
- Proactive Threat Hunting—that goes a step beyond simple automation, with proactive threat hunting conducted by experienced security analysts.
- Incident Response and Remediation—with immediate incident response services that can isolate affected systems, eradicate threats, and restore normal operations. This should also include detailed incident reports and root cause analysis.
- Comprehensive Reporting and Compliance—that provides insights into your security posture and incident trends, while also creating a monitoring paper trail for cybersecurity regulators.
- Regular security assessments and recommendations—conducted by the staff monitoring your systems, so you know next steps for improving your defenses.
- Dedicated team of cybersecurity experts—which handles mitigations, regular updates on emerging threats, and best practices for security management.
What Are the Pros and Cons of MDR?
Managed Detection and Response offers a white-glove service experience for the small and medium-sized company needing endpoint monitoring. It’s a definite step up over EDR, providing companies with a greater level of service, analysis, and monitoring.
MDR Pros:
Cost savings of outside expertise—With a managed service product you offload the management of this tool, saving your internal team from a heavy administrative load.
Enhanced governance—The extra monitoring, remediation, and analysis you get with MDR is a great choice for smaller companies with a simple system, yet a high need for regulatory compliance and governance. If your company regularly is called up on to provide cybersecurity documentation for regulators or cyber risk insurers, MDR will take a large part of that burden off your hands.
MDR Cons:
Extra cost—The step up in services will generally mean an extra investment. You’ll need to analyze whether that investment is needed, based on your regulatory and system requirements.
Limited scope—MDR is generally not the best choice for larger companies with a complex endpoint network. If you have advanced factory equipment, or larger server rooms, for instance, you will most likely need to level up to an XDR system.
XDR provides the most complex and comprehensive endpoint management system available. Let’s talk about how it diverges from EDR and MDR.
What is Extended Detection Response (XDR)?
XDR is largely considered the “gold standard” of system detection response systems, because it handles threat detection through your entire digital environment—including endpoints, networks, cloud services, and more. It’s a great choice for larger organizations with complex monitoring needs, because it brings detection and response for all your systems together under a single pane of glass. With XDR, you’ll get a combination of live monitoring, machine learning, remediation and strategy recommendations.
Here’s what you can expect from most XDR programs:
- Unified Threat Detection—consolidating data from various security tools and sources, including endpoints, networks, servers, and cloud environments. This unified approach enhances visibility across the entire IT ecosystem, allowing for more accurate and timely threat detection that goes unnoticed by tools with a singular focus.
- Advanced Analytics and Machine Learning—that continuously analyze data, detect anomalies and potential threats, and learn from past incidents to improve its detection capabilities over time.
- Automated Response and Orchestration—that reduces the time it takes to mitigate threats, isolating affected systems, blocking malicious activities, and initiating remediation processes.
- Comprehensive Visibility and Reporting—with dashboards that highlight key security metrics, incident trends, and areas of improvement to address.
- 24/7 Monitoring and Support—with live cybersecurity experts ensuring threats are detected and remediated in real-time, while also providing strategic counsel about your budget, next steps, and cybersecurity best practices.
XDR Pros:
Holistic, expert approach—Because this tool covers your whole system, it eliminates many of the bottlenecks and incompatibilities that come from having multiple monitoring tools. The extra investment you make in a dedicated 24/7 service team ensures continuity and responsiveness.
Unified reporting—One source of truth exists for your entire detection and response system, so patterns are easier to recognize early. A unified dashboard makes it easy to keep a high-level view of your infrastructure.
Covers advanced needs—There’s no worry you’ll grow out an XDR system, as it’s the most advanced and comprehensive type of managed detection program. This is great for a large or fast-growing organization with lots of assets.
XDR Cons:
The Costliest Option—You get a lot for an XDR program, but you pay for that white-glove service. If your company is smaller, one of the other options may be a better choice.
Interested in Exploring EDR, MDR, or XDR for your Company? Integris Can Help.
At Integris, we offer all three levels of detection and response tools for companies across the nation. We’d love to help you find the right customized tool for you. Contact us now for a free consultation.