Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Explained

Although endpoint detection and response has been around since 2013, EDR is still IT security’s most popular buzzword today. The reason why organizations around the globe choose to use endpoint detection and response as one of their top security solutions is simple: it works. Fighting against malicious endpoint threats and cyberattacks is by no means an easy task. So when a tool or solution effectively makes this grueling process easier, it’s sure to catch the eyes of IT security teams and their organizations.

What is endpoint detection and response?

Endpoint detection and response, often called EDR, is an endpoint security solution that actively monitors and collects threat-related data from endpoints, analyzes the information, alerts security teams of suspicious activity or threats, and provides solutions to resolve security breaches.

Endpoint detection and response can be thought of as a modern evolution of antivirus. EDR is a more effective way to detect advanced threats since it's behavior-based rather than file-based. Even though “endpoint detection and response” is the name of this security solution, it’s only one of the many features of this tool.

A closer look into how endpoint detection and response (EDR) works

As previously mentioned, endpoint detection and response is a solution that has multiple tools/functions that all work together. The list shown below is a closer look into how each function within an endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution works.

• Collects and records telemetry data from endpoints

An endpoint detection and response solution collects and records telemetry data, along with some contextual data, from endpoint devices. EDR “records and stores endpoint-system-level behaviors,” CrowdStrike explains. Any activity on a device is collected and stored, such as programs that were started and files that were accessed, so that the EDR solution can analyze behaviors and report anything out of the ordinary.

• Monitor and analyze endpoint activity

Using the data it collects, an endpoint detection and response system analyzes endpoint activity and user behavior. This is one of the main differentiators between other security solutions and EDR. Other solutions, such as antivirus, analyze files; EDR monitors and analyzes behaviors that occur on endpoints.

• Alert security experts of threats

When an EDR tool finds suspicious activity on an endpoint, it automatically sends alerts to a security team, blocks malicious activity, and offers possible solutions to resolve the issue. Since cybersecurity pros already suffer from stress and burnout, having an automated tool such as EDR that reduces their workloads and helps during times of crisis is very beneficial.

• Resolve threats or breaches automatically

When an endpoint detection and response system finds a threat or breach, it instantly goes into action and attempts to resolve them or at least minimize the damage. This feature, in addition to the alert function, helps IT security teams reduce the damage caused by attacks and resolve them as quickly as possible.

5 key features of an endpoint detection and response solution

Because there are many providers in the EDR market, finding an endpoint detection and response solution for your IT team can be difficult. To find the best solution for your organization, look for these five key features in endpoint detection and response tools.

1) Integration

The last thing any IT team wants is a tool that won’t integrate with their current systems. Always ensure that the EDR solution you choose is able to integrate smoothly with your other applications and tools.

2) Detection & remediation

One of the main components of an endpoint detection and response tool is finding and detecting threats. Additionally, an efficient EDR system should be able to remediate threats quickly and notify a security team ASAP. Choose an EDR solution with very strong threat detection and remediation abilities.

3) Usability

Spending hours trying to figure out how a new software solution works isn’t a productive use of time. To avoid this, select an EDR solution that is intuitive and easy for your team to use. Some solutions offer a centralized management console on a single pane of glass, which helps users gain even more visibility into their network security.

4) Scalability

As your organization and IT team grows, you’ll need a solution that grows with you and smoothly adapts to changes. Take a look at the scalability options of EDR solutions before making any final decisions.

5) Security

Since endpoint detection and response solutions collect and analyze data, you’ll want to check their security measures. This is to help ensure that your data remains safe and is being handled responsibly.

NinjaOne endpoint detection and response integrations

NinjaOne provides remote monitoring and management (RMM) software that helps IT teams and MSPs manage their endpoints and EDR solutions. Some popular endpoint detection and response tools that integrate with NinjaOne include:

Bitdefender

Bitdefender offers a cloud-based endpoint detection and response solution that uses real-time monitoring, data collection, threat detection, analysis tools, and automated response actions to provide advanced endpoint security and protection for organizations.

Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes endpoint detection and response is an effective EDR tool that offers attack isolation, auto remediation, threat detection, ransomware rollback, and protection against advanced zero-day threats.

SentinelOne

SentinelOne provides an endpoint detection and response tool that is known for its ability to proactively hunt and detect threats, report endpoint telemetry data, remediate attacks, analyze data, and customize to a specific IT environment.

Manage your EDR solution with NinjaOne

Manage your endpoint detection and response tools and gain greater visibility into your network and endpoints with NinjaOne. With monitoring and alerting, remote access, automated OS and application patching, task automation, auto-remediation, and software management features, it’s easy to see why the IT pros choose NinjaOne as their endpoint management solution. Start your free trial today.