What is extended detection and response (XDR)?

XDR goes beyond older techniques like Endpoint detection and response (EDR) by normalizing and correlating threat telemetry. AI and machine learning help neutralize emerging threats, while threat data enhances visibility. This makes it easier to understand security threats and manage vulnerabilities.

How does XDR work?

In the term XDR, detection refers to monitoring endpoints and network assets to identify suspicious activity. Response leverages information-rich alerts to recommend appropriate actions and trigger automated responses. Extended refers to XDR's advanced features. For example, leveraging AI technologies not found in legacy threat detection systems.

XDR achieves this by connecting disparate cybersecurity tools and endpoints. Security technologies work together, resulting in more accurate detection and more effective threat mitigation.

XDR systems generally follow a similar series of steps to achieve these aims:

1. Data collection and normalization

XDR security tools gather vast amounts of telemetry. Sources include:

• Network endpoints via SIEM apps and legacy EDR systems.
• Cloud platforms and identity management systems (such as Okta).
• Traffic monitoring tools like IDS/IPS and next-generation firewalls
• Third-party threat intelligence platforms to enrich analysis and understand threats.

XDR tools automatically standardize threat data from disparate sources, converting diverse data into formats that can be compared and easily analyzed. For instance, XDR can extract timestamps, geolocation data, and hashes from different sources to create timelines and track suspicious activity.

2. Data analysis and correlation

XDR tools analyze normalized data to detect anomalies and signatures from known cyber threats.

AI and ML help uncover hidden threats and separate genuine threats from background traffic. This reduces the risk of false positives. Detection occurs in real time. This reduces the time between attack initiation and organizational responses.

XDR tools also correlate data. This means that they bring together data from various sources and systems to establish links and detect network-wide patterns. For example, correlation might uncover links between data exfiltration and emerging denial-of-service attacks. It could also connect email phishing with malware execution.

3. Incident management: adding context to security alerts

Extended detection and response systems go beyond simple detection by analyzing threats according to severity. This allows security teams to prioritize actions and understand the implications of ongoing attacks.

XDR takes simple alerts and adds context from different sources. For example, repeated failed logins by a single user might trigger an alert. The XDR platform compares the user's behavior, location, and device data with known threat patterns to assign a context-rich risk score.

4. Facilitating effective responses

Better-informed security professionals can assess which assets are at risk and respond effectively. Teams can quickly quarantine affected systems or files, block IP addresses, or require action from compromised network users.

XDR also reduces the workload for security teams by automating simple cybersecurity actions. While XDR takes swift action, teams can focus on assessing risks. They can leverage alert data to hunt threats and take comprehensive mitigation measures.

5. Post-incident audits and security improvements

XDR does not operate within the confines of separate incidents. Intelligence from incidents helps organizations improve their security posture. XDR solutions identify critical threats and weaknesses. This information informs security investments and decisions, protecting the network against future attacks.

Benefits of extended detection and response

Properly implemented XDR solutions deliver many benefits, enhancing existing security performance and adding new capabilities.

Critical benefits of implementing extended detection and response include:

Greater visibility of network threats

The most important benefit of extended detection and response tools is consolidation. Cross-domain solutions consolidate security tools across locations, servers, and devices. Security teams gain greater visibility across network layers, including emails, firewalls, servers, user devices, and cloud deployments.

Faster threat detection and better outcomes

XDR solutions cut the time between detection and response. Advanced threat detection works across all network domains, identifying intrusions at an early stage. Automated responses eliminate the need for manual commands and reduce the scope for attackers to damage assets or extract data.

Simplified threat detection

XDR streamlines complex network security environments, providing a centralized solution that covers all vulnerable endpoints. Automation reduces security workloads, allowing teams to be more productive (and avoiding burnout from constantly carrying out repetitive manual tasks).

XDR solutions also smooth SecOps workflows. Security teams no longer receive an endless stream of alerts and action requests. Automated tools separate security noise from critical alerts. Officers can focus their time and skills on high-risk alerts while XDR software handles simple tasks.

Enabling effective, risk-based investigation

XDR tools analyze threats automatically and generate high-quality alerts based on risk factors and threat intelligence. Detection systems arm threat hunters with the knowledge needed to investigate actual threats, discarding marginal threats or outright false positives.

Detect hidden threats efficiently

Extended detection leverages deep traffic analysis to identify advanced persistent threats that legacy tools may miss. Security teams spend less time managing complex security rules to detect hidden threats. They can focus instead on ways to mitigate threats and block cyber-attackers.

Implement end-to-end threat detection and response

Extended detection and response tools enable end-to-end threat management, from identifying affected devices to post-incident security analysis.

XDR systems handle every stage of the detection, analysis, and response process. They create audit trails that document each stage and provide a standardized road map for investigators.

Align threat responses with compliance priorities

XDR systems integrate regulatory requirements with threat detection and response processes. Security tools automatically suggest responses in accordance with the organization's regulatory environment, cutting the risk of compliance violations.

Reduced cybersecurity costs in complex settings

XDR tools are cost-effective when implemented at scale. Companies can simplify how they detect and investigate threats, reducing the need for separate security solutions across network endpoints. Companies can use a single XDR platform vendor to protect network-wide assets.

Comparing XDR with other detection and response methods

XDR combines different cybersecurity approaches, providing comprehensive protection while streamlining overall network security. However, it is not the only way to defend networks. So let's make some comparisons with alternatives and highlight XDR's unique features.

XDR vs EDR

Endpoint detection and response (EDR) defends the network perimeter, proactively scanning for threats and identifying endpoint vulnerabilities.

Extended detection and response enables defense-in-depth. XDR security tools collect, standardize, and correlate telemetry from endpoints, network firewalls, traffic sensors, email gateways, cloud platforms, and Identity and Access Management (IAM) tools.

XDR integrates with EDR solutions, but provide a far deeper analysis of potential threats. Deep analysis reduces the risk of false positives, detects more threats, and accelerates responses.

XDR vs MDR

Managed detection and response (MDR) is an externally-provided security solution that delivers 24/7 monitoring and threat detection. MDR vendors use human analysts to assess alerts and recommend mitigation actions. They may use XDR to ensure consistent outcomes, but this is not always the case.

MDR can reduce costs and allow smaller organizations to access advanced cybersecurity solutions such as extended detection and response. However, clients rely on third-party expertise and lose control of their threat detection processes.

XDR vs NDR

Network detection and response (NDR) relies on traffic monitoring to detect network security threats. AI and advanced behavioral analysis detect anomalies and help flag suspicious data transfers or user access requests.

XDR security solutions include network traffic monitoring, but provide greater visibility over cloud deployments, IAM, and network endpoints. This approach provides more comprehensive visibility and detection across all network environments.

XDR vs ITDR

Identity threat detection and response (ITDR) secures networks against identity-related threats. For example, ITDR monitors IAM solutions and Active Directory to discover evidence of unauthorized access, privilege escalations, data requests, and suspicious lateral movement.

ITDR is good at identifying compromised accounts, mitigating insider threat risks, and alerting security teams to account configuration issues.

XDR solutions incorporate the features of ITDR, but they extend protection to multiple security domains. XDR's holistic approach combines identity protection with endpoint monitoring, securing cloud environments, and threat intelligence.

XDR vs SIEM

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) assesses logs from multiple sources and applies security rules to detect potential threats.

Like XDR, SIEM operates across many domains. SIEM can include telemetry from firewalls, servers, and user devices. However, SIEM relies on log data to gain security insights. SIEM's log-based approach is more reactive, increasing the time to detect threats. It also depends on manual tuning to set the correct rules and ensure logs capture valid threat data.

XDR assesses telemetry in real time across multiple domains. Adaptive AI and automation detect threats without relying on manual inputs, making XDR a more efficient threat management solution.

Use cases for XDR

Why would you use extended detection and response over less complex and potentially cheaper alternatives? The use cases below show that XDR is often the best option in real-world situations where robust cybersecurity is critically important.

• Safeguarding complex, large-scale networks: As companies grow, IT environments become more complex. Security teams struggle to inventory and protect multiplying endpoints, cloud deployments, and network users. XDR solves this problem by integrating detection, threat assessment, and responses across all network assets.
• Detecting hidden threats: Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are a growing threat to corporate data, and often evade traditional security measures. XDR guards against stealthy threats. AI analysis detects subtle evidence of persistent agents, while XDR tools exploit telemetry from all relevant sources. Nothing passes undiscovered.
• Ensuring regulatory compliance: Sectors like healthcare and finance require strict data and privacy protection, including defenses against cyber threats. XDR meets compliance goals by detecting unauthorized data transfers and malicious traffic. XDR also helps identify vulnerabilities, while audit trails assist security improvements and regulatory reporting.
• Managing digital transformations: Companies need to embrace cost-effective cloud storage, but migrations to cloud or hybrid environments create security risks. XDR provides comprehensive security coverage as organizations move data between cloud and on-premises data centers, allowing security teams to secure cloud deployments.

Implementing XDR solutions: Best practices to follow

XDR is an effective cybersecurity solution in many situations. However, organizations must implement XDR strategically to realize its benefits and avoid excessive costs. The best practices below will help you create and maintain extended detection and response solutions that manage threats efficiently.

1. Understand the environment that XDR must protect

Start by assessing the existing security environment. Document endpoint protection measures, firewalls, email security tools, antivirus and anti-malware scanners, and identity and access management policies.

Remember: XDR should integrate existing security solutions and enhance threat detection processes. Identify areas where XDR can strengthen your current measures, and define objectives that the XDR platform must meet.

2. Choose an appropriate vendor and XDR system

XDR vendors vary according to features, support, compatibility, and cost. Assess relevant options, considering how easily solutions scale, and whether they smoothly integrate with existing systems. For example, verify that vendors integrate with SIEM and EDR tools before making a decision.

Vendors also offer different APIs to facilitate integration. Test available APIs if possible, and find a system that suits your unique IT requirements.

Consider managed XDR products as well. Larger organizations benefit from controlling their XDR implementations. However, managed solutions enable small and medium-sized businesses to benefit from the features of XDR without incurring high IT costs.

3. Integrate all data sources with XDR tools

During the implementation process, carefully audit your data flows and storage systems. XDR tools should gather data from all endpoints, applications, servers, and cloud assets. Ensure that detection systems can access network logs and regularly check for security gaps.

Data quality is also critically important. Do your EDR systems deliver comprehensive and accurate data for XDR tools to analyze? Verify that logging and detection tools function as designed, and replace outdated tools if required.

4. Leverage threat intelligence to enable proactive threat hunting

XDR is most effective when combined with a high-quality threat intelligence solution. Threat intelligence provides insights into globally active threat actors and the most common attack techniques. XDR solutions exploit these insights, enabling focused threat detection and proactive security measures.

A threat intelligence solution delivers essential context to frame XDR alerts. Security teams don't just learn the nature of malware or data theft attempts. Intelligence informs teams about the identity of attackers, their aims, and how they target specific industries.

5. Use automation and AI to enhance efficiency

Automation and AI analysis set XDR apart from less sophisticated security solutions. Calibrate AI and machine learning tools to detect APTs and analyze deep traffic for suspicious user activity. Configure automation functions to minimize false positives and create a seamless connection between detection, investigation, and response.

6. Optimize XDR workflows

XDR is useless if it clashes with security analysis and detection workflows. XDR should fit neatly into the working practices of security teams. It should enhance productivity while causing minimal disruption.

Model detection, analysis, and response workflows before implementing XDR. Take into account your unique compliance requirements. Choose centralized solutions that serve the needs of security analysts, giving them the power to understand threats and respond promptly when needed.

7. Schedule staff training to use XDR effectively

Staff training should reach across silos, covering IT support, threat analysts, departmental managers, and DevOps teams. Make sure all stakeholders understand the role of XDR and how it enhances existing cybersecurity measures.

8. Regularly audit XDR solutions to ensure continuous improvement

XDR should not be static. Implementations evolve to counter emerging threats and adapt to changing network landscapes.

Set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure the performance of XDR systems (for example, response times, false positives, or mean time to detect). Assess the effectiveness of your security tools based on these KPIs.

Under-performance could indicate a need to fine-tune automation rules, accelerate analysis, or use higher-quality threat intelligence. Audits are the only reliable way to detect and fix problems before they compromise network security.

Esure comprehensive protection with XDR solutions

Extended detection and response builds on EDR, NDR, and SIEM tools, providing comprehensive cybersecurity protection. As data theft, ransomware, and DDoS risks rise, XDR is an effective way to manage complexity and counter advanced threats.

XDR gathers data from multiple sources and normalizes that data to enable centralized security analysis. Automation reduces response times, while AI supplements human analysis and detects hidden threats before they strike.

A properly-configured XDR platform empowers analysts to identify and respond to high-risk threats. However, implementation is a complex process. Companies should prepare thoroughly to ensure XDR tools combine smoothly with workflows, compliance strategies, and existing security tools.