NDR (network detection and response) and EDR (endpoint detection and response) are two similar yet distinctly different approaches to cyber security. As the rate of cyber security incidents increases each year, savvy business owners and IT administrators are looking for newer and more intelligent ways of fending off these threats in order to keep their business running at full operational capacity.
Traditional anti-virus software is still effective and plays an integral role in protecting your business from malware, ransomware, and other cyber security incidents, but they are no longer enough to serve as the sole defense mechanism. NDR and EDR are two of many cyber security solutions that present themselves as two effective and important solutions which use machine learning and artificial intelligence to defend against a newer and more deadly wave of cyber threats but understanding exactly how to utilize them for your business in specific isn't always so straightforward. How do you know which solution your business needs, and what are their advantages? Read more to find out.
What is NDR?
NDR - Network Detection and Response is a type of cyber security solution your business can put into place to detect any suspicious or unusual traffic passing through your network. NDR software will constantly analyze traffic data in order to construct a norm that helps it understand the network's usual behavior. This is a crucial step as with this information, and anomalies can be easily identified and honed in on.
From this point on, a notification is sent to the network administrators, who can then take the necessary steps and actions to eliminate the threat if need be. Alternatively, automated solutions and other cyber security systems can step up to isolate, contain, and eliminate the threat. Read all you need to know about NDR here. Sangfor offers highly advanced Network Detection and Response (NDR) Platform - Cyber Command.
Advantages of NDR
Including an NDR solution into your cyber security system is a great step forward for your business and offers several key benefits:
- NDR offers great protection against new and evolving malware strains
- Uses AI to combat 'weaponized AI' and more malicious cyber security threats that are developing each and every day to find new weaknesses and loopholes in cyber security systems
- Provides forensic analyses to help determine how threats entered the network in the first place, helping ensure it does not happen again
- Helps streamline incident response and threat hunting processes
- NDR is great at detecting malware through a network. While an EDR solution could not identify these threats, as they are not part of the organizations network, an NDR solution can act swiftly and effectively through the use of AI and advanced technology.
What is EDR?
EDR - Endpoint Detection and Response shares some similarities with NDR but is fundamentally different in nature. EDR solutions focus on scouring and monitoring all endpoints connected to your business network. An EDR solution will monitor and collect these endpoints like an NDR, constructing a "normal" behavior pattern that then helps identify threats within an instant. Also, like NDR solutions, the EDR software will then identify network administrators of a threat or act to immediately contain and eliminate it.
EDR solutions are becoming adopted by more and more businesses each year. In fact, according to McAfee, there is a yearly growth rate of nearly 26% in the usage of EDR solutions. This is driven by several reasons, but primarily the increase in the number of endpoints connected to business networks. Historically, the only devices connected to a business network would be work computers, printers, and other stationary devices. But now, each employee and any that visit the business premises and connect to the network have a host of mobile devices, tablets, laptops, IoT devices, and more that rely on the interconnectedness of the modern world.
While this is a huge advantage when it comes to streamlining business operations and processes, as is seen in their ballooning popularity and widespread adoption, it also opens a huge number of weak points in a business’s security. In short, with more endpoints comes more vulnerabilities. Every endpoint connected to your network is a potential route in for malware and cyber security threats.
Advantages of EDR
No antivirus software can ever be 100% effective, as new strains are being released each and every day. One of the best methods of prevention is to plug or protect the source - i.e., the endpoints. EDR software, therefore, has several key benefits:
- EDR acts as the second line of defense after anti-virus software
- EDR software uses AI to constantly become more effective in identifying new and more malicious strains of malware
- Is great at identifying threats via endpoints themselves, potentially before they spread through the network.
Practical Use - How can EDR benefit my business or organization?
Today’s businesses and organizations have to constantly process private and confidential information on their networks and are even more susceptible to all kinds of cyber threats as a result. As a next-generation technology, sophisticated endpoint security systems can significantly improve the security of an organization’s IT infrastructure while providing better protection than most consumer antivirus setups available. Some of the key functions and capabilities of EDR include:
Improved and Monitoring of Endpoint Security
Endpoint detection and response systems can continuously collect, analyze, and process data on a single console and provide thorough monitoring and inspection of a network’s various endpoints to an organization’s security team. EDR’s provide security specialists with automatic access to real-time data through one simplified and centralized platform instead of multiple dashboards - which allows them to instantly gain context to any detected security breaches and respond immediately to cyber-threats. This advanced component of EDR makes the investigation and rectification of breaches much easier for the security team of any business.
In addition, if your business’s EDR system is cloud-based, your security team can even respond to a security breach remotely - regardless of the physical location of the endpoint device. A security specialist can instantaneously provide support for endpoint devices at anytime and anywhere.
Increased Cost-Efficiency
With many traditional security systems, businesses and organizations are often forced to re-image an endpoint after an infection. This consists of clearing all software and data on a device and reinstalling the entire operating system. As you can imagine, this process can take days and a tremendous amount of energy for both the affected end user and the IT or network security team.
EDR, on the other hand, can rapidly and accurately pinpoint the root cause of any security breach or infection and significantly reduce the need for re-imaging. Affected users would rarely have to go through the process of reconfiguring entire devices in the event of a cyber breach.. Your IT team also saves time by managing and monitoring the entire organization’s endpoint security on one single dashboard, without the inconvenience of rummaging through multiple platforms - meaning their time and energy can be used for much more important tasks.
Automated Response & AI Learning
Automation is a game-changing component in today’s endpoint security industry. An EDR with sophisticated automation capabilities can significantly accelerate its detection and response cycle and offer new levels of efficiency in proactive threat hunting techniques that no traditional antivirus can parallel.
Unlike the previous generations of antivirus tools, an endpoint detection and response system does not rely on a signature-based system of intrusion detection, instead, EDR uses AI and machine learning to form an anomaly-based threat detection search that is capable of detecting malicious behavior patterns and attacks through continuous data analysis. When something suspicious is detected across any endpoint in your network, the EDR system will immediately investigate, respond, and prevent any attacks from successfully breaching an endpoint. This protects your network from security breaches that would usually remain undetected under most traditional antivirus tools.
Greater Protection for Remote Work
Since the Covid pandemic, many businesses and organizations have adopted a remote or hybrid work setup that would allow their employees to work outside of their office or workplace on a regular basis. The flexibility and convenience of working from home also come with an increased vulnerability to cyber threats and security breaches. Unlike in an office environment where cybersecurity is constantly monitored by an IT team, most personal devices lack high-level endpoint security or intrusion prevention system and could easily become susceptible to cyber-attacks.
Endpoint detection and response systems are the perfect solution to this problem. Unlike older generations of endpoint security, a business’s IT or security team can now access, monitor, and protect all devices on a corporate network with unprecedented ease. With a cloud-based EDR system, security specialists can remotely provide technical support for any user and rapidly prevent breaches from any location.
Case Study – Game-changing Endpoint Security for J&T Express
J&T Express is one of the most influential logistics companies in Asia. Currently processing the largest shipping volume in Indonesia, the company boasts up to 350,000 employees and operations in 13 different countries. Cybersecurity is of the utmost importance to helping them protect their day-to-day operations and securing their position at the cutting edge in logistics.
After experiencing persistent malware infections and ransomware attacks that continuously impacted their business operations, the executives at J&T Express saw the need for a superior endpoint security system to ensure that a security breach would not compromise their systems and affect productivity. Upon receiving their request for assistance, Sangfor’s team of experts devised a comprehensive and tailored cybersecurity solution for the logistics giant in which endpoint security was strategically prioritized.
Combining Sangfor’s Endpoint Secure with other cutting-edge security tools such as Sangfor’s Next Generation Firewall NGFW and Sangfor’s Cyber Command platform, our expert team was able to put an end to J&T Express’s persistent malware infection problem and stop APT breaches on endpoints across the entire organization. After a thorough investigation, we helped set up an endpoint detection and response system with automated closed-loop security responses between the network and the endpoint - in order to eradicate known and zero-day viruses. This blocked off any incoming threats and closed security gaps within the system - ultimately providing rapid responses with simplified usage. Sangfor gave J&T Express near-effortless operation, without reducing the quality of service.
Learn more about Sangfor’s work on endpoint security for J&T Express here.
Case Study – Coca-Cola’s Security Recipe
As part of one of the largest and most well-known corporations in the world, Shanghai Coca-Cola Bottlers Management Service Co., Ltd. ( SCMC) coordinates and manages the production of non-sparkling Coca-Cola beverages for the Mainland Chinese market. After many years without updating their security system, SCMC realized how susceptible their network was to cyber threats, and pursued an upgrade to their security system with improved network visibility and control in order to guarantee their business’s cybersecurity.
After in-depth consultation and research, SCMC adopted Sangfor’s Managed Security Service (MSS), which provided excellent endpoint security protection through 24x7 security monitoring, active manual and automated threat hunting, and closed-loop remediation. Along with an upgraded endpoint detection and response system, the Sangfor team successfully helped SCMC establish systematic, standardized, and continuous security risk management and security operation management to achieve early detection, early containment, and early remediation.
Learn more about Sangfor’s work on endpoint security for Coca-Cola here.
Should I be using EDR or NDR solutions?
Really, there is no correct answer here. Businesses will find value in either of the solutions alone, but those who truly care about protecting their business from cyber security incidents should be looking into holistic strategies which incorporate not just one but both EDR and NDR solutions. The reason for this is that cyber security threats come in a wide range of shapes and forms, and one single solution will not be enough to prevent every single type of threat from potentially grinding your business operations to a halt.
You should be looking for an NDR solution that provides visibility over the entirety of your network. Since many businesses are turning towards cloud-based services, this is of utmost importance - and you need to make sure that the NDR solution is completely compatible with all cloud services you are using.
With regards to EDR solutions, find one that works together well with your other cyber security solutions. Forward thinking businesses who are prepared for even the most difficult of cyber security incidents have one thing in common: a series of solutions that work seamlessly in tandem to cover all weak points.
Secure your business with Sangfor’s cyber security solutions
If you want to learn more about keeping your business secure from cyber threats, don't hesitate to reach out to us today.
