Table of contents
- What is Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
- How EDR works
- Why EDR is essential for cyber security
In today’s article, we will explore a key technology in the world of cyber security: Endpoint Detection and Response(EDR).
You will discover what it is, how it works, and why it has become essential for protecting company devices from advanced cyber threats.
What is Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is a cyber security solution designed to monitor and protect all corporate endpoints in real-time. Endpoints include any device connected to the network, such as computers, servers, laptops, and mobile devices.
This system was created to meet the growing need to quickly detect advanced threats that can bypass traditional antivirus or firewall protections.
Unlike classic protection systems, EDR does not only block known malware. It is capable of detecting suspicious and abnormal behavior by continuously analyzing the activities taking place on endpoints.
This approach makes it possible to detect sophisticated cyber attacks such as ransomware, targeted phishing campaigns, or unauthorized access attempts.
How EDR works
The operation of Endpoint Detection and Response is based on a structured and continuous process that revolves around four key activities: continuous monitoring, threat detection, analysis, and incident response.
This cyclical and automated process ensures constant control over corporate endpoints and enables a rapid and effective reaction when anomalies or attacks occur.
Continuous monitoring
At the heart of an EDR system is its ability to perform continuous monitoring of all company endpoints. To achieve this, specific agents are installed on each device.
These agents work silently in the background, without interfering with the user’s normal activities, collecting a constant stream of information.
The data collected includes critical elements such as user logins, file modifications, inbound and outbound network connections, running processes, and any attempts to escalate privileges.
This information is then transmitted to a centralized platform, usually cloud-based or on-premises, which aggregates, stores, and analyzes the data.
What distinguishes EDR from traditional protection systems is its real-time continuous monitoring. It doesn’t just check whether a file is malicious but observes the overall behavior of the system over time to detect signs of potential compromise.
Threat detection
Once the data from the endpoints is collected, the next step is the threat detection phase. This is done using a combination of advanced technologies:
- Machine learning algorithms, which learn normal behavior patterns and can detect suspicious deviations.
- Behavioral analysis, which monitors how users and processes interact within the system, flagging anomalies such as unauthorized access attempts or unusual file executions.
- Predefined security rules, which compare the collected data with known attack patterns like exploits, lateral movement, or data exfiltration attempts.
One of the most innovative aspects of an EDR system is its ability to detect zero-day threats and targeted attacks, meaning attacks for which no signature or definition yet exists in traditional antivirus databases.
This is made possible by focusing on anomalous behavior rather than solely on known malicious code.
Analysis and incident response
When the EDR system detects potentially harmful activity, it moves to the most crucial phase: analysis and response. The system immediately generates a detailed alert, sent to the security team. This alert includes valuable information such as:
- The type of threat identified.
- The affected endpoint and its network location.
- The sequence of events leading to the anomaly.
- The potential external source of the attack.
Security personnel can then access a comprehensive incident report, including a detailed timeline of what happened on the compromised device.
This level of detail is essential to determine whether the attack was isolated or part of a broader compromise.
Once the analysis phase is complete, the EDR system allows for several immediate response actions:
- Blocking malicious processes running on the device.
- Isolating the endpoint from the network to prevent the threat from spreading.
- Initiating automatic remediation procedures, such as removing malware or restoring damaged files.
- Sharing threat information with other security tools, like firewalls and SIEM systems, to strengthen the overall defense.
Many EDR solutions also include forensic analysis features, which allow the security team to reconstruct the attack after the fact. This helps identify vulnerabilities in the security infrastructure and improve defenses for the future.
Why EDR is essential for cyber security
Endpoint Detection and Response has become a crucial component in any modern cyber security strategy. This is because endpoints—that is, the devices employees use every day—are the primary entry point for cyber criminals.
Every smartphone, laptop, or corporate PC is a potential gateway to the company’s entire IT infrastructure. It’s no coincidence that most cyber attacks start from an endpoint.
Just think of the widespread technique of phishing: an employee receives a well-crafted email that appears to come from a supplier or a company executive, and by clicking on a malicious link or opening an infected attachment, unknowingly allows attackers to breach the corporate network.
Example
The Emotet malware attack, one of the most widespread banking trojans in recent years, which affected thousands of businesses worldwide. The infection often began with a simple Word document received via email. Once opened, the malware was able to steal credentials and move laterally across the corporate network, infecting other devices.
This is exactly where EDR makes a difference. Thanks to its continuous monitoring and behavioral analysis of endpoints, an EDR system would have been able to detect in real-time the opening of a suspicious file, the execution of unauthorized processes, or attempts to connect to unknown servers.
Prevention and reaction capabilities
However, the value of EDR is not limited to prevention. Traditional protection systems such as antivirus software or firewalls rely on known signatures and static rules. This makes them vulnerable to new or highly targeted threats.
EDR, on the other hand, combines proactive detection capabilities with immediate incident response tools. When suspicious activity is identified, the security team can:
- Automatically block the malicious process.
- Isolate the compromised device from the corporate network.
- Initiate a forensic investigation to understand how the infection occurred.
Example
Effective EDR response involved a major European manufacturing company in 2022. Malware had bypassed antivirus defenses and encrypted several files on a corporate server. Thanks to the EDR solution in place, analysts were able to reconstruct the entire attack chain, tracing it back to an infected endpoint compromised through a USB flash drive. The device was isolated, and the attack was contained before it could spread to other production departments.
Integration with other security tools
Another key advantage of EDR solutions is their ability to integrate with other advanced cyber security tools. Many EDR platforms are natively connected to threat intelligence services that provide up-to-date information on ongoing global attacks.
Furthermore, EDR systems are often linked to SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) solutions, which aggregate and analyze data from various corporate sources: firewalls, servers, cloud applications, and, of course, endpoints. This multi-layered ecosystem ensures complete and real-time visibility of the company’s attack surface.
Example
If an attack is detected by the EDR, the system can automatically send information to the SIEM, which can then trigger a centralized alert, initiate further checks on other devices, and inform the Security Operations Center (SOC) team.
Frequently asked questions
- What is an EDR system?
An EDR is a cyber security solution that monitors, detects, and responds to threats on endpoints. - Which devices are considered endpoints?
Computers, servers, laptops, smartphones, and any device connected to the corporate network. - How is EDR different from antivirus?
EDR also detects unknown threats and abnormal behavior, while antivirus relies on known signatures. - Does EDR prevent attacks?
Yes, but its main strength is its ability to detect and respond to ongoing attacks. - Is EDR suitable only for large companies?
No, small and medium-sized businesses can also benefit from EDR to protect their devices. - Do I need specialized personnel to manage EDR?
Yes, it is recommended to have a security team to analyze alerts and manage incidents. - Does EDR slow down devices?
Modern solutions are designed to have minimal impact on endpoint performance. - What threats does EDR detect?
Malware, ransomware, phishing, unauthorized access, and any abnormal activity. - Does EDR work offline?
Some detection functions can work offline, but full analysis requires connection to the central console. - Does EDR replace the firewall?
No, EDR complements the firewall and other security tools.
