What is Endpoint Detection and Response, and How Does it Work?

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What is Endpoint Detection and Response, and How
Does it Work?
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Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) emerged as
a response to the limitations of conventional
antivirus solutions, primarily designed to
address known threats. Gaining prominence in the
early 2010s, EDR evolved as cyber threats became
increasingly sophisticated and elusive.
Initially, early EDR tools offered basic
monitoring and alerting capabilities. However,
these solutions rapidly advanced, incorporating
sophisticated analytics and machine learning to
better detect and respond to complex and unknown
threats. This evolution marked a significant
shift in how organisations approach endpoint
security, moving from reactive to proactive and
adaptive threat management. EDR is designed to
pinpoint security threats at the endpoint level,
such as mobile, desktop, and laptop. EDR
solutions proactively monitor endpoint-level
activities and analyse the data to detect
anomalies and potential threats in real-time.
These tools offer a suite of advanced
capabilities, such as threat detection,
investigation, and response, enabling cyber
security teams to detect and mitigate risks
quickly.
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• Lets understand EDR in detail.

How does EDR Work?
EDR systems consistently track endpoint
activities, gathering data for real-time threat
analysis and anomalies. EDR Systems utilises
advanced algorithms and machine learning to
identify suspicious behaviour, provide detailed
data, and proactive threat hunting for robust
protection.
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Endpoint Data Collection
Threat detection is the base of any modern EDR
solution. EDR systems collect vast data from
endpoints, capturing every action and movement,
from file modifications and process executions to
network connections and user activities. This
data allows EDR to construct a detailed and
comprehensive timeline of endpoint
behaviour. Security teams can utilise this data
to scrutinise patterns and detect anomalies that
may indicate a security threat. For instance, If
an endpoint server starts to establish a
connection with a malicious server, the EDR
system flags this behaviour for immediate action.
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Machine learning models enhance threat detection,
leveraging historical data to improve accuracy.
Constant data collection supports real-time
threat detection and delivers crucial insights
during incident response, ensuring swift and
effective resolution. The depth and granularity
of the collected data ensure that even the most
subtle signs of compromise are identified,
strengthening defences against advanced cyber
attacks.
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Real-time Analysis Threat Detection
EDR systems excel at real-time analysis and
threat detection, continuously monitoring
endpoint data for suspicious activities. They
utilise advanced algorithms to analyse the vast
amount of datasets, identifying potential threats
within a few seconds. For instance, If an
endpoint starts an unusual process or assesses
the sensitive files as atypical, the EDR systems
immediately flag these anomalies. This rapid
detection is critical for addressing the threats
before they can escalate. Machine learning is
integral to this process. With each new piece of
data, these models continuously refine their
detection capabilities. They can differentiate
between benign anomalies and genuine threats,
reducing false positives and improving accuracy.
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Additionally, EDR solutions often integrate
threat intelligence feeds, enhancing their
detection mechanism with up-to-date information
on emerging threats. This integration ensures the
security team remains proactive and equipped to
address known and novel threats with exceptional
speed and precision.
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• API Posture Management Utilize API posture
  management tools to detect, monitor, and mitigate
  potential security threats from vulnerable APIs.
  These tools conduct regular vulnerability
  assessments, ensuring compliance with industry
  regulations and internal policies.
• Implement API Threat Prevention Recognize that
  API security is an ongoing task. Employ proactive
  measures, including specialized security
  solutions, threat modeling, behavioral analysis,
  vulnerability scanning, and incident response, to
  mitigate potential API threats.

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Automated Incident Response
Automated incident response revolutionises how
the EDR system handles threats by enabling swift,
decisive action without human intervention. When
an EDR system detects a potential threat, it can
automatically analyse the affected endpoint,
preventing lateral movement across the network
and effectively containing the issue. This
containment allows the security teams to analyse
and address the threats. Sophisticated EDR
solutions can also execute the predefined
response playbooks with precision, such as
terminating malicious processes, deleting harmful
files, or reversing changes created by
ransomware. These automated responses
significantly minimise the damage and accelerate
the remediation process. For instance, if
ransomware encrypts the files, the EDR system can
easily restore them from secure backups, thereby
preserving business continuity.
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Threat Containment Remediation
The EDR system excels at isolating compromised
endpoints to prevent the spread of malicious
activity. When a threat is detected, the EDR
solution can quarantine the affected device,
severing its network connections and halting
further infiltration. This immediate containment
is essential for minimising damage and
safeguarding the integrity of the broader IT
environment. Sophisticated EDR tools go beyond
isolation by facilitating targeted remediation
actions. They can terminate malicious processes,
remove infected files, and reverse unauthorised
changes. For instance, if malware modifies system
configurations, the EDR system can restore the
original settings, ensuring operational stability
and continuity.
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These advanced capabilities mitigate immediate
risks and streamline recovery processes,
enhancing an organisations resilience against
cyber attacks. EDR systems are crucial in
bolstering cyber security defences by promptly
addressing threats and maintaining system
integrity.
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Support for Threat Hunting
EDR systems significantly empower threat hunters
by delivering comprehensive visibility into
endpoint activities. Analysts can examine
detailed logs and telemetry data, uncovering
subtle indicators of compromise that may elude
traditional security measures. These tools
aggregate and correlate data from diverse
endpoints, facilitating the detection of abnormal
patterns and behaviours that signal advanced
threats. Sophisticated EDR platforms further
enhance threat hunting with advanced search
capabilities. Analysts can query historical data
to track the progression of potential attacks
over time. For example, they can trace the
lateral movement of a threat actor within the
network, identifying the initial entry point and
subsequent actions. This granular insight is
crucial for constructing a complete attack
narrative, understanding the threat landscape and
developing effective countermeasures.
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Conclusion
EDR systems serve as the linchpin of modern
incident response. By providing unparalleled
visibility into endpoint activities and enabling
rapid threat detection, these platforms empower
security teams to contain and remediate cyber
attacks swiftly. EDR solutions optimise incident
handling efficiency, minimise downtime, and
safeguard critical assets through intelligent,
alert prioritisation and automated response
capabilities. Ultimately, EDR is instrumental in
transforming organisations from reactive victims
of cyber crime to proactive defenders. Get the
latest updates on emerging cyber security threats
and effective mitigation strategies. Stay
connected with Cyber News Live.
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