The battle against cyber criminals has been ongoing for years and is likely to continue till time immemorial. However, as new technologies rise and reimagine our workspaces, new threats and attack vectors will try to make our lives harder. In such an ever-changing threat landscape, visibility on our endpoints is paramount. After all, knowing is half the battle.
An Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution is designed to quickly identify and address current and future security risks that aren't covered by standard antivirus software, anti-malware software, and other traditional security solutions. EDR solutions regularly scan a system's endpoints for vulnerabilities and threats that might compromise the corporate systems. EDR has grown in significance in light of the rise in cyberattacks, and with good cause. So, how do EDR solutions fit into your cybersecurity toolkit?
What makes it effective?
Real-time visibility is a vital element of any powerful EDR system. Technologies for detection and response gather various data and give the company real-time knowledge. However, it doesn't matter whether a cyber-attack happens in the current environment. It just depends on when it will happen. EDR is, therefore, a literal crow's nest, patiently looking out towards the horizon, waiting to see a glimpse of the next attack. An ever-watching eye like that will aid IT in getting ready or getting rid of the danger without doing too much harm.
An EDR solution is knowledgeable about the current and prospective cyber risks that a firm could encounter. Spotting, preparing for, preventing, and mitigating cyberattacks enables organizations to be proactive rather than reactive. If an attack does happen, it also helps to mitigate its effects. Additionally, a proper EDR tool will make false alarms easy to spot. This is crucial since a false alarm may seriously interrupt any company's operations. Additionally, scalability is another feature to look out for in EDR tools. As a business grows, there are more regular chores to perform, which means more data to track.
Although the monitoring systems strategy is a game-changer, attempting to stay on top of emerging infections and threats is tedious for any organization. Therefore, avoiding dangers in the first place would be the most optimum course of action. A Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solution bridges the gap in this situation.
The role of UEM in endpoint detection and response
Enterprises can monitor and protect all individual and business endpoints with UEM. It offers a wide range of security features, from sophisticated device limits and containerization on BYOD devices to remotely pushing enterprise applications and content.
Regular, consistent patches are needed for EDR solutions to support threat monitoring and prevention operations. Without these upgrades, your endpoint security becomes exposed to emerging threats and attack vectors. Additionally, patches also enable endpoints to operate at their peak efficiency, whether you are connecting to your company's network, managing business operations, or using apps. Through UEM solutions, IT admins can easily configure regular updates to all the endpoints in their arsenal. The SaaS nature of UEMs further allows them to negate the obstacles of the perimeter-less workspace and access every single endpoint.
Furthermore, if any vulnerability attacks an endpoint, a UEM's remote capability will allow admins to isolate the compromised system from the corporate network. The admin can also wipe corporate data on such endpoints to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. Yet still, taking a proactive approach toward cybersecurity is always advised. Even though we cannot predict the future and how an attack might come. Certain security measures can be the catalyst for mitigating an attack.
An integrated approach
As Security requirements change over the years, so do the security offerings. As a result, the lines between different SaaS solutions are blurring, and collaborations are giving rise to a more holistic approach toward endpoint protection.
Many UEMs today are introducing UEM suites that encompass elements of EDR to offer businesses some degree of vendor consolidation. The UEM vendors, who are yet to do so, are introducing integrations with other EDR vendors to enable access through a unified portal to relieve some of the strain of managing multiple SaaS offerings. The choice of which approach depends on the necessities of your organization. A UEM suite with EDR capabilities usually stresses on the management front more while offering good security functionalities. Moving ahead down the integration road will improve security and detection while compromising administrative complexity.
Closing thoughts
Combining a UEM and EDR will help achieve a more secure cybersecurity posture. As a bonus, UEM solutions are crucial to supporting the zero-trust security architecture. Sooner or later, all organizations must move forward toward a goal of zero trust. Deploying a UEM solution is a step forward in that direction. Endpoint security teams must outline their needs and map out their use cases. A UEM with strong remote capabilities will give you a holistic coverage of your endpoint front, and deploying an EDR solution will help mitigate new threats in the ever-shifting cyberspace.
