In 2024, cybersecurity remains a top concern for most organisations. With the increased pace of cyberattacks, this is the right time to ensure that necessary security procedures and solutions are implemented effectively. As per recent reports coming from the UK government, almost half of all organisations in the UK have been victimised by some kind of cyber breach or attack in the last year alone. Every day, millions of cyberattacks are tried worldwide, and no big or small enterprise is out of the target list.
Gone are the days when hackers and other cybercrimes were concerned solely with large corporations. Nowadays, all businesses are vulnerable and need to take certain precautions that may help.
Cyber Insurance
With the increase in cyber threats, corporate entities seek extra protection by way of cyber insurance. One critical juncture of a company’s disaster recovery is what is called the “panic zone”: a point at which a company could not recover from an attack and may go bankrupt. The financial pillow offered by cyber insurance provides liquidity during such events in order to keep afloat while systems are restored.
On the other hand, one of the key prerequisites for availing cyber insurance is to deploy Endpoint Detection and Response. This has brought up a question: is EDR merely another box to tick by insurers, or does it really protect the business?
How does EDR differ from traditional Antivirus?
Perhaps the most common confusion when coming into EDR for the first time is how it differs from traditional antivirus. Traditionally, antivirus works by using a hash-a type of identifier-of a program and checks it against a database of known threats. For example, if the hash matches a trusted program, such as Google Chrome, then the AV will allow it. If the hash matches known malware, then the AV will block it.
In turn, EDR is intended to add yet another layer of protection. Unlike traditional AV, which deploys protection against only the known threats, EDR monitors program and activity behaviour inside the system. Behavioural analysis allows EDR to identify much more complex, ever-evolving threats.
For instance, taking an airport as an example, classic AV checks the passport and if it is valid, it easily passes the person through. But EDR does more: while this is going on, it observes whether anybody around is acting suspiciously, though their documents may be all correct. It is due to this ability to raise the red flag in the case of suspicious behaviour that makes EDR indispensable in the modern fight against cyber threats.
EDR or Antivirus: Which do I need?
Not every organisation has identical needs, and because of this, a blanket cybersecurity approach simply cannot be used. Theoretically, the very best possible setup includes the use of both AV and EDR. Being provided by one supplier allows for complete integration of the two systems. The AV solution can identify known threats via hash, while the EDR component would monitor behaviours in search of anything that could be suspicious.
But if a business has to invest in just one solution, starting with a robust antivirus product makes a lot of sense. Most AV products now incorporate some of the basic functionalities of EDR, providing some quantum of protection against behavioural threats. While it’s not as good as having an actual EDR solution, it is still way better than nothing.
However, where possible, both AV and EDR are highly recommended in combination for the best security.
Conclusion
Based on our in-depth research and hands-on testing of several EDR products throughout the last year, we believe quite confidently that EDR is anything but an exercise in box-ticking. If set up properly and managed regularly, EDR adds much value in protecting against cyber threats these days. One should definitely make provisions to have a team or partner ready that analyses and acts upon the alerts produced by the solution. Poor management will make even the most capable of the EDR solutions futile.
If your business is researching EDR or needs assistance in meeting cybersecurity requirements, a quote from our sales team will be well warranted. We go one step further in EDR by deploying it, adding hands-on monitoring, and threat response. A security product is only as good as the people who manage it. Invest in the right tools and team to keep your business secure.
