What is XDR (Extended Detection and Response)?

As IT architectures become more hybrid, incorporating diverse end devices, clouds, and servers, the landscape of potential threats becomes increasingly dynamic. Against this backdrop, XDR (Extended Detection and Response) is a modern, high-performance security solution consisting of various analysis and security tools. As an overall concept, XDR examines almost all levels of the IT landscape, performs real-time security analyses and optimises dynamic, hybrid responses for constantly evolving threat scenarios.

What is the meaning of XDR?

XDR (Extended Detection and Response) stands for a new type of security concept with a holistic approach to forecasting, real-time detection and defense against dynamic cyber threats. In contrast to conventional security solutions such as classic virus programs, XDR does not focus on predefined security threats such as viruses, ransomware attacks or phishing, but on a flexible security architecture consisting of a combination of various tools such as Endpoint Security, SIEM: Security Information & Event Management, NGAV and Managed Security Services. As a rule, XDR is SaaS (Software-as-a-Service), i.e. a security solution consisting of various tools offered by an XDR provider.

The goal of XDR is to respond as flexibly and as quickly as possible to heterogeneous, adaptable threats in a behaviour-based and proactive manner. In order to achieve this, XDR uses classic security tools for protection against ransomware, spyware and scareware with a focus on specific end devices and applications. On the other hand, various correlating, context-related and automated analysis functions cover the entire IT layer from email and cloud services to networks and servers. Artificial intelligence and machine learning can also be used. This means there is no simple answer to the question ‘What is the meaning of XDR?’ as it encompasses a set of multiple integrated tools and concepts.

Why is Extended Detection and Response important?

The classic idea of cyber security is based on the detection and defense against known cyber threats and cyberattacks, e.g. based on malware signatures, attack patterns or security vulnerabilities. In modern working environments and company networks, however, increasingly complex combinations of local and mobile end devices, networks, services and cloud landscapes consisting of hybrid clouds and multiclouds are being used.

This not only increases the flexibility and efficiency of companies, but also the number of threat scenarios, including zero-day exploits. In order to be prepared for complex and continuous cyberattacks on several levels of the IT architecture or even advanced persistent threats (APT), significantly more powerful security solutions are required. Since one tool is no longer sufficient for this, many companies opt for the often SaaS-based XDR.

Through combinations of multiple, communicating and context-related tools, threat situations can be detected and predicted in real time. If attacks do occur, they are specifically prevented and contained to protect sensitive data and network areas. XDR fends off attacks with the help of all your company’s integrated security solutions and protects against data theft, data encryption, ransomware, malware, remote control as well as espionage and malware redistribution. Instead of having to spend money on malware removal, replacing IT infrastructure or sending warnings to customers that could end up damaging your reputation, XDR recognises and prevents emergencies before they occur.

What can be protected with XDR?

For many security experts, XDR is seen as a further development of classic endpoint security and endpoint protection platforms (EPP). Endpoint security as part of a standardised platform already offers an overall concept for protecting all end devices integrated into the company network, from PCs, laptops and smartphones to servers and routers. XDR goes one step further, as it not only focuses on sub-areas such as end devices, but includes all levels of the IT architecture when it comes to threat prevention and threat analysis.

The following areas of your IT infrastructure are covered under the XDR protection umbrella:

• Integrated local and mobile end devices such as PCs, printers, scanners, copiers, laptops, tablets, smartphones and more
• Network components such as servers, routers, modems or switches
• Cloud services and cloud storage
• Database systems and email services
• Physical and virtual servers

Since XDR is a smart, flexible security concept, basically any layer and any interface that belongs to your company network or communicates with your network can be integrated into the XDR protection area.

How does XDR (Extended Detection and Response) work?

Like endpoint security solutions, XDR coordinates the tools it employs and displays analysis findings, reports, and alerts via a central, administrative management console. The goal is not merely to counteract current, specific threats in isolation, but to perform a contextual analysis of attack data. This way, you can learn from threat situations on a system-wide and sustainable basis, recognise acute and complex attacks, and even predict future attack scenarios.

To accomplish these tasks, an XDR solution should include the following features and functions:

An overview of additional XDR solutions

Other tools that can be integrated into an XDR concept are, for example:

• Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Strategies and measures to protect against data theft and data breaches
• URL filtering: Block and unblock URLs based on predefined parameters to protect the corporate network
• Endpoint encryption: Sharing of company data with authorised users through data encryption and decryption
• Browser isolation: Execution of browser sessions in isolated environments
• Insider threat protection: Use Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) to alert for suspicious activities within the network
• Cloud security: Using cloud firewalls and cloud web filtering tools using cloud services securely
• Sandboxing: Isolating or mimicking applications and domains to safeguard critical sections of the network from attacks
• Email gateway: Monitoring and checking email traffic for suspicious content using secure email gateways (SEG)

The benefits of XDR (Extended Detection and Response)

XDR goes not just one, but several steps further when it comes to intelligent, proactive cyber security. By choosing XDR as a SaaS-based solution, you benefit from the following:

Comprehensive protection of business, customer and company data and systems

Unlike traditional solutions for network, system, and endpoint protection, XDR combines diverse security tools into a heterogeneous solution of combined services. This approach replaces the piecemeal threat analysis and protection offered by independently managed products with a streamlined, centrally managed interface. This interface correlates and contextualises diverse data sets, enhancing threat detection. Through automated workflows and responses, attack paths can be reconstructed, and threats can be quickly and efficiently repelled, isolated, or contained. This leads to greater control and transparency and comprehensive security for your business.

Data-reduced, fast analyses for action-oriented defense

Thanks to integrated best practices, predefined defense scenarios and up-to-date threat databases, cyber security can be implemented in a very data-reduced manner. Harmless anomalies or unsuspicious warnings are automatically filtered out and serious threats are prioritised. AI and ML-supported analyses also ensure fast and self-learning real-time analyses that detect even hidden, sophisticated or multi-layered threats.

Time and cost savings

By integrating diverse security tools into a unified system, the administrative burden associated with manual evaluations using separate tools can be significantly reduced. This integration not only lowers the amount of work required but also decreases the time it takes to respond to urgent threats, as security solutions can act before human operators are even alerted to incidents.

XDR offers an integrated platform with efficient analyses and evaluations of complex system data, thus reducing the cost of investigations. Even more importantly, in complex hardware and software landscapes, the high, seamless security means that costly, financially burdensome measures such as system clean-ups or the reinstallation of infected end devices as well as damage to the company’s image due to data theft can be avoided.

The difference between XDR and EDR