As helpful as EDR and XDR can be for an organization, they’re not without challenges. Tools that simply compile activity data, whether from endpoints alone or other areas of your IT infrastructure, generate a wealth of data that requires further analysis. In turn, this increases workloads and requires an in-depth understanding of cybersecurity telemetry and processes. This is the challenge that managed detection and response seeks to address.

MDR is not a specific technology, but a managed service that packages the benefits of EDR and/or XDR into a convenient offering, helping offload some of the challenges of hiring cybersecurity professionals who have the experience needed to build an in-house security program.

XDR’s origins come from the fact that looking through a single lens at an organization’s infrastructure simply doesn’t provide the coverage and visibility required to minimize the threat surface.

EDR and some traditional MDR offerings are frequently seen as limited point solutions, addressing a single aspect within a network. XDR is a direct response to those limitations, pulling together detection and response capabilities for endpoints, networks, and cloud services in a single platform. XDR is often offered as software-as-a-service (SaaS), making it easier for businesses to access this technology.

Endpoint detection and response (EDR) focuses on securing endpoint devices—any device with connections to and from a network. Endpoints typically include laptop and desktop computers, smartphones, tablets, Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices, servers, and more.

Where modern EDR truly sets itself apart is with a greater focus on active monitoring and the ability to identify abnormal or suspicious activity—which may go beyond known threats—and react appropriately. For example, actions taken could include an active block, isolating a host, or escalating findings for further investigation. This is a stark contrast to classification-based detection because it adds a layer of intelligence to the system; classification-based detection requires previous experience or understanding of threats.