EDR vs XDR vs SIEM: What tool is right for you?

In an ideal world, every organisation would have unlimited resources available to detect and destroy cybersecurity threats.

But, of course, that’s not how the real world works. According to a recent survey of Security Operations Centre (SOC) staff, 42% say they lack time to do their jobs as well as they’d want, 39% are short on budget, and another 39% don’t have the tools they need.

To manage this reality, SOCs need to make pragmatic choices and invest in security solutions that balance time, resources and budget.

And this is where the choice between EDR, XDR and SIEM comes in. These three cybersecurity solutions provide different kinds of endpoint, data and assets protection and detection. They’re all valuable and effective in their own ways, and will be more or less suited to different organisations.

Let’s learn more about these three approaches to cybersecurity - and see who they’re most suitable for.

EDR vs XDR vs SIEM vs MDR: Which is right for you?

Not so long ago, organisations could keep data safe by installing firewalls around their networks and antivirus software on desktop computers. However, with the rise in cloud service adoption and borderless Zero Trust networks, attackers are now using far more sophisticated attacks to target this new approach to computing architecture.

Several detection and response solutions have emerged to address this issue. They take up security monitoring where antivirus tools and firewalls leave off. That is, they monitor activity across all on-prem, hybrid and cloud services to identify possible breaches and stop them before they spread.

There are three primary approaches here:

• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
• Extended Detection and Response (XDR)
• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

Let’s learn more about each of these approaches – and who they’re best suited to.

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Organisations worldwide today use many connected devices such as desktop PCs, laptops, company, and employee-owned smartphones, tablets, printers, IoT devices, and so on. As the number of devices has grown, so has the attack surface. And this is where EDR helps.

There are several kinds of EDR solutions out there, but they fundamentally do the same key things:

• Monitoring: EDRs continually collect data from all endpoints in your organisation.
• Detection: They analyse this data to detect anomalies. They can identify suspicious activities on endpoints, anomalies and other ‘signals’ that malware is present on a device.
• Response: They automatically alert SOC staff of any issues. They can also automatically respond by ‘closing down’ attacks.

Who is EDR most suitable for?

An EDR is a very helpful solution for almost all kinds of company:

• Any firm with multiple devices and environments: EDRs are well suited to the needs of almost all businesses that have multiple devices connected to the organisation’s environment, and which use any combination of on-prem, hybrid or cloud architecture. An EDR is, in many ways, the starting point for securing business data.
• Distributed workforces: Companies with a very distributed workforce, or where employees regularly use their own devices from outside the office, will particularly benefit from EDR.

Extended Detection and Response (XDR)

XDR can be thought of as an evolution of EDR. Not only does the technology monitor activity on endpoints, it also analyses network traffic, user behaviour, cloud environments, data and other systems. Put simply, XDR tries to monitor everything in your environment.

There are various kinds of XDR solution, but their common features include:

• Monitoring: As with an EDR, they continually monitor your entire environment for unusual behaviour.
• Detection: Again, they analyse collected data for anomalies and suspicious behaviour.
• Response: They also alert SOC staff to possible breaches and can close them down automatically too.

Who is XDR most suitable for?

Choosing an XDR will make sense for many organisations, but can be especially useful for:

• Medium and large businesses: These organisations have large and complex IT environments (including hybrid cloud), and so need a streamlined way to manage security across all their systems.
• Those with multiple security solutions: Any organisation that is currently using multiple kinds of cybersecurity solution for different parts of their environment can streamline operations and save money with a suitable XDR. Why pay for separate email security, network security, cloud security and EDR, when you can get it all in one place?
• Security-conscious organisations: While any business should be ‘security conscious,’ certain industries that hold sensitive data that have been targeted by hackers in the past will be especially vigilant. XDR supports them.

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

SIEM technologies are a mainstay of most security operations centres today. The technology provides a kind of telemetry system, logging all kinds of events across a network. Security analysts can then monitor and investigate this data to identify possible breaches.

SIEMs are somewhat similar to XDR in the way they collect data from across an entire network. They collect, analyse , correlate data and help detect anomalies, are proactive in alerting anomalies, detecting incidents and they also support threat hunting. However, SIEM does not provide automated response capabilities.

Who is SIEM most suitable for?

A SIEM can be useful for a wide variety of businesses, but is particularly valuable for:

• Organisations with strict compliance requirements: Many SIEMs are fine tuned to help organisations comply with regulations around data management. They provide advanced features to support this, such as built-in reports, auditable logs, customisable dashboards, etc.
• Those with detailed logging requirements: Organisations that prioritise detailed reporting or forensic capabilities benefit from SIEM’s advanced filtering, correlation and investigation tools.

Managed Detection and Response (MDR): Getting EDR, XDR or SIEM as a service

An alternative option for businesses looking to introduce more sophisticated cybersecurity is Managed Detection and Response (MDR). This is a service whereby an external cybersecurity provider offers round-the-clock monitoring and threat detection. Depending on the customer’s needs, the provider may offer some combination of EDR, XDR or SIEM. Sometimes, the customer will already have a security team, but needs expert external support. Other times, the MDR provider handles all aspects of cybersecurity monitoring.

MDR provides several key benefits:

• You get comprehensive support, threat detection, response, and proactive threat hunting.
• You can leverage expert security teams to investigate and resolve incidents.
• You relieve the burden on IT teams, avoid information overload and save time.
• They are often less expensive than building an SOC in-house.

Who is MDR most suitable for?

An MDR can be valuable to almost any organisation, no matter its size, industry or security maturity:

• Any business lacking in-house expertise: MDR can support every aspect of cybersecurity for companies with limited security expertise. Equally, it can fill in the gaps where SOCs currently lack resources.
• Customers that need to augment internal capabilities: An MDR can support organisations that already have an SOC to become more effective. Services include 24/7 proactive threat hunting, rapid incident response or expert remediation.
• Companies with critical infrastructure: MDR can support companies with critical infrastructure with advanced threat detection and incident response tailored to specific threats facing their industry.
• Businesses recovering from an attack: Companies that are looking to rebuild their security infrastructure following an attack can benefit from the outside expertise MDR offers.
• Regulatory adaptation: Any company that needs to adapt to new legislation (such as NIS 2 in Europe), or that is entering a new market, can benefit from MDR.