Breaking Down Managed Detection and Response Services: EDR vs. IDR vs. XDR

With greater cybercrime and skill scarcity than ever before, security teams are looking for a strategic partner when it comes to threat detection and response. Organizations today need a Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider that’s united with them in the fight against cyber threats. MDR services provide organizations with the people, processes, and technology needed to detect and stop cyber threats without investing in 24/7 personnel and hefty technology.

An essential piece of the security puzzle, MDR services not only boost cyber resilience but reduce risk organization-wide by stopping malicious activity before the damage occurs. At ProArch, our MDR services include Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), Identity Detection and Response (IDR), and Extended Detection and Response (XDR). Read on to learn about their key differences as well as how to decide which is the best option for your enterprise.

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Endpoint Detection and Response is an advanced endpoint security solution that continuously assesses the events and behaviors of devices. If malicious activity is detected, the Security Operations Center (SOC) steps in to investigate and remediate the threat. EDR works in real-time to perform deep forensics and behavioral-based protections, providing an extra layer of security across your endpoints as well as the telemetry that security analysts need to determine the root cause.

ProArch’s EDR offering provides

• 24/7 response to endpoint threat activity with a dedicated SOC team;
• ongoing threat monitoring and detection;
• coverage for workstations, servers, and mobile devices;
• SIEM and SOAR capabilities; and
• seamless escalation to incident response in the case of compromise.

Every organization needs an EDR solution to secure its endpoints and prevent a damaging breach. Regardless of location, EDR monitors desktops, phones, workstations, tablets, and servers to provide a holistic view of correlated events and data.

Identity Detection and Response (IDR)

The transition from on-premises to the cloud has put the identity under greater threat. A compromised identity can lead to a ripple effect of damage, which is where Identity Detection and Response (IDR) comes in. Adjacent to EDR, IDR is an identity security solution that protects employee credentials, privileges, and cloud entitlements. With IDR, ProArch can quickly prevent and detect when an account has been compromised; perform necessary remediation actions, such as password resets, blocking logins, and notifying users, which can all be done automatically through automation playbooks.

ProArch’s IDR offering includes

• 24/7 identity monitoring and detection from a dedicated SOC team;
• 24/7 threat containment, eradication, and remediation;
• SIEM and SOAR capabilities; and
• seamless escalation to incident response in the case of compromise.

Attacks on enterprise identities can evade detection from certain security controls; however, IDR solutions can bridge these gaps to detect and address such attacks.

Extended Detection and Response (XDR)

Extended Detection and Response (XDR) goes beyond EDR and IDR to provide holistic, end-to-end threat visibility and response across the entire environment. XDR unifies telemetry, including non-traditional and custom systems to give the full picture of an attack. This data drastically speeds up the time it takes to pinpoint root cause analysis and perform investigation and response.

ProArch’s XDR offers

• 24/7 endpoint, identity, and network monitoring and detection;
• 24/7 threat containment, eradication, and remediation performed by a dedicated SOC team;
• SIEM and SOAR capabilities; and
• seamless escalation to incident response in the case of compromise.

Especially important for supporting strict compliance requirements, an XDR solution will provide all the monitoring and logging of data needed for reporting.

Breakdown of ProArch’s MDR Services:

Read more in our MDR services comparison guide.

MDR Powered by Microsoft Security

Microsoft's security stack continues to lead the industry, including Gartner’s Magic Quadrant. As a top Microsoft partner, ProArch's MDR services are powered by Microsoft, including Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender, and Azure Log Analytics, plus tools likely already in your environment, like Azure Active Directory.

This unified approach not only maximizes your organization’s Microsoft investment but also significantly enhances data flow for better visibility into threats without the need for custom APIs.

Choosing the Right MDR Solution for Your Organization

Choosing MDR services for your organization requires consideration of your security stature and maturity, budget, and compliance needs. Before diving into a system, ask yourself a few questions:

• Do you already have an in-house team or will you use a partner?
• What is your in-house team’s current availability and bandwidth to handle more work?
• What are your compliance requirements?
• Which systems are most at risk and need protection?

With the right partner, you can identify the best solution for your organization, ensuring you not only improve your security posture but also deliver when it comes to your budget, compliance requirements, and business objectives.

If you need additional help deciding on Managed Detection and Response and cybersecurity solutions that will offer a strengthened risk posture for your enterprise and assets, reach out to ProArch today.