Key Takeaways
- EDR provides detection, investigation, and response
- Behavioral detection catches unknown threats
- XDR extends across endpoint, network, cloud
- Hardening reduces attack surface proactively
Contents
1. Endpoint Security Evolution
- Antivirus (AV): Signature-based, blocks known malware
- Next-Gen AV (NGAV): Adds behavioral and ML detection
- EDR: Detection, investigation, and response capabilities
- XDR: Extended detection across all security layers
2. EDR Core Capabilities
EDR Features
- Continuous monitoring: Real-time telemetry from endpoints
- Threat detection: Behavioral analysis, IOC matching
- Investigation: Timeline, process tree, file analysis
- Response: Isolate, kill process, remediate
- Threat hunting: Proactive search for threats
3. XDR & Managed Detection
- XDR (Extended): Correlates endpoint, network, email, cloud
- MDR (Managed): 24/7 SOC monitoring your environment
- MXDR: Managed XDR service
4. Detection Techniques
# Modern EDR detection methods:
# Behavioral analysis
# - Process hollowing
# - Injection techniques
# - Living-off-the-land (LOLBins)
# - Unusual parent-child process relationships
# ML/AI
# - File analysis
# - Behavioral patterns
# - Network anomalies
# IOC matching
# - File hashes
# - IP addresses
# - Domain names
# - Registry keys
# MITRE ATT&CK mapping
# Alert: T1059.001 PowerShell execution
# Alert: T1003 Credential dumping5. Response Capabilities
# Automated responses:
- Kill malicious process
- Quarantine file
- Isolate endpoint from network
- Block hash/IP
- Remediate changes (rollback)
# Investigation tools:
- Process tree visualization
- Timeline of events
- File analysis
- Network connection history
- Memory forensics6. Endpoint Hardening
# Windows hardening:
- Enable Windows Defender ATP/ASR rules
- Disable macros from internet
- Configure Credential Guard
- Enable controlled folder access
- Restrict PowerShell (Constrained Language Mode)
- Application whitelisting (AppLocker/WDAC)
# Linux hardening:
- SELinux/AppArmor enforcing
- auditd logging
- Disable unnecessary services
- Configure firewall
- Limit sudo access7. EDR Solutions
| Vendor | Product |
|---|---|
| CrowdStrike | Falcon |
| Microsoft | Defender for Endpoint |
| SentinelOne | Singularity |
| Palo Alto | Cortex XDR |
| Carbon Black | VMware CB |
8. Deployment Best Practices
- ✅ Deploy to 100% of endpoints
- ✅ Enable all detection capabilities
- ✅ Tune alerts to reduce noise
- ✅ Integrate with SIEM/SOAR
- ✅ Regular policy reviews
- ✅ Test detection with adversary simulation
FAQ
EDR vs antivirus - which do I need?
Modern threats require EDR. Traditional AV only catches known malware. EDR adds behavioral detection, investigation capabilities, and response actions essential for today's threat landscape.