Symantec EDR solutions provide essential protection against attacks before they escalate to full-fledged breaches, and can offer comprehensive insight into those that have already penetrated your system.
Some solutions provide guided investigation services, guiding IT and security personnel through the process of analyzing threat data – this might include ranking severity levels or understanding an attack chain.
Brief explanation of Symantec EDR
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) is a cybersecurity technique that detects, discovers and reacts to cyber-attacks on your system. EDR works by continuously monitoring company systems for any signs of intrusion before notifying security teams when such attacks take place – this reduces the need for highly trained security personnel who are both expensive and scarcely available.
EDR solutions employ several different detection techniques to identify threats. Some employ signature-based detection, which looks for patterns in file hashes and commands; while others utilize behavioral-based analysis that tracks how a threat operates and looks out for abnormal activity.
Once EDR detects a threat, it can take various actions such as changing passwords or removing infected files; monitoring suspicious network traffic for unapproved access; collecting telemetry on cyberattackers’ behavior to assist faster responses against damage; as well as collecting telemetry for analysis to provide faster detection of attacks before they escalate into full-scale breaches. Taken together, these steps can help mitigate an attack before it escalates further and causes irreparable harm.
Importance of EDR in cybersecurity
EDR should be an integral component of any cybersecurity strategy as it helps detect and respond to threats before they cause significant harm, while mitigating the effect of security incidents that could prove costly and detrimental to a company’s reputation.
Utilizing an EDR tool can also save cyber security employees time by automatically analyzing, triaging and prioritizing alerts – freeing them up to focus on responding to actual incidents while mitigating risks from future attacks. Furthermore, such an approach reduces false positives which consume their time investigating unnecessary alarms.
EDR tools are designed to monitor endpoint devices and identify suspicious or threatening activity in real time, using automation and machine learning techniques to analyze data and detect patterns indicative of threats. Additionally, these services integrate with threat intelligence services that provide updates about new cyberthreats as they emerge as well as tactics they employ against endpoint devices and IT infrastructure vulnerabilities that they exploit.
What is Symantec EDR?
EDR software works differently from antivirus (AV) systems in that it detects and responds to real-time attacks on your computer system by collecting and analyzing data, as well as by detecting anomalous behavior and giving security teams all of the context they require to assess an incident.
Features of Symantec EDR include continuous monitoring–software agents running on endpoints continuously collect and analyze device activity to detect patterns that could signal an impending security incident. Alerts and forensics–notify security staff of incidents immediately while providing them with all of the information needed to understand an attack, including identification of likely threat actors and techniques used. Rootkit detection detects malware specifically designed to gain deep access into computers; Endpoint Protection Platforms (EPP)–prevent threats from executing on endpoints by blocking execution or uninstallation altogether.
Features of Symantec EDR
EDR gives security teams visibility into their entire environment for improved threat detection. It combines PAM, next-generation antivirus, patch management, encryptions and other security tools into one easy-to-use solution with an intuitive user interface for optimal threat detection and response capabilities that minimize mean time to response (MTTR) for incident response tasks while increasing productivity.
EDR uses various attributes that distinguish malicious activity from normal behavior in order to detect threats, including signatures, file hashes, command and control domains, IP addresses and other unique characteristics. Heuristic detection also allows EDR to recognize threats not recognized by traditional antivirus solutions.
EDR serves to detect and respond to threats by recording security events for incident analysis. This information can help security analysts spot trends or patterns in attacks as well as determine their scope. By decreasing investigation time requirements, EDR allows security analysts to focus on higher priority incidents to increase security posture – an integral component of an overall threat protection strategy.
How Does Symantec EDR works?
Symantec EDR is a cloud-based solution with advanced visibility, detection and response capabilities designed to assist security teams quickly and accurately investigate incidents that would otherwise remain invisible. The platform collects vast amounts of telemetry from endpoints that can then be searched using various analytic techniques; then this information is corroborated with threat intelligence to provide contextualized attacks with attribution so analysts can act immediately when threats are discovered.
EDR solutions not only detect malicious activity but can also contain it by isolating it from other network activities and keeping adversaries from spreading to more endpoints in your environment and potentially leading to major breaches. This feature is essential in protecting critical environments against breaches.
CloudSOC provides strong visibility into Shadow IT, promising to identify and monitor nearly any public cloud application using log ingestion and an intelligence system on the apps refreshed every two weeks to ensure accuracy. In addition, this platform incorporates anti-malware, file reputation monitoring technology, cloud sandbox capabilities as well as an intelligent UEBA capable of detecting high risk users.
Case studies
Since its origins as an anti-virus company dedicated to keeping viruses off floppy disks, Symantec has become one of the premier names in its field. Unfortunately, though, even it has fallen victim to security scandals; its legacy anti-virus products struggle against new threats.
Traditional tools rely on signature-based detection, matching attack artifacts against known threat patterns or files, for detection. EDR uses event and behavior analysis to detect suspicious activities, potentially detecting attacks that bypass traditional tools.
EDR solutions gather data from endpoints and send it to a central system for analysis, where it is then compared and correlatable in order to detect anomalies and uncover suspicious events. When any is identified, EDR solutions flag it for security analysts as suspicious activity; should anything suspicious arise, EDR solutions may even initiate automatic responses – for instance blocking execution or isolating affected endpoints.
McBee Associates, a technology consulting firm, implemented Cybereason to take an offensive approach to security and detect malicious activity before it had the opportunity to infiltrate their systems. A hospital revenue cycle management company also turned to Cybereason in order to gain visibility and make their junior security analysts more effective.
Examples of companies that have used Symantec EDR
EDR tools differ from traditional antivirus software in that they detect malware activity on endpoints such as employee workstations and laptops, servers, cloud systems, mobile devices and mobile phones. Monitoring endpoints for suspicious activities alert security teams of potential threats while providing forensics and threat hunting capabilities.
Signature-based detection uses unique file characteristics to identify malicious files; while heuristic detection uses behavior analysis techniques to spot patterns which indicate malicious activity; both methods can help identify zero-day attacks that antivirus software misses; while rootkit detection detects malware with deep administrative access on an infected machine.
Many EDR tools integrate with third-party threat intelligence solutions to provide more comprehensive coverage of threats and Indicators of Compromise (IoC). Such integrations make analyzing data simpler while communicating alerts more effectively.
When selecting an EDR system, keep ease of use and deployment top of mind. Some products may take more time to learn than others, but their long-term advantages make the investment worth while for IT and security staff. Also take into consideration whether an EDR platform can meet future cybersecurity needs while anticipating attacker behaviors.
How Symantec EDR helped on detect and respond?
An effective EDR solution can assist in the detection and response to advanced threats that might otherwise remain undetected by traditional protection technologies, and reduce the risk of expensive data breaches.
EDR solutions use continuous monitoring to detect suspicious activities at endpoints, including malware infections. They also offer visibility into network traffic to allow security teams to quickly recognize potential threats and take appropriate action against them.
Symantec EDR is an effective endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution, protecting organizations against advanced threats. Utilizing machine learning techniques, it detects suspicious activity on endpoints and correlates it with data from other devices to reveal an attack pattern. Furthermore, threat intelligence from Symantec Global Intelligence Network allows it to identify and prioritize new threats quickly.
Symantec EDR allows your company to protect itself against cyber attacks that seek to steal sensitive data, deploy malicious software onto devices or exploit operating system vulnerabilities. Furthermore, it offers an efficient solution for handling security incidents more quickly.
Endpoint Detection and Response
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) technology offers comprehensive protection from cyberthreats for computer systems, providing visibility and control of devices across your network. EDR detects threats quickly while providing visibility into them for improved management.
Antivirus (AV), which uses signature- and pattern-based detection methods to identify malware on a system, extends beyond traditional antivirus to also include data loss prevention (DLP), which prevents sensitive information from being lost or disclosed inappropriately to third parties.
Benefits of Symantec EDR
Endpoint detection and response software (EDR) is a suite of tools that monitors an organization’s computer systems for suspicious activity, such as malware, threats and cyberattacks that might otherwise cause damage. EDR also helps prevent data breaches by safeguarding sensitive information against theft – making this tool ideal for all sizes of business.
File protection, remote server monitoring, evil twin detection and extended graph histories are among its many features. With artificial intelligence capabilities that detect malware quickly and block external attacks quickly. Furthermore, this solution improves platform security posture as well as provides central cybersecurity management.
Traditional antivirus (AV) solutions rely on signatures and patterns to detect threats, but attackers are increasingly adept at employing fileless malware techniques to evade detection by traditional solutions. EDR solutions provide faster detection by analyzing behavior and context – this allows security teams to respond more rapidly to potential incidents and mitigate threats before they cause irreparable damage.
Importance and benefits of Symantec EDR
EDR systems collect and analyze data to detect any suspicious activities that might indicate threats, and provide visibility across all devices within a network so security teams can investigate and respond quickly to incidents that arise. EDR can even detect attacks attempting to break in, thus stopping them from being successful in doing so.
EDR solutions also feature advanced threat detection capabilities capable of identifying both sophisticated malware and unknown threats. These features are critical given that cyber attackers constantly adapt their malware to avoid antivirus (AV) detection while using various techniques to hide their activities from these systems.
EDR solutions can assist organizations in detecting these new types of attacks by combining various technologies – including next-generation antivirus (NGAV), device firewall, UEBA and deception technology. This combination helps organizations reduce false positives while increasing accuracy of security alerts, provide advanced threat hunting capabilities as well as automated investigation playbooks so security teams can quickly respond to threats faster, detect lateral movement attempts as well as credential theft attempts and block them immediately.
1. Real-time threat detection and response
Security threat detection solutions provide real-time detection of threats that threaten to compromise data, alerting you when they have been identified and helping take appropriate actions to minimize damage and recovery costs.
EDR solutions monitor endpoints for signs of infection, such as when suspicious files are accessed or executed, and then provide an indication of an attack in progress. This allows for fast action such as activating antivirus protection or altering firewall settings – as well as helping reduce dwell time of attackers reducing costs associated with incident remediation.
EDR takes an insufficient, one-dimensional approach to threat detection by consolidating data from various security tools and systems into one view, which provides more holistic threat detection capabilities. XDR helps improve cybersecurity posture by providing detailed visibility into attack timelines, origins and TTPs as well as automating responses and decreasing response times – this makes the difference between proactive or reactive breaches.
2. Advanced threat hunting capabilities
Man-in-the-middle (MIM) attacks are cyberattacks that intercept and manipulate communication between two parties, potentially stealing sensitive data while also exposing vulnerabilities in the system, such as unpatched software flaws or weak passwords. MAM solutions can detect and prevent these attacks using machine learning technology to identify suspicious activity that might indicate breach.
EDR systems feature advanced threat hunting capabilities as a key feature, enabling security teams to quickly recognize and respond to threats missed by traditional security solutions. Telemetry data from endpoints is used by these tools to analyze for suspicious activity such as abnormal network behavior or malware infections; additionally they monitor endpoint activities including user logins, device usage and application use.
Some EDR solutions, such as Carbon Black, feature advanced threat hunting capabilities to strengthen an organization’s security posture. Telemetry-based detection helps identify anomalies and threats such as ransomware quickly; furthermore it features memory exploit prevention technology, deception technology and USB device protection – but its future remains uncertain following Broadcom’s proposed acquisition.
3. Automated incident response
EDR tools enable security teams with limited time and effort to respond more quickly and efficiently to attacks by automatically initiating pre-set remediation policies without needing to manually initiate them themselves. This reduces both time and effort spent responding to an attack by security admins themselves.
EDR solutions typically provide a holistic view of endpoint activity, including activity from endpoints (workstations, laptops, servers and cloud systems), IoT devices as well as patterns or trends such as suspicious file activity or unwarranted device connections, providing alerts when needed.
The RSA NetWitness Endpoint solution provides EDR capabilities alongside other threat protection features, such as legacy antivirus, NGAV, malware prevention, memory exploit prevention, deception technology and device network firewall protection. While some reviewers note that it produces false positives occasionally, its overall security scores and ease of use remain impressive. Carbon Black is another popular choice among businesses searching for EDR tools; boasting excellent overall security scores as well as being top-ranked product in MITRE evaluations.
4. Integration with other security tools
Endpoint protection platforms (EPP) serve to thwart malware from infiltrating endpoint devices and spreading through malicious software or attacks that bypass other security measures, while EDR tools detect incidents where threats have managed to bypass other security measures and provide visibility and actionable intelligence that enables effective response strategies.
Security staff using EDR can quickly identify the infiltration point and other pertinent details related to an attack, including who it came from and its source, as well as rapidly responding to it more effectively, for example by isolating an endpoint or initiating automatic remediation policies.
These EDR solutions include RSA NetWitness Endpoint, Fortinet FortiEDR and Falcon Insight by Broadcom. Each offers strong security and EDR capabilities but some also come equipped with additional features that enhance their value proposition – for instance CASB systems for Shadow IT cloud apps or device network firewalls and intrusion prevention – so depending on your business requirements you can select one of these tools that best matches them.
Examples of companies that have used Symantec EDR
EDR tools utilize machine learning to analyze endpoint event data and alert security teams when suspicious activity has been discovered. EDR tools also assist with advanced attacks by detecting them before spreading, freeing security teams up from spending too much time monitoring endpoints and more time responding to incidents.
EDR solutions collect event data from endpoints and store it in a centralized database for analysis and correlation purposes, before using this information to detect suspicious activities by comparing it against threat signatures and behavioral baselines that represent what events should be considered safe.
These tools can also detect malicious activities such as fileless malware that runs entirely in memory without writing files to disk. They can detect insider threats by analyzing user behaviors and detecting anomalous patterns that indicate potential risks.
Organizations can protect their critical infrastructure from threats by monitoring IoT devices, smartphones and remote workstations to detect gaps in defense caused by unpatched software and devices.
Final thoughts and recommendations
Several EDR solutions should be on your list when searching for an EDR system, including Carbon Black which earned high marks from MITRE evaluations and reviews by users regarding its detection capabilities. Unfortunately, its ease of use and deployment were less impressive, while support could sometimes be difficult to work with.
CrowdStrike provides strong security with an abundant feature set. As a cloud-native platform that can be deployed as either a hardware appliance or software agent, it integrates seamlessly with third-party ticketing systems via its API, supports numerous network detection tools (Darktrace and Gigamon included) as well as providing strong detection capabilities as well as outstanding investigation and response features rated highly by users.