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Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) is yet another step toward the perfect security solution. Researchers designed MXDR with two major vectors in mind. First, it had to keep up with the latest internal and external threats. Second, to protect the more complex business networks.
Because these two goals are hard to reach with in-house staff, vendors imagined this cybersecurity solution that can be outsourced. This gives every organization the chance to have a mature and strong cybersecurity posture.
By the end of this article, you will know:
- What Managed Extended Detection and Response is;
- How MXDR works for you;
- What benefits you get from an MXDR solution.
What Is Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR)?
Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) is the most advanced detection and response security solution available nowadays. This outsourced cybersecurity platform offers 24×7 monitoring and detection. It comes with a rapid response and mitigation, using human and technological support.
MXDR proactively searches for and identifies threats in endpoints and networks. In order to do this, it uses firewalls and other tools. The provider’s security team will use forensics and analytics for alert triage, incident investigation, and remediation solutions.
This security solution is built on the previous generation of detection and response platforms – MDR and XDR. In consequence, it has increased capabilities and better attack surface visibility.
How Does MXDR Work?
MXDR efficiency relies on multiple layers of protection (and you already know how important layering your cybersecurity is). It will be hard to get all these from your in-house security team. Not to mention expensive and with a higher workload.
For great cybersecurity, this solution uses multiple tools and a number of features:
Non-stop monitoring
MXDR solutions automatically and proactively monitor endpoints and networks. This means 24/7 searching for cyber threats (inside and outside). If an incident appears, the platform will send an alert.
Any alert is first triaged by the system (using pre-defined rules) and then examined by the incident response team. If the team finds an attack, then they proceed to inspect it and respond to it.
Managing vulnerabilities
If a flaw appears on your attack surface, MXDR will find it and raise the alarm! This will help you manage vulnerabilities before a cybercriminal finds them.
Threat intelligence will allow you to assess the risks of a certain vulnerability.
Threat hunting
You want your security solution’s threat-hunting capabilities to go beyond monitoring and alerting. MXDR identifies malware deep into your environment. The goal is to spot the threat before an alert is even triggered. The cybersecurity analysts, part of the security team, will take care of that.
Forensics
Cyber forensics helps you to investigate an incident, but also to get to the roots of an attack. This service will assess the extent of the damage already done, and identify possible future damage to stop it. After the investigation, you will also get directions for preventing future attacks.
Threat intelligence
A cybersecurity platform is useless if it is not up to date with the latest and scariest threats out there. MXDR provides information about ongoing attacks, new threats, and other cybercriminal activities. Do you know what the best part is? All this data will help you to recognize and respond to never-seen-before threats.
Benefits of Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR)
Using a Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) security solution can help you on multiple levels. It can help you enhance the resources you have, receive higher expertise, and overcome alert fatigue.
Let’s sum up all the benefits for your company:
You don’t need to find additional security staff
“For those without the necessary security team personnel, take advantage of our Managed Extended Detection & Response (MXDR) service. It provides round-the-clock monitoring and response. It’s like having a dedicated security team working tirelessly to safeguard your business.” – Nabil Nistar, Head of Product Marketing.
As your company grows, so does your attack surface. Logically, you would need more employees to deal with cybersecurity. From security alerts to mending all the tools that you have in place, more manpower is necessary. But a security solution like MXDR can help you with all that without making you face the talent shortage on the market.
Expertise & experience
Activities like forensic investigations and malware analysis require a more experienced IT staff. However outsourcing these operations can give you immediate access to professionals with specialized skills without having to find, employ, and keep such experts. In consequence, you will benefit from their expertise & experience, building a mature cybersecurity posture.
Alert fatigue
Alert fatigue can appear when employees have to go through a large number of security alerts. All the tools from all the endpoints send daily alerts. Dealing with all of them can make IT specialists make bad decisions regarding threat response.
Faster threat detection
If you rely on your staff for threat detection, daily tasks and lack of time can be some disturbing factors in their work. Partnering with a Managed Extended Detection and Response solution, with the support of a Security Operations Center (SOC), ensures that no threat goes unnoticed, safeguarding your organization from potential cybercrime.
MXDR vs. MDR
Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) is an advanced detection and response platform. It extends capabilities beyond traditional security solutions. Meantime MXDR has a simplified approach, integrating with the existing infrastructure. MXDR monitors detects, and offers fast response and remediation solutions.
Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is a security solution that offers organizations endpoint detection and response (EDR) technologies and human support. MDR covers fields like network traffic analysis, deception platforms, threat intelligence, and staff expertise.
Both Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) and Managed Detection and Response (MDR) are cybersecurity solutions that combine endpoint security technologies with human expertise.
They offer an organization the tools and staff for threat hunting and incident response. And they are both outsourced security solutions that can increase your cybersecurity measures.
But MXDR expands its visibility to the entire attack surface, leveraging threat intelligence and anticipating potential incidents. It is capable of correlating security telemetry data across the network. In consequence, MXDR can implement a coordinated real-time response to identified threats across the whole network environment.
How Can Heimdal® Help?
Heimdal’s Extended Detection and Response solution provides unrivaled prevention, threat-hunting, and remediation functionalities by incorporating 10 solutions in a single easy-to-deploy and compact agent that will not slow down your systems and will save you significant time.
On top of the XDR technology stack, the MXDR service is delivered by our skilled Heimdal security professionals, who are highly proficient in proactive defensive and offensive measures to detect and neutralize even the most advanced tactics, such as reconnaissance, exfiltration, credential abuse, ransomware encryption, and more.
Wrapping Up…
Creating and maintaining high expertise and knowledge in managing cybersecurity incidents can be hard for an organization. But, unfortunately, it is not optional.
According to the Gartner Market Guide for Managed Detection and Response Services, “By 2025 50% of organizations will be using MDR services for threat monitoring, detection and response functions that offer threat containment and mitigation capabilities.”
You can have a strong cybersecurity strategy and also take the pressure off your IT team, all while bolstering your threat detection capabilities. This is possible through the power of Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR).
MXDR differs from more traditional detection and response cybersecurity solutions by:
- Addressing internal security skills gaps;
- Enhancing organizations’ security strategies;
- Combating even advanced threats.
