Key takeaways:
- EDR can be broken down into four core functions: monitoring, detection, containment and faster investigation of breaches.
- While traditional antivirus relies on static signatures to block known files, EDR uses behavioral monitoring to identify and stop active threats in real-time.
- Choosing an EDR service or comparing it with MDR vs. XDR (or a combination of these) depends on the current security stack and whether your internal team has the bandwidth to manage the alerts it generates.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is a cybersecurity technology that continuously monitors end-user devices (computers, servers, and mobile devices) to detect and respond to cyber threats such as ransomware and malware.
What are endpoints
Endpoints are the connected devices and individual computers your employees use to get work done. As businesses adopt more connected technology, the number of endpoints continues to grow exponentially.
Common endpoint devices include:
- Desktop computers and laptops
- Mobile phones and tablets
- Connected smart devices
- Servers
Think of your network as an office building:
- Firewalls are the locked front doors.
- Antivirus is the security guard checking IDs at the lobby (looking for “known bad” people).
- EDR is the network of CCTV cameras and motion sensors inside every room. Even if someone gets past the lobby (which won’t raise an alarm), EDR sees them opening a file cabinet they shouldn’t touch and locks them in that room instantly.
The term was coined by Gartner’s Anton Chuvakin in 2013 to describe tools focused on “detecting and investigating suspicious activities”. Today, it is the industry standard for enterprise security.
The four core functions of EDR
Effective EDR isn’t just one tool; it’s a lifecycle. According to security frameworks, it operates in four distinct phases:
1. Detection (The Watchtower)
EDR leverages threat intelligence to learn and respond to advanced threats. It doesn’t just look for bad files; it looks for destructive behaviors.
Example: A user logging in at 3 AM from an unusual IP address isn’t “malware,” but it is a “threat.” EDR flags this.
2. Containment (The Quarantine)
Malware authors are sophisticated, and if they get in, they try to move laterally to your servers.
Once a threat is verified, EDR can cut off that device’s network access. The computer stays on, but it can no longer communicate with the server, stopping the ransomware’s spread dead in its tracks.
3. Investigation (The Sandbox)
EDR uses sandboxing to test suspicious files in a safe, isolated environment. Your IT team gets a clear “attack tree” visualization that shows exactly where the file originated, what it tried to do, and which other devices might be affected.
4. Elimination (The Cleanup)
Once the threat is confirmed, EDR eliminates the malware. This includes:
- Deleting the malicious file
- Removing the registry keys it created
- Killing any “ghost” processes left behind
- Scanning the network for similar malicious files
Why endpoint protection is critical
Cybersecurity threats are evolving in significant ways, as adversaries continue to improve their malware and increase its effectiveness. Hackers find increasingly creative ways to gain access to networks, and endpoints are their ultimate targets. Organizations need proactive cybersecurity measures rather than reactive responses.
Actively tracking incoming threats
One of the main features of an endpoint security solution is that it alerts system administrators to incoming threats in real time. Time is not on your side when responding to a cyber attack, and every second counts when there’s possible malware at the front door.
Protecting from multiple cyber attacks at once
Cyberattacks such as ransomware are becoming increasingly stealthy and difficult to track across endpoints. EDR does an excellent job of examining security incidents across all connected endpoints, identifying and eliminating threats simultaneously. If you’ve experienced a breach, understanding how to identify the ransomware type is the first step toward an effective response.
If your business is under cyber siege from multiple angles, increased visibility into endpoint security can help defend against and control various threats.
EDR vs. traditional antivirus
To understand the value, we have to look at how a modern attack happens. Understanding the stages of a ransomware attack helps illustrate why traditional defenses fall short.
Hypothetical scenario: An employee receives a phishing email with a document invoice. They open it. The document contains a macro that runs a PowerShell script to download ransomware.
While traditional antivirus software relies on known signatures and often fails to stop zero-day attacks, EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) provides superior protection through continuous behavioral monitoring. Instead of waiting for a file to be identified as “bad,” EDR detects suspicious actions (like a document launching PowerShell) to block threats in real-time. This proactive approach enables immediate containment and “one-click” recovery, ensuring business continuity where traditional antivirus solutions would result in data loss and significant downtime.
Traditional Antivirus vs EDR
How each technology responds to a real-world ransomware attack
| Stage of Attack | Traditional Antivirus (EPP) Response | EDR Response |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Email |
Scans the attachment using known malware signatures. If the file is a zero-day variant, it appears clean and is allowed to open.
Result: Allowed |
Monitors behavior instead of relying on signatures. Detects a Word document attempting to spawn PowerShell — a suspicious action.
Result: Alerted |
| 2. The Execution |
The malicious script executes silently in the background. Traditional antivirus does not continuously monitor process behavior.
Result: Silent Infection |
Detects process injection and command-line abuse. The behavior matches known techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
Result: Blocked |
| 3. The Damage |
Ransomware begins encrypting local and network files. Antivirus reacts only after damage is already underway.
Result: Data Loss |
EDR automatically isolates the endpoint from the network, stopping lateral movement and further encryption.
Result: Threat Contained |
| 4. The Recovery |
IT must wipe the device and attempt restoration from backups — assuming clean backups exist.
Result: Downtime |
EDR enables rollback, restoring files and system state to pre-attack conditions with minimal user disruption.
Result: Business Continuity |
Antivirus relies on prevention (which eventually fails). EDR relies on visibility and speed.
Level of protection
EDR examines security threats across an entire network, while antivirus is only reliable for one endpoint. Traditional antivirus software relies on signature-based matching, while EDR uses behavioral analysis and threat intelligence to predict advanced threats.
EDR is much more scalable than antivirus, allowing new endpoints and networks to be added over time as the company grows.
Monitoring
Traditional antivirus software is classic “set it and forget it” that requires you to install and update the software when needed. There is no additional security monitoring required by the user.
Endpoint Detection and Response solutions require a much more involved approach to protect your business. To maximize the benefits of EDR, you should regularly monitor for detections. Early detection helps you respond quickly before damage is inflicted.
Cost
Compared with traditional antivirus business solutions, EDR is more expensive. EDR costs more due to centralized management, advanced capabilities, and the need for skilled personnel to monitor and respond to alerts.
If you contract an independent security company to monitor the EDR for you (MDR service), costs will be higher, but you gain 24/7 expert oversight.
EDR vs. MDR vs. XDRÂ
If you are shopping for cybersecurity, you will see these acronyms. Here is the simple breakdown:
EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response): The software tool installed on devices. You manage it.
MDR (Managed Detection & Response): The service. A team of human experts manages the EDR software for you, 24/7. This is ideal if you have an IT Manager but no dedicated security analysts.Â
XDR (Extended Detection & Response): The evolution. It connects EDR (endpoint) data with data from your Email, Cloud, and Firewall for a broader view across your entire security infrastructure.
Which do you need?
- EDR is best if you have a full internal Security Operations Center (SOC) team equipped to manage and respond to complex alerts.
- MDR is best if you have an IT Manager but lack dedicated security analysts to monitor threats 24/7.
- XDR is best if you need deep visibility and integration across multiple security layers beyond just endpoints.
How to choose the right EDR program
Although endpoint protection vendors vary in their offerings, you must decide which works best for your organization.Â
Standard EDR features include:
- Network access management & controls: Dashboard where system administrators can easily add and remove endpoints
- Application whitelisting: Set which applications are safe for users to launch and block those that may pose threats
- Endpoint encryption: Keep files on an endpoint secure by encrypting the machine, adding another layer of protection if data becomes compromised
- Real-time threat detection: Continuous monitoring with instant alerts
- Behavioral analysis: Identifies suspicious patterns rather than just known signatures
EDR Vendor Evaluation Checklist
Essential questions to ask when evaluating endpoint security solutions
