Beyond the front door: The importance of detection and response

My parents' front door contains the bulk of the security they have deployed for the entire house. There is a lock on the handle, a deadbolt and a latch, not to mention the latch on the storm door. Regarding security on a single point, it's not too bad. This is very much like what we have seen with perimeter network security. Stateful firewalls represented the handle lock. Then we moved to the next-generation firewall, which added the deadbolt and the latch, maybe even the storm door security. But what happens when the burglar checks the back door or the windows? What if they find a way in and can get in any time they want?

Lack of visibility equals lack of security

Just like relying on deadbolts and latches on your front door isn't sufficient to protect your home, as valuable as next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) are at protecting your front door, they should not be your complete solution. If you want more robust protection, you would add cameras around the outside of your home and sensors on the windows and other doors that burglars could potentially access. In the same way, threats such as lateral movement and advanced persistent threats (APT) can go undetected as firewalls lack visibility into endpoints and east-west traffic. In addition, it only has visibility into the local north-south traffic that goes through it, and if other entry points exist, they cannot correlate with the traffic that flows through those devices.

Detection and response is the surveillance system

Detection and response acts as the surveillance system of your digital environment. Incorporating detection and response into your setup is akin to installing cameras, windows and motion sensors as part of your comprehensive security solution. These tools can collect data from within your network, including information from connected devices. Each tool enhances your network's visibility, adding another layer of insight and protection.

There are three solution categories:

• Endpoint detection and response (EDR)
• Network detection and response (NDR)
• Extended detection and response (XDR)

Endpoint detection and response (EDR)

When we talk about detection and response tools, the first one that comes to mind is endpoint detection and response (EDR).  Whereas traditional endpoint protection focuses on file analysis, explicitly looking for viruses and other malware, EDR looks at the behavior of the device and user. For example, suppose a large number of files on a device are encrypted in a short period. In that case, it can identify this as abnormal encryption behavior, stop it, and sometimes even roll back the behavior. EDR can also identify abnormal connections to suspicious domains and perform some response actions, including isolating the endpoint from the network.

EDR is another essential puzzle piece, but it, too, has limitations. It relies on agent software on the endpoint for monitoring and response, so many devices, such as IOT devices, would not have visibility. 

Network detection and response (NDR)

NDR is another piece of the puzzle that covers the network part of the equation, performing deep packet inspection and examining metadata to discover hidden threats. Much like a security camera that monitors activity on the street, NDR continuously analyzes network traffic, detecting everything from lateral movement to behavior that might otherwise fly under the radar. 

To do this, NDR solutions build a baseline of the typical traffic traversing the network. It then leverages machine learning (ML) as well as artificial intelligence (AI) to identify anomalies and indicators of compromise (IoC) that deviate from this baseline and could very well signal an attack. Since it operates at the network level, NDR is uniquely positioned to detect suspicious activity from devices that might otherwise go unnoticed, such as environmental sensors, security cameras and even smart thermostats that cannot support the installation of agent software (IoT). 

Because of this, these devices are "low-hanging fruit" for attackers looking to move laterally throughout the network. NDR helps security teams spot threats before they can cause significant damage, ensuring that even the most difficult-to-detect intrusions are swiftly found and eliminated.

Extended detection and response (XDR)

Extended detection and response (XDR) offers a comprehensive approach to network security by integrating various detection and response mechanisms. Like a guard dog that roams the whole property, XDR provides a unified view of security across endpoints, networks and cloud environments. By combining data from EDR, NDR, and other sources like cloud services and email servers, XDR correlates information to reveal complex attack patterns that isolated systems might miss.

For instance, if an attacker exploits a vulnerability in an IoT device and moves laterally within the network, XDR can identify unusual network traffic and link it to suspicious endpoint behavior. This real-time data integration, enhanced by ML, allows XDR to continuously monitor the entire environment for anomalies, offering a "30,000-foot view" that connects disparate events to detect threats. XDR acts as a command center, overseeing every aspect of your digital landscape to ensure robust security.

Conclusion: Defense in depth is key

Just as you wouldn't rely on a single lock to secure your home, a comprehensive security posture requires much more than firewalls alone. Integrating EDR, NDR and XDR solutions creates a multi-layered approach that addresses the limitations of each tool. 

While valid independently, each technology only offers partial visibility into a given environment. Firewalls protect the perimeter, EDR secures endpoints and NDR examines network traffic. However, an attacker may exploit vulnerabilities within any of these areas, so to defend against modern threats, these solutions must be integrated and capable of sharing intelligence. XDR allows for this level of integration, providing the best defense against the sophisticated, multi-stage attacks that are becoming more common in today's cybersecurity landscape.

Securing your organization or home isn't about locking just the front door — it's about creating a comprehensive, interconnected security ecosystem that can detect, respond, and adapt to threats at every level.

To ensure your network is truly secure, it's essential to adopt a comprehensive, integrated approach to detection and response. At World Wide Technology, we specialize in creating robust security ecosystems that go beyond traditional measures. By leveraging the power Next Generation Firewall (NGFW), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), Network Detection and Response (NDR), and Extended Detection and Response (XDR), we provide a multi-layered defense strategy that offers unparalleled visibility and protection across your entire digital landscape.

Don't leave your security to chance. Partner with WWT to implement a cohesive security solution that not only detects and responds to threats but also adapts to the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.