Endpoint Detection Response (EDR) vs. Managed Threat Response (MTR): Which Is Best for You?

When you run a business, choosing the most effective cybersecurity solution can be a challenge. Given so many solution types and vendors, you may not know where to start.

Two related but distinct cybersecurity terms you may have heard are endpoint detection and response (EDR) and managed threat response (MTR). In this piece, we’ll explain each solution and discuss their key features and benefits. Let’s get started!

What Is Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)?

Endpoint detection and response (EDR) focuses on protecting endpoint devices—any device that connects to a network. That includes computers, phones, workstations, and servers.

Such endpoints are vulnerable to a wide range of cyberattacks. In fact, 70% of all cybersecurity breaches start with endpoints.

EDR seeks to protect your firm’s endpoints through a variety of strategies, from anti-virus and anti-malware software, to data encryption, firewalls, and other data loss prevention tactics. What they all have in common is the detection and blocking of cyberthreats at the device level through real-time anomaly detection and alerts.

The primary goal of EDR is to integrate multiple layers of threat prevention, detection, and response into one technology.

Key Features of Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Key features of EDR include:

Endpoint protection. Endpoints are your first line of defense against cyberthreats, especially if your company has remote work or bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies in place. By securing endpoints, EDR focuses on ensuring no unauthorized users gain access to your IT infrastructure.
Log aggregation. The amount of data that modern businesses handle is immense. EDRs can access network and application logs to collect and aggregate data so you may have a better overview of the status of your endpoints.
Machine learning (ML). With the help of ML, EDR can analyze log data to detect anomalies and trends that could signal potential cyberthreats. This is typically much faster than analyzing the log data manually.
Analyst support. For cybersecurity cases that require more thorough review, EDRs can give analysts access to endpoint status data to enhance incident response times and digital forensics.

The Benefits of Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

The advantage of using EDR is that, unlike reactive legacy solutions, it’s a proactive approach to cybersecurity. By maintaining constant surveillance of the state of your organization’s endpoints, EDR can help you predict cyberthreats before they occur so you can react quickly. Plus, with the help of ML, EDR is able to process much more data than an in-house IT staff could on its own.

Image of a person reviewing code on a computer screen.

What Is Managed Threat Response (MTR)?

Unlike EDR, managed threat response (MTR) isn’t a specific technology solution. It consists of a managed service that might include EDR as well as other cybersecurity strategies.

Basically, MTR combines technology with human expertise and management. The approach is to offload some or all of your firm’s cybersecurity to a single dedicated team. In other words, you outsource your cybersecurity to a third-party provider.

MTR solutions represent a more comprehensive approach to IT management. They can leverage all the same ML technologies as other approaches, but also provide expert human analysis and 24/7 support.

The result is better threat hunting and detection, risk prioritization, and vulnerability remediation. The goal of MTR providers is to allow an organization to replace or expand its in-house security operations center (SOC) with its cybersecurity personnel, tools, and expertise.

An MTR provider aims to be the one-stop shop for all your cybersecurity needs.

Key Features of Managed Threat Response (MTR)

Here are the key features of an MTR solution:

24/7/365 threat monitoring. Also known as threat hunting, cybersecurity monitoring protects your organization’s network from potential damage through early detection of anomalies and threats.
Managed response. When a cybersecurity incident occurs, MTR will proactively address the issue to minimize the damage.
Event analysis. Threat response platforms, like Sophos MTR, can analyze cybersecurity events to weed out false positives from genuine threats. By augmenting ML with human analysis, it’s never been easier to verify that you are working with the best information to combat cyber threats.
Alert triage. MTR efficiently and accurately sorts through security threats and prioritizes the ones that require the most attention. By helping you focus on critical issues first, MTR will help you maximize the impact of your security efforts.
Remediation. After detecting a potential security threat, MTR may propose remediation recommendations and help you carry them out; e.g., by repairing or restoring parts of your IT infrastructure.

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The Benefits of Managed Threat Response (MTR)

MTR offers many benefits for clients. For one, it frees up your staff to focus on core business activities like sales, marketing, and product development while turning over cybersecurity to a dedicated team of experts. This could also allow your firm to grow more quickly, making it a potentially cost-effective business strategy.

In addition, MTR makes support staff available 24/7. That means any time you run into a security issue or have a question, someone’s there to help.

MTRs can also make it easier for your business to scale. The larger your operations get, the more important cybersecurity becomes. MTR solutions like Sophos Intercept X can handle significant volume, and it’s easy to upgrade service plans.

The biggest benefit of using an MTR, however, is the peace of mind. Don’t have the cybersecurity staff you need in-house? Not sure if you’re prepared for a major cyberattack?

MTR providers will have you covered. They can monitor and safeguard your company’s IT infrastructure so you don’t have to.

Fully Managed Endpoint Detection and Response: It’s Just a Click Away

At the end of the day, both EDR and MTR solutions should improve the state of your business’s cybersecurity. However, EDR is only a tool, while MTR is an all-in-one service.

If you want to maximize your organization’s cybersecurity, endpoint detection and response solutions are the way to go. In fact, nearly half of all organizations are expected to use MTR within the next two years. If you don’t jump on the bandwagon now, you may fall behind your competitors.

Interested in learning more? Contact CTMS today and learn how we can help take your firm’s cybersecurity to the next level! We look forward to chatting!

Endpoint Detection Response (EDR) vs. Managed Threat Response (MTR): Which Is Best for You?

What Is Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)?

Key Features of Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

The Benefits of Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

What Is Managed Threat Response (MTR)?

Key Features of Managed Threat Response (MTR)

The Benefits of Managed Threat Response (MTR)

Fully Managed Endpoint Detection and Response: It’s Just a Click Away

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