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IBM reported that it took an average of 204 days globally to identify a data breach in 2023, underscoring the pressing need for effective detection and response solutions. Extended Detection and Response (XDR) has emerged as a game-changer in the world of security operations, offering a proactive approach to threat detection and response. However, amidst the buzz surrounding XDR, it’s crucial for organizations to have a clear understanding of the basics of various detection and response solutions to evaluate what best suits their unique needs.
This blog breaks down the benefits of consolidating your cybersecurity tools with XDR, and the differences between XDR and other solutions such as Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR).
XDR is a security solution that consolidates data from various security tools within an organization’s infrastructure to streamline threat detection, investigation, and response processes. By automatically aggregating and correlating data from diverse security components such as endpoints, cloud workloads, networks, and email, XDR enhances the capabilities of security teams to quickly identify and neutralize security threats across multiple domains from a centralized interface.
Gartner defines XDR as a “unified security incident detection and response platform that automatically collects and correlates data from multiple proprietary security components. Security and risk management leaders should consider the risks and advantages of an XDR solution.”
This unified approach streamlines threat hunting and response efforts, allowing for more efficient and effective security operations.
Adlumin XDR, in Figure 1, integrates various security tools to streamline threat detection, investigation, and response processes for enhanced cybersecurity operations.
Managing and monitoring all cybersecurity resources available can be daunting. XDR offers organizations a centralized platform where they can easily access and analyze data from all of their cybersecurity tools in one place. This streamlined approach simplifies the process of identifying and responding to potential threats, making it easier for organizations to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals.
More benefits include:
XDR consolidates data from various security tools such as email, endpoints, servers, cloud workloads, and networks, offering a centralized view of potential risks and threats. This unified approach enables security teams to identify and respond to threats quickly. IBM’s latest report indicates that organizations using threat intelligence are able to identify threats 28 days faster on average.
By automatically filtering out insignificant anomalies, XDR allows analysts to focus on high-priority threats, reducing the time and effort required for manual investigations. The prebuilt analytics and correlation capabilities help detect risky threats, minimizing the need for constant rule tuning and management.
XDR facilitates end-to-end threat response by offering detailed threat context, telemetry data, and automation capabilities. This enables security teams to orchestrate response actions across multiple tools and environments, enhancing the MDR team’s efficiency and ensuring quick threat mitigation.
XDR security empowers organizations to proactively detect, investigate, and respond to security incidents more efficiently, ultimately strengthening their overall cybersecurity posture.
XDR is often confused with other detection and response technologies, such as Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR).
EDR monitors end-user devices for threats that traditional antivirus software may miss, while MDR is essentially EDR provided as a service. EDR continually monitors an endpoint (laptop, tablet, mobile phone, server, or internet-of-things device) to identify threats through data analytics and prevent malicious activity with rules-based automated response capabilities.
For a comprehensive and managed approach, organizations can opt for Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR), which provides multi-domain protection with dedicated support, expertise, and 24/7 response capabilities. Understanding the differences and capabilities of these various technologies can help organizations choose the best solution for their cybersecurity needs.
Want to dive deeper? Read EDR vs. XDR vs. MDR: The Cybersecurity ABCs Explained to find the best solution for your organization.
Selecting the right cybersecurity solution tailored to your organization’s specific needs is essential in safeguarding against rising cyber threats. As the threat landscape expands in complexity, it is crucial to adopt proactive security measures that detect and respond effectively to potential risks.
Managed security solutions, such as XDR, offer organizations the advantage of dedicated support, expertise, and around-the-clock monitoring and response capabilities. Small IT teams can offload the burden of day-to-day security operations by opting for managed services, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives and core business functions.
Organizations can access the latest tools, technologies, and best practices in security operations by partnering with a managed security services provider without requiring extensive in-house resources. This approach enhances security resilience and ensures operational continuity and operational growth.
Adlumin XDR ensures swift setup unrivaled visibility spanning endpoints, users, and the perimeter, and provides contextual insights for rapid, informed decision-making.
By: Brittany Holmes, Corporate Communications Manager
As organizations rely on cloud-based technologies for their operations, Microsoft 365 (M365) has become popular for its integrated suite of productivity and collaboration tools. M365 offers built-in security features that aim to protect organizations from various cybersecurity threats. However, in today’s complex threat landscape, relying only on the built-in security of M365 may not be enough.
Managed Detection and Response (MDR) providers specialize in offering advanced security services that can integrate seamlessly with M365 to provide an additional layer of protection. MDR providers employ a range of technologies and techniques, such as AI-driven threat detection, real-time monitoring, and incident response, to actively identify and contain threats before they can cause significant harm within the M365 environment.
This blog details the importance of expanding M365’s security by covering the best practices MDR providers should offer.
Train Employees on Phishing Attempts
Phishing attacks are a top method for cybercriminals to infiltrate systems, posing a significant risk to organizations using M365. These attacks have evolved in sophistication, making it harder for users to discern legitimate messages from malicious ones. As M365 is widely used for email communication, cybercriminals exploit this platform, disguising their phishing attempts as genuine correspondence. This tactic aims to trick users into exposing sensitive information or unknowingly downloading malware, posing grave security threats to organizations relying on M365 for their day-to-day operations.
By training employees in email security through a Security Training Program, you can help them understand the risks and how to identify suspicious emails. This can include training employees to spot phishing signs, such as unexpected attachments or unusual email addresses, and avoiding clicking on suspicious links.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for Admin Accounts
MFA is a crucial security measure that adds an extra layer of protection to user accounts. While it is commonly known that employees should be required to enable MFA, it is equally important for administrators. Admin accounts, particularly those with high-level privileges such as Global Administrators, are prime targets for attackers due to their access and control level. By compromising an admin account, an attacker can gain unauthorized control over an organization’s systems and data, wreaking havoc and causing significant damage.
However, it is important to note that while MFA is a powerful security measure, it is not foolproof. Cybercriminals have found ways to bypass MFA and gain unauthorized account access. For example, they may use sophisticated phishing techniques to trick users into providing their password credentials on a fraudulent website that will bypass the MFA.
Integrate Logs with Existing MDR Solution
Integrating your M365 logs into your existing MDR solution is crucial for achieving complete visibility into your environment. By doing so, you can ensure that all logs and events from M365 are analyzed and correlated with other security data from various sources. This helps you identify and respond to threats quickly.
Firstly, it allows you to monitor and analyze user activities, such as logins, file access, and email actions, within the M365 environment. This visibility is essential for detecting anomalous behavior which may indicate a security breach. Secondly, integrating M365 logs with your MDR solution enables better correlation and analysis of events across your entire infrastructure. You can gain valuable context and a broader perspective on potential threats by aggregating and correlating M365 logs with logs from other systems, such as firewalls, endpoints, and cloud services.
This holistic approach to monitoring identifies complex attack patterns and helps your security team make informed decisions on incident response. MDR solutions often provide specific integrations for M365, making the process of integrating logs seamless and efficient. These integrations typically include connectors or APIs facilitating the ingestion and analysis of M365 logs within the Security Operations Platform.
Investigating Alerts for Suspicious M365 Activity
Investigating alerts for suspicious M365 activity is critical for maintaining the security and integrity of your environment. According to Microsoft, these activities can include looking for unusual activities related to external user file activity, external file sharing, volume of file deletion, and more.
However, configuring and managing alerts can be a lot to handle for IT teams, especially in large and complex environments. MDR solutions can alleviate the heavy load on IT teams by sifting through and prioritizing the alerts generated by the M365 integration. These solutions can analyze the context of alerts, correlate multiple events, and provide real-time insights into the severity and priority of each alert.
One common scenario where MDR solutions provide immense value is detecting “impossible travel” from the M365 integration. Cybercriminals often attempt to log in from multiple locations across different geographical regions within a short period of time, which is humanly impossible.
User Entity & Behavior Analytics (UEBA) is a critical tool that allows MDR teams to effectively track and analyze employee behavior patterns within the M365 environment. With UEBA, organizations can identify anomalies and suspicious activities, including unauthorized logons from different locations, as cybercriminals may possess employee credentials. By leveraging UEBA, companies can establish a proactive approach to securing compromised accounts, preventing further unauthorized access, and taking immediate action. The presence of a dedicated MDR team provides organizations with extended visibility beyond their boundaries, ensuring enhanced security measures.
Strengthening Cybersecurity with MDR Providers
While M365 offers built-in security features, the evolving threat landscape requires additional layers of protection to safeguard organizations. MDR providers fill this gap by integrating seamlessly with M365 and leveraging advanced threat detection technologies, real-time monitoring, and incident response capabilities.
MDR solutions not only help manage the overwhelming number of alerts generated by M365 but also provide expertise and insights to prioritize and address these threats effectively. By partnering with MDR providers and implementing best practices within your cybersecurity strategy, organizations can enhance their security posture and mitigate the risks associated with using M365. Typically, this integration is an additional cost, but Adlumin offers it at no additional cost.
Learn more about Adlumin’s integrations and gain complete visibility across your entire enterprise. Our vendor–agnostic approach means you get the most out of your current security investments.
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By: Brittany Holmes, Corporate Communications Manager
When it comes to implementing a Managed Detection and Response solution, organizations often face the dilemma of choosing between building a Security Operations Center (SOC) in-house or buying a pre-existing Managed Detection and Response (MDR) solution from a vendor. The MDR market has witnessed rapid growth due to cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated. As a result, organizations recognize the need to ramp up their security operations by adopting MDR services that combine threat intelligence, advanced detection tools, and around-the-clock monitoring.
Cybercriminals are increasingly developing advanced attack strategies and techniques, making it critical for all organizations to have some form24x7 coverage. Proactive threat detection, continuous monitoring, and incident response are essential components of cybersecurity, ensuring the protection of valuable assets and maintaining customer trust.
The decision between buying and building an MDR solution should not be taken lightly, as it could significantly affect your organization’s overall cybersecurity posture and operational efficiency. There are crucial factors that need to be carefully considered before making such a decision, including the organization’s objectives and needs, budget, team expertise, technology, and availability.
There is a common misconception that working with an MDR vendor is more expensive compared to building an in-house SOC. However, when evaluating the total cost, it becomes clear that building in-house is often more costly. It is important to consider the affordability of various components, such as equipment, software, staffing, and ongoing maintenance. In addition, outsourcing to a trusted MDR vendor can prove to be cost-effective in the long run. Breaking down the expenses can often reveal additional expenses that can add up to a higher total cost to build in-house.
While focusing on building your SOC, organizations may divert internal resources from core business activities, leading to potential opportunity costs. Additionally, building an in-house capability takes time and does not happen overnight, so during this time, it may be difficult to detect threats. By buying an MDR solution from a trusted MDR provider, organizations can quickly implement a robust security posture without the associated time and opportunity costs of building internally.
Ask yourself: What costs do I need to consider for buying vs. building an MDR solution?
When considering the implementation of an MDR, organizations should carefully assess their current team’s expertise and determine where their resources and time should be spent. Suppose your organization already has an internal team of cybersecurity professionals. In that case, it may be more beneficial for them to focus on other security operations tasks rather than constantly monitoring the environment and filtering through alerts.
Outsourcing the MDR to a trusted vendor can provide a ready-made team of experts in addition to a threat research team, to manage security operations efficiently, allowing the internal team to allocate their time and resources to other important cybersecurity tasks. This approach can help organizations optimize their resources and ensure that the expertise of their internal team is utilized effectively.
Ask yourself: What expertise is required for an SOC? Do I currently have a team? And where do they need to spend their time?
The cybersecurity landscape is dynamic, with threat actors constantly evolving their techniques. Organizations that choose to build an in-house SOC must allocate resources for research and development to stay updated on vulnerabilities, emerging threats, and industry best practices. This includes investing in threat intelligence feeds, attending conferences, participating in information-sharing communities, and conducting regular assessments and audits. Such ongoing investments are necessary to ensure that the in-house SOC remains effective and relevant.
In contrast to MDR vendors, they are built to help organizations take command of their security operations and compliance without the additional need for expertise. Working with an MDR vendor, you should expect consistent updates, new technologies, and innovations that evolve with the current threat landscape.
Regardless of the chosen approach, organizations must invest in technology to build and maintain an in-house SOC effectively. This investment includes maintaining and tuning rules, managing the technology, and ensuring seamless integration with existing infrastructure.
Ask yourself: What technology do I have currently, and what will I need to stay updated with current threats?
Planning for scalability in your SOC should include adapting to evolving cybersecurity threats and accommodating your business’s expanding needs. This involves assessing the size and scope of your SOC and determining the necessary resources, such as the number of employees and tools, to support its growth.
When it comes to scalability, building an in-house SOC may limit your options. It requires additional investments in recruiting and training staff and acquiring new tools as the business evolves. Additionally, managing the increasing amount of data ingested can become cost prohibitive.
On the other hand, opting for MDR service providers can offer flexible pricing that allows you to adjust your security resources and requirements as needed. They can help you scale your MDR to handle more data ingestion without incurring excessive costs.
Ask yourself: What scalability and flexibility does my growing business need?
When considering whether to buy or build an MDR solution, it is crucial to start by outlining the ideal solution and assessing the availability of resources in-house. If building is viable, evaluating the time it will take to complete the project and ensuring it aligns with the desired go-live window is important. It is also important to find an MDR solution that can grow and scale with your organization as you build it. However, if building is not feasible within the desired timeframe or at all, exploring MDR providers that can deliver a solution that closely aligns with the ideal one is advisable. The decision between building vs. buying should be seen as a flexible approach to achieving the desired outcome based on your organization’s current circumstances.
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In this episode, Adlumin’s Chief of Strategy, Mark Sangster, and Jessvin Thomas, Adlumin’s Chief Product Officer, who brings a decade of experience within MDR, discuss industry technology innovations and share insightful predictions for 2024. The episode offers valuable recommendations to safeguard organizations from potential risks.
By: Brittany Holmes, Corporate Communications Manager
Penetration testing is a vital part of cybersecurity strategies for organizations, helping them identify vulnerabilities in their systems, networks, and applications. Organizations have relied on traditional penetration testing methods, where a team of experts conducts the tests on-site. However, with the rise of technology and cloud-based services, a new approach has emerged – Penetration Testing as a Service or PTaaS.
This blog discusses the differences between conventional penetration testing and penetration testing as a service, comparing each method. By understanding the differences, organizations can make informed decisions when choosing the right approach for their security needs.
Penetration testing as a service is a revolutionary cybersecurity approach that is gaining popularity. Unlike traditional penetration testing methods, penetration testing as a service takes advantage of the cloud and offers on-demand accessibility, making the entire process more efficient and seamless.
With penetration testing as a service, organizations can securely access the testing platform through the cloud, eliminating the need for manual setup and configuration of testing environments. This significantly speeds up the testing process and allows for greater scalability since the necessary resources can be easily allocated as needed.
Additionally, penetration testing as a service employs automation and machine learning technologies to enhance the testing process. These technologies can assist with scanning for vulnerabilities, analyzing results, and even suggesting remediation steps. As a result, it can offer more accurate and comprehensive testing, saving time and effort for organizations.
To further investigate what solution is best for your organization, let’s explore the differences:
Penetration Testing:
Penetration tests are typically conducted by specialized cybersecurity professionals known as ethical hackers or penetration testers. These individuals have extensive knowledge and experience in identifying and exploiting security vulnerabilities. They follow a systematic approach to test the effectiveness of an organization’s security controls and identify areas where improvements are needed.
Penetration Testing as a Service:
Many organizations choose to engage in external penetration testing services provided by third-part services, such as Managed Detection and Response (MDR) providers. These providers have specialized expertise and access to advanced tools and techniques that can comprehensively assess an organization’s security posture.
Penetration Testing:
The duration of a penetration test can vary depending on the availability of resources and information, the test’s scope, or the target system’s complexity. On average, a penetration test can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to complete.
Penetration Testing as a Service:
With penetration testing as a service, the testing is run based on your convenience or when your team wants to schedule them. Moving penetration tests to ‘as a service’ eliminates needing someone to manually set up pen tests. Instead, they can be scheduled to run on a regular basis or when you want, allowing for consistent assessments and updates. This means the duration can be longer than a one-time conventional test, but it provides more comprehensive and up-to-date security coverage.
Penetration Testing:
During a penetration test, the communication between the penetration testers and the internal team can vary based on the policies and procedures of the organization. In some cases, there may be little to no interaction between the two groups, with the penetration testers working independently and providing updates only to a designated point of contact, such as a project manager.
Penetration Testing as a Service:
Two options are offered: the organization runs the tests independently, or an MDR provider manages the tests through a Progressive Penetration Testing Program.
Utilizing an MDR provider allows for seamless and direct communication between internal teams and penetration testers throughout the project, resulting in a more streamlined process. By eliminating unnecessary mediators, the exchange of information becomes more efficient and effective.
The close collaboration enables any friction or misunderstanding to be promptly addressed, clarified, and resolved during the penetration test. This not only ensures a smoother workflow but also allows for quicker resolution of any issues.
Additionally, it provides a valuable opportunity for the organization’s employees to enhance their skills by working alongside penetration testers. By actively participating in the penetration testing process, they can gain valuable insights and knowledge, ultimately improving their capabilities in cybersecurity.
Penetration Testing:
One of the significant limitations of traditional penetration tests is the delayed communication of results. Typically, the findings are only conveyed at the end of the tests. Consequently, potentially crucial vulnerabilities may remain unaddressed for extended periods, ranging from days to even weeks.
Penetration Testing as a Service:
When a penetration tester detects a vulnerability, the platform immediately notifies the organization. This real-time alert allows internal teams to address the issue promptly, even before the penetration test is complete. Organizations can deploy patches and test them against cybercriminals without the need for another round of testing.
This continuous reporting system, coupled with the ability to collaborate with penetration testers, enables the organization’s IT team to gain valuable insights into the remediation of vulnerabilities.
Penetration testing as a service offers organizations an affordable and convenient solution for assessing their cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Organizations can quickly identify and mitigate potential threats with on-demand access to human-led penetration testing combined with automation. It also provides continuous monitoring and real-time reports for faster resolution. This approach ensures higher accuracy and data analytics and makes penetration testing more accessible and cost-effective compared to traditional methods. By illuminating potential risks, penetration testing as a service enables organizations to adopt effective defenses and enhance their security posture.
Ultimately, the choice between penetration testing and penetration testing as a service depends on an organization’s unique needs and financial resources. Traditional penetration testing may be ideal for certain tasks, but it is crucial to assess the areas where assistance is needed and select the most appropriate option to meet the organization’s security requirements.
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By: Brittany Holmes, Corporate Communications Manager
The managed services sector has had a significant influence and has been a prominent trend in the mid-market cybersecurity industry for the past few years. The MDR market is projected to increase from $1.56 billion in 2023 to $6.29 billion by 2030. Managed services, such as Managed Detection and Response (MDR), Managed Security Service Providers (MSSP), and similar solutions, have emerged in response to the demand. The accelerated growth of the MDR market mainly comes from increasing cybersecurity threats, the adoption of cloud computing, the shortage of cybersecurity talent, and the increase of the Internet of Things (IoT).
Last year, the global cost of a data breach was USD 4.45 million, which was a 15% increase over 3 years, according to IBM’s latest report. Due to this increase, organizations are investing in MDR services to help reduce their risk of attacks and irreputable damage. As a result, organizations seek a cybersecurity partner to provide all-inclusive cybersecurity services.
With all the solutions out there, it can be challenging to decide on the right solution for your organization. In this blog, we go back to the basics and break down the different flavors of MDR solutions and what to look for in a provider.
It is important to understand MDR and the key aspects that differentiate MDR from traditional security services and its proactive approach to detecting, analyzing, and responding to potential cybersecurity threats. It differs from traditional security services and goes beyond solely relying on automated tools and includes human expertise to continuously monitor and investigate potential security incidents.
Unlike traditional monitoring services, MDR does not only rely on alerts for incident response. It involves a team of skilled cybersecurity professionals who actively investigate and triage potential threats, providing an extra layer of expertise and context. These professionals work closely with organizations, leveraging their knowledge to understand the unique threat landscape and tailor response strategies accordingly.
What sets MDR apart is the detection and response of threats. MDR provides a proactive approach that enables organizations to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals, significantly reducing the risk of successful breaches.
When it comes to MDR providers, it’s important to recognize that not all MDRs are the same. While they all aim to provide businesses with the necessary tools and services to detect and respond to security threats, the capabilities and offerings can vary significantly.
From the sources they pull security data from to the level of response services they provide, MDR providers differ in their approaches and focus areas. Understanding these differences is crucial for organizations looking to choose the right MDR provider that aligns with their specific needs and requirements.
There are two broad classes of MDR providers: Pure-play MDR and managed endpoint or SIEM.
This category of MDR service providers relies on a proprietary mix of third-party security tools and solutions, such as endpoint, SIEM, cloud access, or others, to collect logs and alerts. These providers use a customized technology stack, which their 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) monitors. Most pure-play MDR providers cannot decouple their technology stack from their SOC service offerings. While effective at detecting and responding to threats, this closed-loop approach often limits their ability to offer co-management, work effectively with partners and customer providers, and leaves customers reliant on their SOC to provide reports.
Given the expertise and dedicated resources required to properly manage endpoint and SIEM solutions, many customers outsource management to an MDR or managed IT service provider. Over the last few years, leading providers now offer a managed service based on their core technology offering. This managed service provides updating and operations, detection investigation, and specific response services based on the capabilities of their core technology offering.
The capabilities and functions of MDR providers can seem overwhelming, so how do you choose one that makes sense for your organization and cybersecurity strategy? First, to ensure the protection of your organization, it is crucial to verify the efficiency of an MDR solution before investing in it. This means making sure that the capabilities fit your needs and understanding that not all solutions are created equally. Here is a list of considerations when evaluating:
There are several other factors to consider when choosing an MDR. For example, understanding the service level agreements and communication methods for incident response is crucial. For instance, can you access the same portal as the provider to stay updated on the incident? Can you directly interact with the security analyst to discuss the incident? Also, it is important to evaluate the provider’s reporting capabilities and determine if it is easy to extract the required information when needed.
Cybersecurity professionals have one of the toughest jobs protecting organizations from threats that are changing daily. To help, EDR vs. XDR vs. MDR: The Cybersecurity ABCs Explained breaks down the three primary threat detection and response solutions while giving you visuals to help find the right solution that fits your organization’s criteria.
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