XDR, EDR and SIEM: what are the main differences between these solutions?  

The evolution of cybersecurity technologies has been essential for dealing with increasingly sophisticated and frequent threats.  

Effective cybersecurity management includes solutions focused on detecting, monitoring and responding to incidents, such as EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response), SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) and XDR (Extended Detection and Response).  

Each of these technologies offers different approaches to incident detection and response, with different levels of visibility, automation and integration. 

In this article, we will analyze the differences between EDR, SIEM and XDR, highlighting how XDR represents the next generation of solutions for comprehensive and effective cyber protection.  

Learn about the main differences between XDR, SIEM and EDR 

EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) 

EDR is a solution focused on the security of endpoints, such as computers and mobile devices.  

Its main function is to continuously monitor these devices to identify and respond to suspicious and malicious activity. 

Its main features include:  

Continuous Monitoring: the EDR collects and analyzes real-time data from endpoints, offering a detailed and continuous view of device activity.  

This makes it possible to quickly detect anomalous behavior that could indicate the presence of threats.  

Threat Detection: using advanced behavior analysis techniques and artificial intelligence, the EDR identifies malicious activity, such as unauthorized access attempts, malware and other forms of attack.  

Incident Response: when a threat is detected, EDR allows administrators to take swift action to mitigate the risk.  

This can include isolating the infected device, removing the malware and carrying out forensic analysis to understand the origin and impact of the attack. 

SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) 

SIEM is a solution that centralizes and analyses security data from the entire IT infrastructure, providing a comprehensive view of security activities. It integrates and correlates data from various sources to identify patterns and potential threats, enabling a more informed and proactive response. 

It stands out for its characteristics:  

Data centralization: SIEM collects security logs and events from a wide variety of sources, including firewalls, servers, applications, databases and network devices.  

This centralization allows for a consolidated view of security activities throughout the organization, making it easier to manage the environment.  

Event Correlation: using advanced algorithms, SIEM analyzes and correlates events from different sources to identify suspicious patterns and possible threats.  

This helps detect complex attacks that might go undetected in isolated systems. 

Analysis and Reporting: SIEM generates detailed reports and alerts in real time, providing valuable insights for the security team.  

These reports help prioritize the most critical threats and make informed decisions about incident response. 

XDR (Extended Detection and Response) 

XDR is an evolution of detection and response solutions, precisely integrating monitoring, detection and response capabilities into a single platform.

It offers a holistic view of security, correlating data from multiple sources to provide more accurate and comprehensive detection.  

The main features of the XDR include: 

Multivector integration: combines data from various sources, including endpoints, networks, emails and much more; 

Automation and Response: uses automation to respond quickly to threats, reducing response times; 

Centralized Visibility: provides a unified view of the entire security infrastructure; 

Vision XDR: the evolution in incident detection and response 

XDR represents a significant advance, overcoming its limitations by offering an integrated solution that maximizes visibility, protection and response throughout the organization. 

Increased visibility 

XDR increases visibility throughout the company by integrating security data from any source, whether native or third-party.  

Vision XDR, for example, ingests endpoint, cloud and identity data, as well as combining third-party data in a single data lake.  

This empowers analysts with a complete and detailed view of security activities, making it easier to identify threats

Comprehensive protection 

With the ability to integrate data from multiple sources, XDR provides broader and more efficient security coverage.  

Vision XDR enables the correlation of native and third-party telemetry events, creating the complete mapping of an attack, from inception to resolution. This not only improves detection of advanced threats, but also speeds up investigation and response times.  

Automated response 

Vision XDR automates incident response across the entire connected security ecosystem, eliminating the need for manual intervention by analysts.  

In addition, the solution offers capabilities to scale response and remediation to thousands of endpoints simultaneously, regardless of the operating system. 

XDR: an integrated approach to corporate security 

EDR, SIEM and XDR solutions play crucial roles in cyber security, each with its own advantages and limitations.  

XDR offers an integrated approach that provides visibility, comprehensive protection and automated response. Redefining the standard of incident detection and response, helping organizations to face modern threats more quickly and effectively. 

If your company is looking to improve its security strategy, considering implementing an XDR solution could be a key step towards meeting the cyber security challenges of the future.  

Contact ISH's team of experts and find out how Vision XDR can transform your organization's protection.