With cyberattacks on the rise, CISOs need to stay ahead of emerging threats. The traditional security stack of endpoint detection and response (EDR), firewalls, secure web gateways and more creates data silos that hinder threat visibility.
Enter extended detection and response (XDR), bringing together telemetry across devices, networks, clouds, and beyond. Here are five tips to make the most of your XDR journey:
- Start with a strong EDR foundation
XDR builds on the value of EDR – gathering endpoint insights and enabling real-time response. But it expands protection beyond endpoints for full-stack visibility.
SentinelOne offers a leading XDR platform called Singularity that exemplifies these best practices. It leverages the company’s acclaimed EDR technology to feed high-fidelity endpoint data into its analytics engine.
Prebuilt integrations connect Singularity to existing security tools, while its automation engine acts on IOCs across the enterprise.
SentinelOne also reduces noise through alert correlation and enables rapid response via customisable playbooks. With top scores across MITRE ATT&CK evaluations and Gartner’s EPP magic quadrant, SentinelOne offers a compelling option for organisations pursuing XDR.
- Maximise existing security investments
Instead of ripping and replacing, with XDR, you can deploy a single solution by integrating your current SOC tools through APIs. This way, you can avoid starting over with new platforms and connect existing detections into unified alerts. The result? Your team gains efficiency, and you maximise ROI on security spending.
- Increase analyst efficiency
Overwhelmed and understaffed security teams lead to threats slipping through the cracks. XDR can help relieve stressed analysts and improve productivity.
Look for solutions that reduce noisy, redundant alerts through autocorrelation. Instead of investigating hundreds of discrete events, analysts can focus on a handful of high-confidence incidents comprising related alerts.
- Automate remediation
Manual response processes delay containment, expanding breach impact. XDR allows you to set predefined rules that trigger automated actions like isolating infected devices, blocking suspicious IP addresses, forcing password resets, or requiring step-up authentication.
For example, you could configure rules that automatically isolate endpoints exhibiting signs of compromise. This prevents lateral movement if attackers gain an initial foothold.
XDR allows you to set predefined rules that trigger automated actions like isolating devices or forcing step-up authentication. Response playbooks slash reaction times by eliminating dependence on analyst intervention.
- Deliver measurable outcomes
Ultimately, XDR must move the needle on your security KPIs to justify the investment—set goals for improved threat detection, investigation, and containment times.
Track productivity gains like reduced alert volumes and share XDR outcomes with leadership to showcase security improvements.
While XDR is gaining buzz, avoid falling into the hype cycle. Focus on platforms that pragmatically improve detection, automation, and efficiency across your tech stack. With the right strategy, XDR can take your security to the next level.
If you would like to know more about Extended Detection and Response please do contact us.
