Cybersecurity has been heavily focused on endpoints in recent years — and with good reason. A wide range of endpoints now connect to company networks, including traditional desktops and laptops, mobile devices, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and more. Each of these endpoints is a potential vulnerability that could enable an attacker to gain access to the network.
Most organizations recognize that traditional signature-based defenses are no longer adequate. Many are using endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to continuously monitor endpoints to detect anomalies and suspicious behavior. However, EDR has inherent limitations. It cannot see the entire threat surface or attackers moving laterally between systems after they’ve already gained access to the network.
Network detection and response (NDR) can help close those gaps. NDR monitors network traffic data in real time and uses behavioral analytics to identify unusual patterns and potential threats across the IT environment. It enables security teams to respond more rapidly to emerging cyberattacks.
How Does Network Detection and Response Work?
NDR solutions analyze network traffic to create a baseline of normal behavior. When they identify patterns that deviate from the baseline, they alert IT teams of the potential threat. Behavioral analytics enables them to detect threats that would get past traditional signature-based security tools.
Additionally, NDR tools give IT teams greater visibility into today’s complex networks. Growing numbers of devices, remote and mobile users, and the cloud have created a vast attack surface with ever-increasing volumes of network traffic. Attackers have ample opportunity to gain a foothold in the network and hide their malicious activities. By monitoring all traffic flows into, out of and within the network, NDR helps IT teams identify security threats wherever they originate.
Leading NDR tools are also able to trace the movement of threats to identify their source and determine what devices might be compromised. IT teams gain the forensic data they need to contain threats and minimize their impact.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of NDR Tools?
Because NDR tools analyze raw telemetry data, they see every action attackers take to achieve their objectives. Most attacks begin with lengthy reconnaissance activities that seldom generate a log event. By identifying network and port scans, command-and-control communications, and other malicious activities, NDR tools help IT teams detect attacks before they cause any damage. They also provide greater insight into the attack’s tactics without the false positives that can overwhelm security analysts.
Cloud-based NDR tools do not require any onsite hardware, minimizing operational overhead. Because they can extract relevant information from network packets, NDR tools do not require extensive configuration and tuning to correlate data.
However, NDR tools cannot see beyond the network layer. They lack visibility into endpoints, have limited cloud coverage, and may not fully capture sophisticated attacks that leverage multiple layers. Organizations need additional solutions for a comprehensive defense-in-depth strategy, increasing the complexity of the security environment.
Where to Get the Right Expertise
Another drawback of NDR is the skill level required for analyzing threats. Effectively interpreting NDR alerts often requires skilled security analysts who can understand the forensic data and potential threat level. That’s why many organizations utilize a managed NDR service.
With managed NDR, a managed security services provider (MSSP) monitors the NDR tool around the clock and responds rapidly to alerts. MSSPs employ security professionals with the expertise to interpret alerts and prioritize threats. Organizations gain more value from the NDR tool without the need to hire skilled personnel.
Verteks offers network detection and response as part of our comprehensive suite of managed security services. Let us help you monitor your network to detect and contain threats that other security tools may miss.
