What is MXDR?
Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) is a holistic managed security service that incorporates the benefits of advanced technologies, threat intelligence, and expert human analysis. The goal of MXDR, also called Managed XDR, is to enable organizations to better prepare for evolving threats and to improve their overall cybersecurity posture. MXDR does that by using an integrated approach to detection and response, combining data from multiple device types to improve and accelerate the identification and resolution of attacks and security events.
How does MXDR work?
The delivery of MXDR requires the combined capabilities of automated analytics, centralized data collection, advanced threat intelligence, and human cyber experience to provide an efficient and effective defense against threats. MXDR operates on the principle that access to differing sources of impactful data improves effectiveness while simplifying investigation. This data is acquired through continuous monitoring and contextualized and enriched through real-time analysis, leading to swift response to critical threats and security incidents. The expert-led service typically works with:
- SIEM and XDR Integration: Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems play a crucial role in MXDR by aggregating and correlating alerts and data from various security tools, including Extended Detection and Response (XDR) platforms. The data is then correlated and analyzed for threat signals and alerts from different security components, such as endpoint detection, network detection, and cloud security. Human analysts can then use the telemetry data provided by XDR and SIEM to gain insights into security incidents.
- Data Collection and Monitoring: MXDR services collect and aggregate data from various sources within an organization's network. This includes logs from endpoints, servers, network devices, and cloud infrastructure. Continuous expert monitoring ensures that any suspicious activity or potential security threat is promptly identified.
- Behavioral Analysis: Advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms are employed to analyze the behavior of users, applications, and network traffic. By establishing a baseline of normal behavior, your managed service partner can quickly identify anomalies in the system that may indicate a security incident.
- Threat Intelligence Integration: MXDR can leverage threat intelligence feeds from various sources, including global cybersecurity databases and vendor-specific threat intelligence. This integration helps organizations stay informed about the latest threats and ensures that their defenses are equipped to handle emerging risks.
- Incident Detection and Validation: When suspicious activities are detected, MXDR services use custom or automated analytics to validate and prioritize these incidents, reducing false positives and ensuring appropriate prioritization.
- Threat Hunting: Threat hunting within MXDR is a proactive process that complements automated detection and response mechanisms. It leverages human expertise to explore systems, processes, and logs for threats to uncover hidden patterns. The combination of automated tools and skilled threat hunters ensures a comprehensive and adaptive defense against evolving cyber threats.
- Correlation and Contextual Analysis: Threat hunters may correlate information from various sources, combining automated data with their manual findings. Contextual analysis helps illuminate the broader picture of an incident, enabling differentiation between normal and malicious activities.
- Forensic Analysis: In confirmed security incidents, threat hunters may perform forensic analysis on compromised systems. This involves a detailed examination to determine the root cause, impact, and methods employed by attackers.
- Automated Response and Remediation: MXDR services incorporate automated response mechanisms where possible to address new threats more quickly. This may include isolating compromised systems, blocking malicious communication channels, or initiating other predefined response actions. Automated response capabilities help organizations contain incidents before they escalate.
- Human Analysis and Intervention: Human analysts and managed services are an integral part of MXDR. Experienced cybersecurity professionals provide in-depth analysis, context, and insights that power both automation and predictable behaviors. Human intervention ensures a holistic understanding of the threat landscape and facilitates informed decision-making.
What business challenges does MXDR solve?
One of the key challenges MXDR solves is the need for broad, multi-domain security expertise. Leading MXDR services include a dedicated team of cybersecurity experts to monitor your environment 24/7. A team can also provide recommendations to remediate threats that eliminate your need to build and staff your own security operations center. Additionally, MXDR addresses other critical, modern challenges faced by businesses today:
- Increasing Complexity of Attacks: Traditional security measures may struggle to detect sophisticated and evolving cyber threats. MXDR, with its combination of advanced analytics, machine learning, and human expertise, enhances an organization's ability to identify and respond to complex threats effectively.
- Visibility Across Hybrid Environments: As organizations increasingly adopt cloud services and hybrid infrastructure, maintaining visibility into all aspects of the network becomes challenging due to the multiple interfaces and skill sets required. MXDR solutions are designed to provide comprehensive visibility across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments, ensuring that no potential threat goes unnoticed. Expert human support leverages that insight to protect your organization and helps alleviate burdensome tasks, so your team is more efficient.
- Shortage of Cybersecurity Talent: MXDR services alleviate the shortage issue by bringing in expertise from outside your organization and leveraging automation to handle routine tasks—allowing your team to focus on other strategic priorities.
- Lag in Incident Response: Traditional response mechanisms may be time-consuming, allowing threats to persist and cause more damage. MXDR's automated response capabilities and expert oversight enable organizations to respond swiftly to incidents, reducing the dwell time of threats within the network.
What are the benefits of MXDR?
Implementing MXDR and establishing expert support as part of an organization's cybersecurity strategy offers numerous advantages:
- Advanced Threat Detection: MXDR's human component, continuous monitoring, and advanced analytics enable organizations to detect and respond to threats before they escalate. This streamlined approach significantly reduces the risk of data breaches and system compromises.
- Comprehensive Visibility: MXDR provides organizations with a comprehensive view of their entire IT infrastructure, including endpoints, networks, and cloud environments. This visibility is crucial for understanding the organization's attack surface and implementing effective security measures.
- Efficient Resource Utilization: MXDR services automate routine tasks and install security expertise, allowing your cybersecurity professionals to focus on other high-impact activities. This efficient resource utilization is especially valuable in the face of the ongoing shortage of cybersecurity talent.
- Reduced Dwell Time: The combination of automated response mechanisms and human analysis results in faster attack detection and root cause analysis. By minimizing the dwell time of attacks, MXDR helps organizations limit the potential damage caused by cyber incidents.
- Remediation: Top MXDR providers will identify that there is an issue, describe the impacts, make recommendations for a remediation strategy, and explain how to avoid similar threats in the future.
What are MXDR capabilities?
MXDR technology along with human expertise encompasses a range of capabilities:
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): MXDR services leverage EDR technology, enabling organizations to monitor and respond to activities on individual endpoints. This includes detecting malicious processes, analyzing user behavior, and implementing response actions to mitigate threats at the endpoint level.
- Network Detection and Response (NDR): MXDR extends its capabilities and expertise to NDR, allowing organizations to identify and respond to threats within their network infrastructure. This includes monitoring network traffic, detecting anomalous patterns, and isolating compromised systems.
- Cloud Security Monitoring: With the increasing adoption of cloud services, MXDR ensures that organizations can extend their security monitoring to cloud environments. This includes detecting and responding to threats in platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
- Threat Intelligence Integration: Experts use XDR platforms to integrate threat intelligence feeds to stay informed about the latest cyber threats. This integration enhances the system's ability to identify and respond to emerging risks based on up-to-date information.
- Automation and Orchestration: MXDR experts leverage automation and orchestration to streamline detection and response processes. Automated response actions can be predefined and triggered based on the severity and nature of detected threats, ensuring a swift and consistent response.
- User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA): By analyzing user and entity behavior, MXDR services identify deviations from normal patterns that may indicate insider threats or compromised accounts. This capability enhances the platform's ability to detect threats that may go unnoticed through traditional means.
Why adopt MXDR?
As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, organizations must adopt advanced cybersecurity strategies to protect their valuable assets and sensitive data. Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) emerges as a pivotal solution, offering a holistic and thoughtful approach to cybersecurity. By combining modern technologies, threat intelligence, and human expertise, MXDR services empower organizations to stay ahead of cyber adversaries and respond swiftly to evolving threats. As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, embracing MXDR represents a strategic move for organizations seeking strong and effective defense mechanisms.