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Cybersecurity Glossary

What is EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response)?

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is security technology that continuously monitors endpoints — laptops, desktops, and servers — for malicious activity. Unlike traditional antivirus, EDR can detect unknown threats through behavioral analysis and enable rapid investigation and automated response.

Blocks 99% of password attacks
Required by most cyber insurance
Core to SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI
How It Works

How EDR works

Three-step view of how it operates in practice.

1

Monitor

An EDR agent on each endpoint records process activity, network connections, file changes, and user behavior 24/7.

2

Detect

Behavioral analytics and threat intelligence flag suspicious patterns — a known signature isn’t required.

3

Respond

Analysts (internal or managed) investigate alerts, isolate infected devices, and collect forensic evidence — often in minutes rather than days.

EDR Variants

EDR vs antivirus vs XDR

A clear breakdown of the common variants.

Level

Legacy antivirus

Signature-based. Blocks known malware but misses unknown and fileless threats.

Most common

Next-gen AV (NGAV)

Time-based one-time codes from an app like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator. Offline-capable and phishing-resistant against many attacks.

Convenient

EDR

The user approves a sign-in with a tap on their phone. Easy to use but vulnerable to MFA fatigue attacks — always pair with number matching.

Strongest

XDR

FIDO2 keys like YubiKey, or device-bound passkeys. Phishing-resistant by design — the key will not authenticate against a fake domain.

Why It Matters

Why EDR matters for SMBs

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is security technology that continuously monitors endpoints — laptops, desktops, and servers — for malicious activity.

277 days
average time to identify and contain a breach without EDR; dropping to under 30 days with mature EDR+SOC
Source: IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report, 2024
Pitfalls

Common EDR mistakes

  • EDR without a response teamAlerts pile up; no one investigates. EDR without an analyst reviewing alerts is expensive antivirus.
  • Partial coverageAdmins, finance, and anyone with access to money or sensitive data should use an app or hardware key — never SMS alone.
  • Ignoring tuningOut-of-the-box EDR produces noise. Regular tuning reduces false positives and sharpens real alerts.
  • No isolation playbookWhen a device is compromised, minutes matter. Pre-defined isolation actions make the response automatic.
Common Questions

EDR frequently asked questions

Not anymore. Modern attacks use fileless techniques and legitimate tools (PowerShell, WMI) that signature-based AV can’t catch. EDR’s behavioral detection is table stakes for cyber insurance and any compliance framework.
Yes. Servers are high-value targets for ransomware. Most EDR pricing is per endpoint regardless of type.
EDR is the technology. MDR (managed detection and response) is the service layer — outsourced analysts using EDR tools to monitor and respond on your behalf 24/7.
EDR dramatically improves the chance of catching ransomware early, before encryption spreads. Pairing EDR with immutable backups and tested IR plans is the full defense.
Have a documented recovery process before it happens. Typically an administrator verifies the user's identity through an out-of-band channel, temporarily disables MFA, and re-enrolls the user with a new device. Backup codes or a secondary security key reduce downtime.
Related Services

LogicalNet services related to MFA

Identity & Access Protection Primary

MFA enforcement, conditional access, least privilege, and identity monitoring.

Email Security

Phishing defense, account-takeover monitoring, and secure email gateways.
Related Terms

Related glossary terms

XDR

Policies that adapt to device, location, and risk signals.

MDR

A security model that verifies every request as if it came from an open network.

Ransomware

Give users only the access they need — nothing more.

SOC

FIDO2 keys and passkeys that cannot be proxied or replayed.
Identity & Access

Still running legacy antivirus?

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