If you’re in the business of protecting others from cyberattacks, you need to make sure your own house is in order.

Webroot Guest Blogger

December 4, 2019

4 Min Read
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As the entrepreneur Jim Rohn once said, “Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.” Anyone running a business is likely to relate to this bit of wisdom, and it’s particularly meaningful for those of us in cybersecurity.

In terms of cyberattacks, even minor malware infections can create costly delays and downtime. Damages from data loss or business disruption can be financially devastating, to the point of threatening an organization’s very viability. The consequences of denial-of-service attacks, ransomware, and data breaches can’t and shouldn’t be accepted as part of the cost of doing business.

And if you’re in the business of protecting others from these types of attacks, you need to make sure your own house is in order first and foremost. That means having strong cyber-defense tools in place that not only mitigate threats, but also actually put time back in your day. The key to success is to stop threats before they stop you. Only the right set of tools can help you do that.

Hear Webroot Senior Threat Analyst Tyler Moffitt discuss the importance of prioritizing client safety by securing your business first. Learn More.

Defining and Differentiating among EDR, MDR and ADR

Cybersecurity needs more acronyms like the internet needs more malware. They often cause more confusion than they clear up. Many of us in the industry are guilty of overusing them. But since it appears these new terms are here to stay, let’s break down some of the endpoint-related jargon you’re likely to encounter

  • Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

EDR technology uses large volumes of data gathered from endpoints to provide security analysts with the information they need to help detect and mitigate cyber threats. These solutions significantly improve endpoint visibility and threat remediation capability, and can even assist with threat hunting. But to take full advantage, you need a staff of trained security analysts that can be hard to come by with today’s skills gap. For that reason, this model does not make sense for the majority of SMBs and MSPs.

Today, EDR is beginning to morph into “enterprise detection and response.” The endpoint telemetry data it produces forms part of a more holistic approach to network security.

  • Managed Detection and Response (MDR)

Recently, cloud-based security service providers have been leveraging EDR data and compensating for the cybersecurity skills gap with a strategy known as MDR.

Working around the clock, MDR acts as a security analyst by providing automated threat detection, response and remediation. It protects entire networks––not just endpoints––and provides the time, commitment, and cybersecurity skills necessary to fully detect, mitigate and resolve issues. Unfortunately, for many SMBs, MDR is simply too expensive. These smaller businesses may need to explore other partnership models or leverage managed services from their vendors.

  • Automated Detection and Response (ADR)

For SMBs and MSPs without dedicated cybersecurity resources or an ample budget, ADR can be the perfect answer. When other solutions are overwhelmed by torrents of incoming malware, ADR leverages AI and machine learning to not only stop threats, but to also proactively predict and prevent them. As a result, this type of solution can actually put time back in your day.

As the cybersecurity landscape evolves and the skills gap continues to grow, MSPs and SMBs must onboard solutions that automate their defenses and offer the missing cybersecurity intelligence that only ADR provides.

ADR: The Next-Gen Evolution of Cybersecurity

As you’re probably aware, modern attacks are increasing in complexity, becoming more targeted and are often automated at scale. They can also move unpredictably and laterally, as we have seen with island hopping (the practice of compromising one company by infiltrating its affiliates, partner networks or supply chains.)

There are many challenges that can make a business or clients vulnerable to attack, including:

  • Broad attack surfaces

  • Limited security expertise

  • Lax or inadequate access controls

  • Data loss, email spam and phishing vulnerabilities

  • Insufficient understanding of compliance

But the best way to combat these vulnerabilities is to leverage the “power in prediction” to stop attacks before they happen, and to quickly and automatically remediate threats that do break through. Here’s where ADR provides a new way to think about cybersecurity.

Currently, many cybersecurity and IT teams must manage multiple tasks across multiple systems, requiring in-depth knowledge of computer systems and cybersecurity threats. As a result, response time is often slow. With ADR, tasks are automated, and threats are investigated, validated and remediated in the background––boosting operational efficiency and maximizing effectiveness.

As the threat environment evolves, MSPs and SMBs will need to keep pace. ADR changes the security equation by improving the accuracy of detection and speed of response, saving time and hassle—not to mention money.

What’s Next?

Interested in exploring how an ADR strategy can be implemented in your organization? Explore how our cybersecurity solutions are built to save you time and money on cybersecurity management :  Endpoint Protection | DNS Protection | Security Awareness Training.

This guest blog is part of a Channel Futures sponsorship.

 

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