Successfully defending an enterprise's infrastructure necessitates the use of multiple products that, when combined effectively, form a comprehensive, multilayer defense. The query of Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) vs. Security Information & Event Management (SIEM) may arise as part of the entire process of choosing the right products for cyber defense, primarily because each system provides rule-based alerting and threat-hunting tools that let you explore and question raw data collected by agents. But is only a single solution required? Is it true that they are mutually exclusive? Does SIEM replace EDR? Let's learn more about EDR and SIEM, does SIEM replace EDR, and which one is the best for your requirements?
What is EDR and Does SIEM replace EDR?
Before talking about Does SIEM replace EDR, let's learn about EDR. Endpoint detection and response is defined as a solution for recording endpoint-system-level behaviors, detecting suspicious behavior in a system, and providing incident information in context. This enables security teams to respond quickly to malicious activity and restore affected systems.
The following are the primary abilities of EDR tools:
- Endpoint incident data collection
- Triaging alerts and evaluating suspicious activity
- Suspicious activity detection
- Allowing data exploration or threat detection
- Providing manual and automated tools to detect and prevent malicious activity
What is SIEM?
Now let's discuss SIEM so that we can discuss does SIEM replace EDR later. Security information and event management allow businesses to detect, analyze, and alert on security events. SIEM software analyses security alerts from a wide range of tools in real-time by incorporating SIM (security information management) and SEM (security event management).
Does SIEM replace EDR? SIEM compares events to analytics engines and indexes them with rules to allow search, performs event aggregation and correlation, and enhances events with threat intelligence data. This procedure provides security teams with information about their IT environment as well as an audit trail for compliance and forensic evaluation.
The following are the main features of SIEM software:- Integration with a wide range of security and IT tools
- Multiple data sources' correlation
- Generating relevant alerts
- Management of alert workflows
The Difference between EDR and SIEM?
Does SIEM replace EDR? - Aside from core functions, there are some significant differences in EDR and SIEM capabilities and performance.
PurposeThe primary goal of a SIEM tool is to deliver actionable security information and event log collection. All security intelligence from all sources is visible on a single platform. The primary goal of EDR is to detect and respond to ransomware, file-less attacks, and malware at the endpoint level.
Data CollectionEDR only collects data from endpoints. Does SIEM replace EDR? Aside from endpoints, SIEM collects data from a variety of sources. The network, users, applications, and cloud and on-premise infrastructure are all part of the multi-layered approach to log collection.
Threat HuntingEDR only collects data from endpoints. Does SIEM replace EDR? Aside from endpoints, SIEM collects data from a variety of sources. The network, users, applications, and cloud and on-premise infrastructure are all part of the multi-layered approach to log collection.
Importance of EDR and SIEM
When we talk about does SIEM replace EDR, organizations that do not have adequate threat monitoring face a number of severe problems, including data loss, remediation costs, and non-compliance with financial penalties. Of course, there is the issue of sophisticated cyberattacks, which can have severe and potentially threatening consequences for your business.
That being said, no matter what industry you work in, implementing trustable cybersecurity solutions should never be taken lightly. Although SIEM and EDR have distinct functionalities, they are both long-term monitoring solutions that should be included in every cybersecurity program.
Using a combination of SIEM and EDR tools improves your network's threat response planning, which is critical for achieving maximum security.
So Which Should You Use?
In reality, deciding whether to use EDR or SIEM is not a difficult decision. If you think, "does SIEM replace EDR", each of these solutions offers unique advantages for your security operations. Given the importance of advanced endpoint security in protecting an organization from threats such as ransomware (and other infections), as well as the importance of managing data and security incidents detected from multiple sources, EDR and SIEM can work together to offer the most efficient, multilayer defense for your organization. However, keep in mind that both solutions necessitate ongoing management and maintenance, including customized detection rules, security and feature policies, IOCs, behavioral whitelisting rules, sensor management and upgrades, managing the investigation of security incidents, and more.
Do You Need Both?
Yes, SIEM and EDR are complementary detection solutions that complement each other well. After learning about does SIEM replace EDR, it is best to use both tools for a multi-layered and effective cybersecurity system. In terms of security intelligence and log analysis, SIEM provides the big picture. Individual endpoint focus is provided by EDR, and threats are responded to in real-time.
What matters is that you have a security system that provides a centralized platform for all of your cybersecurity requirements. While wondering about "does SIEM replace EDR", both SIEM and EDR can assist you with just that.
Now the question arises- Does SIEM replace EDR? Xcitium Cybersecurity security services provided managed SIEM and managed EDR with EPP solutions. With Xcitium Cybersecurity's compliant services, you get 24/7 monitoring and a threat dashboard for advanced visibility, as well as next-generation anti-malware, root-cause analysis, and behavior detection on a single EDR+EPP platform. Visit for more information on does SIEM replace EDR and Xcitium.