New and old security threats may be prevented from infiltrating your endpoint devices using endpoint protection platforms (EPP).
If an attack gets past your endpoint protection platform (EPP) or another line of defence, an endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution can help you find and deal with it. Which one do you think is more crucial: EPP vs EDR? Could you get along without either?
Nowadays, many EPP solutions include threat protection and EDR in a single package. However, you may choose which EPP features to install on which devices, and there may be variable prices for each module. Thus, the debate between prevention and reaction remains current. Know the major difference between EPP vs EDR.
Let's get into detail about EPP vs EDR!
EPP vs EDR: What is the Difference
EPP
Both common malware and more sophisticated threats like ransomware, zero-day exploits, and fileless assaults may be stopped with an endpoint protection platform.
Although many EPP platforms already incorporate EDR, our focus here is on the "pure" EPP security features outside EDR. Many different mechanisms allow an EPP to identify malicious behavior:
- Signature matching is spotting malware by comparing its code with a database of known malicious identifiers.
- Machine learning static analysis is the process of inspecting executable binaries for harmful characteristics before execution.
- Sandboxing is the practice of running files in a simulated setting to check for harmful activity before allowing them to be used in the real world.
- Access control is achieved by using "blacklists" and "whitelists," respectively, which include and exclude specific programs, IP addresses, URLs, and ports.
- Analysis of user and process behavior Modern EPP may create a behavioral baseline of endpoint behavior and detect suspicious activity even when no specific threat profile exists.
EDR
Gartner, the research and advisory firm, defined EDR, or endpoint detection and response, in 2023. EDR helps to spot attacks on endpoint devices and get quick access to data related to those assaults. Because of the limited visibility and control that security personnel has typically over distant endpoints, this is only possible with EDR technology.
EDR software's primary function is to aid security personnel in responding to assaults by isolating an endpoint, halting operations, or executing automated incident response playbooks, in addition to giving access to information. There are three fundamental parts to any effective EDR solution:
- EDR process execution, communication, and logged-in user information are just some data software agents on endpoint devices snag.
- The EDR detection engine analyzes the endpoint's normal behavior, then looks for discrepancies and communicates them to the user.
- The EDR data analysis engine collects information from many corporate endpoints and generates timely reports on security issues.
A Look into EPP vs EDR Techniques Involved
EPP solutions uncover signatures and other signs of penetration by recognized threats. EDR systems use threat-hunting technologies to detect threats based on the actions of individual endpoints, providing an additional line of protection.
Although EDR may seem a more robust solution, it does not render EPP obsolete as a security technique. To effectively combat new and old security risks, businesses must take a comprehensive endpoint protection strategy.
To be called a complete endpoint security solution, EPP vs EDR must share certain features. As a result, there is a lot of ambiguity in the endpoint protection industry, which has prompted EPP suppliers to incorporate EDR features into their offerings, and vice versa.
EDR calls for vigilant analysis and investigation by security professionals. However, once EPP software has been installed and configured, it requires minimum monitoring to function as intended.
Instead of competing, these two endpoint protection technologies EDR and EPP work together to maximize security. Businesses in the present day would do well to incorporate EDR and EPP into a unified cybersecurity plan.
Which one should you go with?
Compared with EPP vs EDR, Some specialists in the field of cybersecurity suggest coupling endpoint detection and response (EDR) with pure endpoint protection (EPP). EPP can stop threats before they reach the endpoint, whereas EDR assumes a breach has already occurred. Please do not take it for granted that everything in your company is safe. Keep the means to mount a successful counterattack at all times.
While EPP won't stop assaults entirely, it will make intruders' lives much more difficult. Hackers would instead put in less time and effort to crack EPP security and focus on more specific targets.
A security team can respond to an attack with the help of EDR since it gives them insight into the situation and operational tools to deal with it. Endpoints are singled out as the vulnerable point in the security chain by sophisticated attacks such as APTs. Successful endpoint attack detection may be sped up with the help of EDR since it can quickly identify and shut down the whole kill chain.
Summing Up EPP vs EDR Comparison
It is the end of the EPP vs EDR comparison. Remember EDR technologies offer more sophisticated functions, such as identifying and investigating security incidents, than traditional EPP tools, which give basic security capabilities like anti-malware scanning.
In addition to preventing further infection, endpoints can be restored to their original condition using EDR solutions. Both products may be used together to give a complete security solution for businesses.
