What is Zero-Trust Security?
Zero Trust security is an IT security architecture that involves precise identity verification for every person and device attempting to access resources on a private network, whether they are inside or outside the network perimeter. Zero Trust is a comprehensive approach to network security that incorporates numerous principles and technologies.
It is/was difficult to gain access from outside the network with traditional IT network security, but everyone inside the network is trusted by default. The difficulty with this strategy is that once an attacker gains access to the internal network, they have complete control over everything inside.
Zero Trust security means that no one is trusted by default, either inside or outside the network, and that everyone attempting to get access to network resources must go through a verification process. This additional security layer has been proven to prevent data breaches.
What is Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)?
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) systems are intended to provide cutting-edge security for corporate endpoints. These systems offer multi-layered, fully integrated endpoint security. To detect risks, real-time continuous monitoring is paired with data analytics, and automated, rule-driven response enables rapid mitigation of discovered threats.
The primary purpose of an EDR system is to provide comprehensive visibility into a specific endpoint. This visibility is used by EDR's automatic response capabilities to mitigate threats, prevent potential attacks, and assist proactive threat-hunting operations. The major goal of EDR is to migrate from traditional, reactive security to proactive threat management.
What is Extended Detection and Response (XDR)?
Extended Detection and Response (XDR) is a new type of security platform that delivers unified insight across security layers into different attack vectors. Using powerful analytics and machine learning, it takes data from networks, endpoints, cloud resources, email systems, and other sources and combines it into a cohesive attack story.
XDR streamlines analyst workflow and boosts security team productivity. It reduces easy or repetitive procedures required to investigate incidents and provides a single interface that allows analysts to view and respond to all data connected to an attack, regardless of which IT system it is targeting. Most importantly, it can enhance the detection of evasive threats that might otherwise go undetected by other layered security systems.
Need of Zero-Trust Solution Despite Having EDR/XDR on Endpoints:
Extended Detection and Response (XDR) systems have expanded EDR beyond the endpoint-centric view of threats with more enhanced features in recent years. However, while XDR devices provide a broader picture of network activity than EDR systems, their primary focus remains detection and response. EDR and XDR define and stop what is harmful, but a Zero Trust solution defines the good ones and keeps everything else out. Neither EDR nor XDR offers the full range of protections offered by a real Zero Trust solution.
On the other hand, a Zero Trust solution is a comprehensive solution that enables businesses to address two of today's most major challenges: a remote workforce and ransomware attacks.
Given the scale of ransomware attacks and the popularity of remote work, enterprises are trying to strengthen their EDR solutions to ensure that attacks do not propagate over their network and wipe out entire fleets of laptops. And, with the emergence of zero-day vulnerabilities and camouflage tactics, detecting all malicious actions is nearly difficult. EDR/XDR technologies alone cannot limit attack surfaces and prevent ransomware and other cybersecurity attacks from moving laterally.
Zero Trust and EDR/XDR Are Extremely Effective When Combined:
In cybersecurity, EDR and Zero Trust play different roles. EDR/XDR systems detect abnormal endpoint behaviour and respond by providing an alert or allowing you to manually remediate compromised machines. Zero Trust products are designed to limit the attack surface of a network by eliminating any implicit trust in any user or device.
Breach propagation will be impossible without implicit trust. Even if the virus infects one endpoint, Zero Trust micro-segmentation will prevent it from communicating with other devices, guaranteeing that the first compromised endpoint is also the last.
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