Stringent cybersecurity measures are crucial to secure Public Sector operations, and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is a critical tool in that belt. Malicious adversaries range from rogue actors to nation-state-sponsored attacks, and all frequently target specific organizations that deal with highly sensitive data. By itself, EDR can quickly identify abnormal behaviors or code and help the SOC analyst team respond accordingly. When paired with other Security Operations Center (SOC) tools, EDR further broadens SOC visibility and increases operational efficiency. Federal agencies can use that intelligence to not only resolve security breaches, but also proactively adjust their security measures to prevent further incidents.
All Eyes on the Data: EDR and Data Visibility
Visibility is a fundamental tenet of EDR. When SOC teams have access to data that is current and actionable, they can make calculated, proactive decisions and respond appropriately in crisis scenarios. An effective EDR tool will monitor existing data, detect anomalous behavior and respond to threats in real time.
Data from across multiple sources is recorded and compared against watch lists that SOC analysts can use to search for anomalous activities. Additionally, known threat vectors are continuously monitored in near real-time, and analysts are automatically alerted to suspicious behavior. EDR looks at all endpoint activity, not just individual data silos, and presents that raw data to SOC analysts in a usable, searchable manner.
Efficiency and Data Quality: Two Sides of the Same Coin
It is not just the quantity of data SOC teams can access that matters; the quality of the data is just as crucial. Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and SOC teams need to make fast, defensible decisions in both routine and crisis scenarios. Analysts do not have the time to sift through all alert activity and determine those that need immediate response. An effective EDR solution allows for tuning of watchlists to prioritize alerts. By receiving higher fidelity alerts, SOC analysts optimize time spent investigating and providing real-time response by isolating endpoints or acting directly to terminate suspicious processes.
It is not enough for security alerts to be prioritized; if the information is unreliable or incomplete, any analyses or flags extrapolated from that data are virtually worthless. A data-based EDR solution allows SOC analysts to resolve issues quickly, reducing the risk of faulty decisions.
Carbon Black EDR: The Premier Option
After observing the need for security and visibility in endpoints, Carbon Black was founded and pioneered EDR. Its open architecture with Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) makes it possible to correlate the data with other SOC tools, such as network, identity, endpoint protection and data protection tools. Additionally, Carbon Black EDR can integrate with different security products, including Security Information and Event Management Systems (SIEMS). This holistic vision allows SOC teams to understand the entire lifecycle of potential attacks, and accurate data ensures that analysts know exactly what, where and how an incident occurred.
This layered approach to cybersecurity is especially valuable to the Public Sector. Many Federal teams work in multiple siloed or air-gapped networks, and each of these networks have different functions. Carbon Black EDR has the flexibility to be deployed in multiple environments and tailored to their individual operations.
Want to learn more about how Carbon Black EDR can elevate your cybersecurity posture? Contact our Broadcom team at Broadcom@carahsoft.com or visit our website.
