More isn’t always better.
Many organizations add standalone security tools to address specific security threats. The result is an overabundance of point solutions that actually weaken security. Studies have shown that most organizations use a dozen or more security tools, with some organizations using 30 tools or more.
Each time a new tool is added, organizations expend IT resources learning features and interfaces, managing licenses and integrating the tool into the environment. In many cases, these tools have overlapping features and capabilities, which wastes additional time and money. Worst of all, multiple tools generate a constant barrage of duplicative alerts that prevent IT teams from focusing on the most serious threats.
Extended detection and response (XDR) helps organizations overcome the hidden costs of “tool sprawl” by integrating standalone security solutions. While XDR doesn’t replace other tools, it helps close gaps and provide greater visibility into threats across the enterprise.
What Is XDR?
The problem isn’t just an overabundance of tools. The tools typically aren’t integrated, and the lack of shared telemetry creates blind spots that limit the ability of IT teams to identify and mitigate risks.
Unlike point solutions, XDR takes a holistic approach, providing a single-pane-of-glass view of multiple security layers. It collects, correlates and analyzes data across endpoints, servers, networking devices, cloud platforms and many other resources, using machine learning to sift through events and alerts.
On the surface, that sounds a lot like security information and event management (SIEM). There are important differences, however. Unless they are tuned precisely, SIEM tools tend to generate a lot of duplicative alerts and false positives, overwhelming IT teams with “noise” that makes it difficult to prioritize remediation activities. Studies have shown that security analysts ignore up to two-thirds of alerts, leading to missed threats and an overall weakening of the organization’s security posture.
What Are the Benefits of XDR?
XDR cuts through the noise by automatically correlating data from various security tools to identify patterns and anomalies that individual tools might miss. The key is integration. By integrating data, XDR enables faster identification of threats and reduces the time to detect and respond to attacks. Industry-leading solutions include out-of-the-box integrations across multiple products to improve productivity.
Best-in-class XDR tools also use automation and machine learning to sift through events and alerts and conduct contextual analysis, providing IT teams with more actionable intelligence. IT teams gain not only speed but confidence that they’re prioritizing the most critical threats and taking the right steps to mitigate them. Some XDR solutions offer automated response capabilities that quickly remediate threats.
Additionally, industry-leading XDR tools provide advanced forensic investigation and threat-hunting capabilities, allowing security teams to understand the root cause of attacks and their extent. This enables a more proactive approach to security that mitigates threats before they cause extensive damage.
The Cisco XDR Solution
Cisco has developed an advanced XDR solution that enables IT teams to verify threats instantly and remediate them with confidence. Cisco XDR helps teams prioritize alerts and provides the insight and guidance they need to mitigate threats quickly. It also helps overcome resource limitations by autonomously containing critical alerts and stopping lateral movement through the network.
New AI-driven innovations help IT teams shift from manual investigation to automatic analysis and response. Machine learning algorithms investigate threats across multiple vectors, correlating behaviors and providing the context and supporting evidence needed to enable decisive action. This triggers agentic AI tools that respond instantly, with or without human involvement.
Cisco XDR can be a game-changer, but many organizations lack the resources and expertise to deploy, configure and operate this powerful tool. That’s where Cerium can help. Our team has the expertise to help organizations leverage Cisco XDR to improve their security posture. We can also enhance Cisco XDR with an array of managed security services that relieve the burden on in-house IT teams.
