Is EDR Worth It?

2024 has presented SMEs with more cyber-risks than any year before, with approximately 50% of registered small businesses reporting cyber attacks in the year to date. As you might expect, this means we're having more conversations about cybersecurity than ever before, with many businesses asking us if EDR is worth investing in compared to traditional antivirus. This blog will break down the differences between conventional antivirus and EDR, evaluating the relative values of each.

Traditional antivirus software is designed to detect and block known threats like trojans, malware, and ransomware. It does this by comparing incoming data against a database of defined threats. It usually works well in environments where the threats are likely to be well-known, but it isn't built to detect new threats or to protect against persistent threats that evolve over time.

EDR, on the other hand, is a more advanced approach. Rather than block against only known threats, EDR sits in your environment and actively monitors, detects, investigates, and responds to any suspicious behaviour between devices in real-time. EDR software collects data constantly, analysing it for any behaviour which it has been built to find unusual, enabling a much faster and more effective response to threats.

So, here are the main differences:

• Detection Scope: Traditional antivirus relies on signature-based detection, meaning it can only detect known threats. EDR solutions, such as SentinelOne, use behavior-based detection, meaning they can recognise unusual patterns and detect threats that traditional antivirus may miss.
• Real-Time Response: EDR solutions are designed for real-time threat response and containment, while traditional antivirus may only detect threats after they’ve caused damage.
• Data Collection and Analysis: EDR continuously collects data from endpoints, which helps with threat hunting and forensic analysis, while antivirus doesn’t provide this level of visibility.

We think EDR is worth the spend compared to EDR, and here's why. While antivirus is cost effective, it probably isn't quite sophisticated enough to handle the threats present beyond 2024. With SentinelOne, for example, the platform’s AI-driven technology can identify patterns and flag unusual activity in real-time. This is particularly valuable for cybersecurity for SMEs, as attackers often target smaller organisations with less robust security systems, making them vulnerable to undetected threats.

Equally, time is incredibly important in the event of a cybersecurity incident. Traditional antivirus software is reactive, meaning it only responds once malware has been identified and doesn’t provide tools to respond to the attack. EDR, on the other hand, enables immediate containment and response, allowing IT teams to isolate affected endpoints and prevent the spread of malicious software.

If you have regulators to keep happy, traditional antivirus software doesn’t offer much visibility into the details of an attack. With EDR, however, SMEs gain access to comprehensive data collection and forensic analysis capabilities. This means you can better understand how and where an attack originated, what data might have been compromised, and what steps are needed to secure the system moving forward. This helps when it comes to self-reporting an incident, and can be incredibly helpful for audit.

And finally, EDR is far more useful when it comes to insider threats. Antivirus typically struggles to protect against insider threats—malicious or negligent actions taken by employees or contractors that could compromise data security. EDR monitors all endpoint activity, helping detect abnormal or suspicious behavior within the business itself.

If your business is considering making the switch to EDR or needs guidance on the best solution for cybersecurity for SMEs, contact our team today. We’re here to help you navigate your options and ensure your business has the protection it needs.