Sophos has long been known for creating holistic network security solutions that work across devices to provide broad views of network security posture. We have talked about the boons of Synchronized Security with Sophos Security Heartbeat for years on this blog! Now that cross-device monitoring and high-powered AI security goes a step further with the introduction of XDR.
What is XDR?
XDR stands for Extended Detection and Response. This sounds similar to another industry technology: EDR, or Endpoint Detection and Response. But XDR takes the concept of Endpoint Detection & Response and extends it across multiple security layers. It brings together real-time network data and automated decision-making to provide advanced threat responses that stop attacks before they become a breach.
How is Sophos XDR different from other solutions?
Sophos Intercept X Advanced with XDR (formerly Intercept X Advanced with EDR) integrates email, cloud, mobile, and endpoint data across your network, pulling data from multiple sources across security layers and products to provide broad, high-level security determinations orchestrated by deep learning AI. XDR leverages data from endpoints, servers, firewalls, switches, and other security devices spread across your network and centralizes that intelligence in a single ecosystem.
This pitch may sound familiar to you if you’ve used SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, & Response) or SIEM (Security Information & Event Management) solutions. What SOAR and SIEM do is quite similar in function: collect large volumes of data from multiple sources, analyze events, and provide guided response recommendations. Where XDR shines and soars above preceding solutions lies in its ability to take action. Sophos XDR not only creates a roadmap of how admins should respond to an event but takes the initiative to apply those steps before a security incident can grow.
All in all, XDR goes beyond data gathering and helpful suggestions. Sophos XDR orchestrates responses and applies them across devices on a network.
How to get Sophos XDR
XDR found a home with Sophos as part of its Intercept X product suite, an advanced endpoint protection suite built to stop malware, ransomware, exploits, viruses, and zero-day threats. In previous years, Intercept X Advanced could be paired with EDR to automatically detect and prioritize threats. While Intercept X’s EDR capabilities suggest where and how network admins focus their attention, XDR is now fully closing the monitor-detect-respond decision-making loop.
Sophos Intercept X Advanced uses the latest machine learning technology to make security verdicts on unknown threats by comparing the behavior of potentially dangerous files or apps to the known behavior of currently understood threats.
Best Endpoint Security of 2020 for Your Small Business
Finding the best endpoint security for your network needs can be a challenge. There are dozens of options, all supporting a myriad of advanced security features and integrations that may be impossible to navigate unless you’re an expert. Each vendor offers a unique set of services with strengths and weaknesses that will ultimately determine whether your users stay safe or not. The best endpoint security may vary from organization to organization, but here are our top picks for the best endpoint security options available in 2020.
What is Endpoint Security?
Endpoint security, end user security, endpoint protection—while the name can be flexible, its necessity for a secure network is not. Endpoint security software protects small businesses & enterprises by guarding connected devices against malware and other advanced cyberattacks. Modern endpoint security integrates with appliances and applications you already use to provide edge protection as employees and guests access your network.
Encrypted malware, ransomware, and business email compromise can spell disaster for small businesses. That’s why the ability to monitor end user activity in real time – as well as make decisions to quarantine and isolate individual machines – can mean the difference between a small, contained incident and a catastrophic breach.
In 2020, endpoint security platforms now incorporate Endpoint Detection & Response capabilities powered by AI. Guided response, rich reporting, and root cause analysis are all top-shelf features that organizations should seek in a quality endpoint security service.
What does Endpoint Security include?
The best endpoint security goes beyond the basics. Traditionally, end user protection included passive endpoint scans combined with basic antivirus capabilities. However, in 2020, the best endpoint security blow the basics out of the water with multiple advanced security features:
Continuous monitoring of files, applications, & connected devices
Automated incident detection and isolation of infected machines
Web content filtering to safeguard productivity and network usage
Auto-provisioning based on user group, OS, location, or time of day
Real-time threat intelligence updates from a pedigreed threat research team
The threat landscape is always evolving. That means your end user protection must stand up to threats never-before-seen by the network security ecosystem. The ability to recognize zero day exploits based on machine learning and behavioral analysis is essential for organizations to stay secure in 2020.
What is the Best Endpoint Protection of 2020?
Here are our top picks for the best Endpoint Protection for small businesses in 2020:
SonicWall teams up with SentinelOne to deliver a heuristic endpoint protection suite with the unique capability to mirror Microsoft shadow copies for post-infection rollbacks. This eliminates the need for manual restoration after a ransomware attack and lets admins rest easy knowing they can always restore endpoints to their pre-infection state. In addition, round-the-clock behavioral monitoring eliminates the need for scheduled system scans. In short, this minimizes network resource hogging and safeguards user productivity.
Detects elusive memory techniques used in exploits like buffer overflows
What makes Fortinet FortiClient unique?
Fortinet FortiClient end user protection services simplify remote user experience with built-in user provisioning, auto-connect, and an “always-up” VPN. FortiClient works perfectly in tandem with all Fortinet devices and services on your network through the Fortinet Security Fabric. According to NSS Labs 2019 Advanced Endpoint test, FortiClient blocked 100% of malware including extremely elusive threats.
Automatically detects, prioritizes, & investigates potential threats using AI
Leverages deep learning analysis to analyze malware in extreme detail
Out-of-the-box SQL queries categorized by use case
Live Response provides users command line access to endpoints & servers
Quickly search up to 90 days of current & historical on-disk data
What makes Sophos Intercept X Advanced with EDR unique?
Sophos made a huge splash with the upgrade to its original Intercept X service. It sports big changes that included Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) capabilities in addition to its already robust real-time, integrated endpoint platform. Intercept X Advanced combines powerful endpoint protection with endpoint detection driven by machine learning. This means most threats are squashed long before they can damage your network. Artificial intelligence assists with guided response. To save your small business even more, an important note: the objective of Sophos endpoint protection is to reduce the need for added IT employees by consolidating their roles into a single automated system.
Auto-provisioning of VPN settings based on Client VPN
Zero-touch deployment through a self-service web portal
Deploy policies & changes from the cloud across the entire network
What makes Cisco Meraki Systems Manager unique?
Cisco Meraki’s endpoint management solution supports a variety of platforms and operating systems, making Systems Manager a flexible option for most any deployment. Systems Manager offers cloud-based endpoint management tools that easily scale up to meet growth needs. By providing admins the ability to manage distributed deployments from anywhere in the world, Systems Manager is an endpoint security solution built for a highly mobile, highly distributed world.
Look for the best endpoint protection for your small business?
Give us a call at 866-957-2975 to find the perfect fit!
To continue our recent theme of decoding abbreviations, EDR means Endpoint Detection & Response, and that means that the age of AI is upgrading networks. This automated, real-time endpoint solution ensures that end users can work securely no matter where in the world they’re located in relation to a firewall.
With EDR, your network defenses constantly scan for the kinds of elusive malware, ransomware, and zero day threats that signature-based detection platforms miss. And in the event a security incident occurs, advanced Endpoint Detection & Response platforms such as Sophos Intercept X Advanced with EDR or FortiEDR stop attacks even if the endpoint is compromised. Guided response lets administrators easily walk through the steps of an attack to see its root cause and isolate infected machines.
EDR’s machine learning systems deter, detect, disarm, dissect, deescalate, and do away with any cyber threats you can throw its way.
Why EDR works for small businesses
Survey after survey several years running have revealed two facts: a majority of small businesses find it difficult to hire qualified IT talent–especially talent focused on network security–and their budgets often struggle to accommodate the talent they do find. Automated endpoint detection and response monitored by 24-hour machine learning intelligence adds just the kind of cybersecurity expertise that SMBs need without a higher employee headcount.
Just like modern grocery stores have self-checkout lines and autoworkers now benefit from the assistance of robotics, automation enables small businesses to do more with less to get the job done. Farm out malware expertise and incident response to the bots!
Sophos Intercept X Advanced with EDR
Intercept X Advanced has been a longstanding go-to for network admins looking to add advanced protection to their networks in a comprehensive, integrated system. Sophos Intercept X Advanced now also consolidates that industry-leading protection and EDR into a single solution. Intercept X’s advanced malware prevention significantly eases the workload on the EDR component, allowing you to utilize more of the speed and performance you pay your Internet Service Provider for.
Minimize staffing by automating IT tasks usually done by skilled experts
Provide visibility into attack scope, root cause, impact, & network health
Hunt for indicators of compromise that may leave your network vulnerable
Fortinet FortiEDR
FortiEDR will be made available to order on May 4th and is already boasting some big benefits and features. An EDR solution purpose-built to detect potential threats, FortiEDR stops breaches in real time, and mitigate the damage of ransomware even on machines that have already been compromised. FortiEDR also extends security to IOT devices with the ability to protect everything from PCs to servers to point-of-sale systems and more.
Creates very small network footprint thanks to native cloud infrastructure
Enjoy automated EPP with orchestrated response across platforms
Stop file-based malware with Fortinet’s kernel-level Next Gen AV engine
Eliminate dwell time & reduce post-breach expenses
SonicWall Capture Client
Automated endpoint detection and response is integrated into SonicWall’s Capture Client, bringing together EDR, advanced threat protection, and integrated network security. With unique ransomware rollback capabilities and intuitive attack visualizations, Capture Client offers a comprehensive endpoint protection and EDR environment for any SonicWall network.
Network threats are always lurking out there, evolving. Admins need a whole team to pick attack vectors off one-by-one. Sophos has built an all-pro squad in Intercept X, ensuring that even a Tom Brady-level hacker’s attempts to pass malware and ransomware onto your network fall short.
What is Sophos Intercept X? In short, it’s the 1970s Steel Curtain, the 1985 Chicago Bears, and the 2000 Baltimore Ravens defenses all rolled into one package that protects endpoints like those units protected the end zone. Each individual layer of Sophos protection is best in class, but it’s the combination–or team–of features that put Intercept X at the top of the power rankings.
Sophos offers multiple versions of Intercept X with features that only get better as you level-up. Let’s take a look at the different Intercept X plans that are available.
Intercept X
This standard level of endpoint security is the backbone of all Intercept X options–the locker room leader if you will. Intercept X includes Deep Learning Malware Detection and Exploit Prevention that shuts down penetration before it impacts your device. CryptoGuard protects your files against ransomware, while WipeGuard stops boot-record attacks. You’ll also get automated malware removal, Sophos Clean to do a secondary malware scan, and Sophos Security Heartbeat. All of this combines to allow all your Sophos products to communicate, diagnose, and respond to network incidents in seconds, just like the headsets that keep coaches, coordinators, and captains on the same page during the game. You can try Intercept X completely free, no credit card required, for 30 days.
Sophos Intercept X Advanced takes your skills to the next level. All the game-changing features of Intercept X come along for the ride and are joined by the comprehensive features of Sophos Central Endpoint Protection, creating an MVP pairing of protection. These added solutions include Web Security and Application Control, anti-malware file scanning & live protection, potentially unwanted application (PUA) blocking, data loss prevention, and runtime behavior analysis (HIPS).
Intercept X Advanced with EDR – (err XDR)
Taking Advanced a step further, Sophos’ latest addition to Intercept X adds EDR, which stands for Endpoint Detection and Response. (Update 2021: Actually now the latest is XDR – extended detection & response). EDR means you’ll get everything Intercept X Advanced has to offer, plus cross estate threat searching, guided investigations, EDR deep learning malware analysis, on-demand threat intelligence from the experts at Sophos Labs, forensic data export, and endpoint isolation. This is definitely the Rookie of the Year of endpoint protection.
You’re thinking bigger and Sophos has too. Intercept X Advanced for Server (Update 2021: Intercept X Advanced for Server also features XDR) prevents attacks from reaching the server, detects attacks before they run, and cleans up damage in case of a breach. This is Intercept X on a broader scale: not just the team, but the whole league. It includes the features outlines above, plus other server-based add-ons like application whitelisting, which locks down your server with one click, allowing only authorized applications to run and securing your server in safe state.
All of these options are managed through Sophos Central, a cloud-based console hosted by Sophos that allows you to configure all your products in one place, without the need for a separate management server. You can access Sophos Central anywhere, anytime.
At Firewalls.com, we can help you get your hands on Intercept X and turn the malware hail mary into a game-winning pick six for your organization. Whether you’re already running with Sophos or not, bring Intercept X onto your team to take your endpoint protection straight to the top. See how Synchronized Security, paired with the real-time scanning of the Sophos Security Heartbeat, can be your Most Valuable Player in 2019 (or 2021). Check out our Sophos Buyers Guide for more info!
