Businesses are mostly the targets of cyberattacks because cyber criminals believe stealing sensitive data, holding companies to ransom, and leaking privileged information is a profitable venture. Companies that suffer cyberattacks lose money, have operational delays, dissatisfied customers, and damaged reputations. Some even receive sanctions from the government for violating data privacy laws and might be subject to lawsuits from affected customers. It is in their best interest to put robust cybersecurity measures in place to protect themselves.
Business cybersecurity systems should include firewalls, threat detection systems, antivirus software, qualified cybersecurity personnel, and other tools that allow said personnel to rapidly respond to security incidents. However, some companies cannot afford to install these systems and employ able-bodied personnel to monitor their network full-time. Fortunately, there is a solution called XDR as a service (XDRaaS).
What is XDR as a service?
XDR as a service (also known as managed XDR) is a cybersecurity service that companies can purchase from third-party service providers to oversee and manage their online security across their entire IT infrastructure. XDRaaS takes care of the entirety of a business’s security needs and provides all the software tools and expertise needed to prevent, detect, and respond to security incidents.
XDR (Extended Detection and Response) service providers usually have teams of security professionals who are qualified to address all forms of cyber threats. If you outsource your business cybersecurity to them, they will monitor your computer network 24/7 and react promptly to any suspicious activity and detected threat.
This round-the-clock monitoring is essential to strengthen cybersecurity efforts because delayed response to security incidents can exacerbate the situation by giving hackers enough time to extract sensitive data. Most businesses cannot afford to hire experienced personnel to always monitor their systems, but they will get access to them and more at a reasonable price if they embrace XDR as a service.
What Does XDR as a Service Involve?
When outsourcing your business cybersecurity to an XDR service provider, they would handle the following:
- Threat detection and response
This is a main feature of any cybersecurity setup. Cyberattackers are active at all times so companies should have systems that can detect intrusion attempts and suspicious activities in their computer network. Upon detection, the threat detection system will notify cyber security personnel so they can investigate and remediate the threat.
XDRaaS companies will install these detection systems and assign reliable personnel to monitor them for alerts so they can respond promptly to security incidents.
- Threat classification and prioritization
XDRaaS companies use their experience to classify potential cyberattacks and create a response plan for each type of attack. When threats are detected, the response team can prioritize them and react according to the perceived threat level.
- Cyber threat intelligence
The service provider will gather and analyze data about the kind of cyberattackers that will likely target your business. This data analysis will give their cybersecurity professionals insight into the intentions of the attacker and methods they can use to gain unauthorized access to your network. Their findings will help them create the ideal security setup to protect your business.
- Threat hunting
This is a proactive cybersecurity act that involves cybersecurity personnel scanning your computer network to find hidden traces of malware and other unwanted entities. Threat hunting is essential because some zero-day threats can slip past detection systems and stay in your network for a long time.
- Vulnerability assessment
Your computer network might have some weaknesses that cyberattackers can exploit to access it. XDR service providers can assess your IT infrastructure to find their vulnerabilities and recommend solutions to eliminate them. They can take this several steps further and offer vulnerable management as part of their service package.
Endnote
Companies should do everything possible to protect themselves from online threats and managed XDR is a worthwhile addition to their existing security measures. Besides the security guarantees that businesses gain from managed XDR, there are other benefits. Some of them are increased productivity, operational cost savings, and streamlined security functions. This is because XDR service providers charge a fraction of the cost of hiring a team of cybersecurity experts to cater to only your business.
The efficiency and rapid response of the managed XDR personnel will reduce system downtime and allow employees to focus on core business operations. Every personnel from the XDR service provider also has defined roles, so they will enforce threat response plans in a structured manner.