What are the Different Types of XDR?

There are three primary XDR platform types: Native, Hybrid, and Open XDR. These types basically differ in their data source requirements, vendor control, and integration complexity. This, in turn, directly impacts how security telemetry is consumed, correlated, and acted upon. Choosing the right type depends on your existing security investments and operational maturity.

The three core models of XDR

To start with, the XDR market organizes itself into three clear models, separated by the breadth of the underlying data source integration. Understanding these 3 models is much needed for organizations evaluating XDR platforms.

1. Native XDR (Single-vendor XDR)

Native XDR (Single-Vendor XDR) is a security solution built completely by a single vendor. It uses only security telemetry and correlation engines from the vendor’s own product collection, this includes their proprietary EDR, firewall, cloud, and email security tools.

• Key advantage: Native XDR offers the deepest, easiest integration and the highest level of pre-configured, built-in automation because the vendor controls the entire data stack.
• Limitation: It also restricts the organization to the vendor’s specific products, leading to vendor lock-in and potential gaps if the organization uses specialized, top-performing third-party tools.

2. Open XDR

Open XDR is a solution designed to consume, correlate, and analyze data from different third-party security tools like competitor EDR, firewall from a different vendor, third-party SIEMs alongside its own personal tools.

• Key advantage: Open XDR has flexibility, allowing organizations to have their existing, top-performing security investments and integrate them into unified detection and response.
• Limitation: The integration quality and depth of response actions can differ based on the prime and the API access of the third-party tool. It also requires a stronger focus on data normalization.

3. Hybrid XDR

Hybrid XDR is often used to describe solutions that begin as Native XDR but were expanded to include a limited, high-priority set of integrations with third-party tools. This bridges the gap between the two core models.

• Key advantage: Hybrid XDR balances the deep similarities and benefits of a native stack with the essential need to integrate a few critical external data sources like a legacy firewall or a specialized threat intelligence feed.
• Limitation: It offers less extensive third-party coverage than a true Open XDR solution.

XDR model comparison

This table summarizes the core differences between the primary XDR deployment models:

What unique value does Hexnode XDR offer in the XDR landscape?

Hexnode XDR stands apart because it is built upon the foundation of our award-winning, globally adopted Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solution.

We’ve engineered Hexnode XDR to inherit the UEM platform’s most celebrated attributes: intuitiveness, a minimal learning curve, and IT admin-centric design. Unlike complex, siloed security tools, Hexnode XDR is truly built for the practitioner, simplifying enterprise-level security operations.

Furthermore, the integration is seamless. Hexnode XDR is tightly coupled with Hexnode UEM, enabling UEM-enrolled devices to be onboarded to the XDR platform quickly and easily.

Which XDR is best: Native, Hybrid, or Open XDR?

There is no single best type. The most suited XDR depends entirely on your organizational needs.

• Native XDR is best for organizations prioritizing operational simplicity, deep, seamless correlation, and unified vendor management. The drawback is vendor lock-in.
• Open XDR is best for mature SOCs and allows you to leverage existing security investments and avoid vendor lock-in, but requires higher internal security expertise for integration and maintenance.

Is an Open XDR better than a Native XDR?

Not necessarily. The choice depends entirely on your current security environment and strategy. Native XDR has deeper, easy correlation and simpler deployment. Open XDR is superior for organizations with many existing “best-of-breed” tools, as it allows you to unify telemetry without costly vendor lock-in or replacing your current investments.

If you prioritize integration depth, choose Native; if you prioritize flexibility, choose Open.

What is the biggest risk of using Native XDR?

The biggest risk of using a Native XDR solution is vendor lock-in. By committing to a single vendor, you rely on their roadmap, pricing, and specific product capabilities across endpoints, cloud, and network. If a single component of their stack underperforms, or if their pricing structure changes unfavorably, switching to a different provider becomes costly and operationally complex, as it requires replacing the entire stack.