What is endpoint detection and response used for?

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is used for continuous monitoring and analysis of all endpoint activity—including laptops, servers, and mobile devices—to rapidly detect, investigate, and automatically respond to advanced threats that evade traditional defenses. The core EDR use cases focus on the assumption that breaches are inevitable, providing deep visibility and automated containment to minimize damage once a threat is identified.

Unlike older antivirus software, EDR operates on the assumption that a breach is inevitable. It focuses on minimizing damage by providing deep visibility and rapid, automated containment.

EDR’s Primary Use Cases

EDR use cases centers on moving security from a reactive, signature-based model to a proactive, behavior-based one.

Threat Hunting and Proactive Defense

It allows security analysts to proactively search for hidden threats that have not yet triggered an alert. By collecting and correlating massive amounts of endpoint telemetry data (process executions, network connections, registry changes), EDR platforms enable analysts to spot subtle Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) and Indicators of Attack (IOAs) before they cause significant harm.

Rapid Incident Response and Containment

• Endpoint Isolation: Disconnecting a compromised device from the network to stop the threat from spreading.
• Malicious Process Termination: Automatically killing recognized malicious programs or scripts.
• Ransomware Rollback: Utilizing system snapshots or forensic data to restore an affected system to its pre-infection state.

Forensic Analysis and Root Cause Identification

EDR solutions maintain a comprehensive history of endpoint activity. This persistent logging is crucial for post-incident forensic investigation. Security teams can trace the exact timeline of an attack, from the initial entry vector to the final actions taken by the attacker. This root cause analysis is vital for patching the vulnerability and preventing future, similar breaches.

How Hexnode Supplements EDR Capabilities

EDR focuses on the deep security actions within the endpoint. A Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platform like Hexnode provides the critical control layer necessary for EDR to operate effectively at scale and maintain compliance. Hexnode’s unique value is its ability to enforce a security posture that prevents the need for many EDR responses.

Hexnode extends the capabilities of EDR into Extended Detection and Response (XDR) through deep, native integration with its UEM platform. This creates a “full circle of security” encompassing prevention, detection, and response from a single console. This unique integration leverages UEM data (device health, compliance) alongside security events for holistic investigation. Furthermore, Hexnode can automatically trigger stricter UEM policies (like Conditional Access) in response to a detected threat, turning detection into immediate, actionable policy enforcement.

Maintaining a Secure and Compliant Security Posture

Hexnode’s robust features for device configuration, vulnerability management, and policy enforcement are essential. It can automate actions like pushing required OS updates, enforcing disk encryption, and configuring strict network access policies (DLP, Wi-Fi restrictions), effectively shrinking the attack surface that the EDR solution must monitor.