Top EDR Tools & Software 2021

Crowdstrike Falcon Endpoint Protection unifies EDR, next-generation antivirus, threat intelligence, and threat hunting into a single platform. However, not all of these modules come standard, so companies may have to decide which features are most important to them. Continuous monitoring provides full visibility into all of the devices on an organization’s network and offers insight into the threat level of the company. The system also prioritizes suspicious activity, helping security admins respond to the most pressing issues first.

Pros

• Highlights software with known vulnerabilities
• Easy to implement
• UI gives full visibility into each threat and how it was handled

Cons

• Getting technicians on the phone can sometimes be difficult
• May be cost-prohibitive for small businesses

Sophos Intercept X adds anti-ransomware protection to its EDR capabilities that automatically recovers files and prevents organizations from paying expensive ransoms. When it finds malware, the EDR system identifies all of the endpoints that might be affected, simplifying incident response. Using artificial intelligence, the platform analyzes endpoint behaviors and blocks both known and unknown malware. Additionally, the centralized management system provides a single console for the security team to easily manage all of the included tools. 

Pros

• Priority alerts enable the security team to focus on the most pressing threats first
• New features are added approximately every quarter
• Helpful for retail organizations trying to maintain PCI compliance

Cons

• Companies have to sign a long-term contract to get the most competitive pricing
• Special licensing required for endpoints running Windows 7

Trend Micro EDR employs advanced detection techniques and extends monitoring to email, servers, and cloud workloads. With impact assessments, the security team can quickly identify what caused an alert and the steps they need to take to fix it. The global threat intelligence feature provides a complete database of known threats and their signatures, helping organizations proactively fortify their networks. When hunting for attacks, investigators can either search for indicators of compromise (IoCs) or indicators of attack (IoAs). 

Pros

• Fast and responsive communication
• Correlates logs from different sources to simply IT workloads
• Always enhancing and improving features

Cons

• Only collects information from cloud-based Trend Micro tools
• Version updates may require reboot which could leave devices vulnerable if users don’t restart them

VMware Carbon Black EDR provides better visibility into an organization’s network and allows them to complete previously time-consuming investigations in just a few minutes. Automated watchlists and integrations with other security tools ensure that teams only have to find a threat once before it’s blocked from getting into the network again. With real-time remediation, security administrators can address threats quickly and from anywhere in the world, minimizing the damage that a threat can do.

Pros

• Straightforward usage and implementation
• Provides good coverage levels and consistent protection
• Large amounts of event information with searchable reports

Cons

• Can be resource-intensive and slow devices down
• Might generate a lot of false positives

SentinelOne Singularity uses AI models to identify malware and ransomware before they can run. The Ranger rogue device discovery feature tracks Internet of Things (IoT) devices to provide visibility and control over them. With automated responses, the platform reduces IT workloads and lessens the time it takes to remediate threats. The single dashboard covers EDR, firewall, device control, network visibility, and more, providing real-time context to any threats or anomalies. 

Pros

• Works very well with both Mac and Windows devices
• Support is helpful, responsive, and transparent
• Lack of false positives makes it easy to manage

Cons

• The knowledge base can sometimes be difficult to navigate
• Requires manual updates

Microsoft Defender is a cloud-based system that automatically updates and uses information from sensors that have already been built into the Windows 10 operating system. These sensors provide behavioral analytics, making it easier to identify anomalies that might be indicative of a breach. The system can also identify unprotected devices or systems within a company’s network and recommend steps the organization should take to improve its overall security.

Pros

• Provides a unified security system that protects against remote threats
• Doesn’t consume a ton of resources, keeping machines running well
• Threat intelligence is consistently updated and uses machine learning

Cons

• Integrations can sometimes be difficult and require extra attention
• Complete scans can take as long as a full day

MVISION Endpoint Security from McAfee protects against file-based, fileless, and zero-day attacks. With sensors both on-premises and in the cloud, machine learning models can quickly identify and analyze threats no matter where they come from. The EDR software blocks bad actors’ attempts to harvest credentials to prevent breaches before they can even start. It also integrates well with Windows-based security systems, like Defender, Firewall, and Exploit Guard for a cohesive view into the organization’s security framework.

Pros

• Provides full encryption to prevent access from lost or stolen devices
• Initial setup is very easy and the product is scalable
• System isn’t bothersome for end users

Cons

• Browser plug-ins are required to protect against phishing attacks
• Consumes a lot of RAM and CPU power

Cisco Secure Endpoints (formerly AMP for Endpoints) is a cloud-native EDR solution that adds behavioral monitoring and endpoint isolation to reduce the attack surface of a company’s network. Threat hunting is also available, although only on the highest tier. By isolating infected devices, security teams can control and remove the threat before it spreads to other systems. Integrated extended detection and response (XDR) capabilities simplify incident management by automating remediation playbooks. 

Pros

• Integrates easily with other Cisco products for simple setup and configuration
• Support documentation is comprehensive and helpful
• Easy to navigate and find infected devices

Cons

• Management tool isn’t always intuitive or user-friendly
• Supports limited versions of LINUX

ESET Enterprise Inspector provides continuous, real-time monitoring of device activity. Security admins can edit behavioral rules to adhere to the specific needs of the organization. The public API provides easy integration with other security tools like SIEM and security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR). The platform also provides remote access for security administrators, allowing them to analyze devices no matter where they are, and it supports both Mac and Windows devices.

Pros

• Simplifies workflows by offering a large number of automations
• Doesn’t have a huge drain on system resources
• Provides powerful protection with easy management

Cons

• Glitches can take a long time to get fixed if they don’t affect security features
• The UI is not very user-friendly

FireEye Endpoint Security records threat information, simplifying IT’s analysis and response protocols. It also provides automated responses to detect and remediate threats quicker than a human analyst would be able to. Signature-based protection guards against known malware while machine learning and behavioral analysis block zero-day threats and internal attacks. The platform can scan tens of thousands of endpoints in just a few minutes and if it finds any threats, identify the vectors they used to access the network.

Pros

• Allows organizations to write and import their own IoCs for customized protection
• Constantly being updated with new features
• Provides a good amount of forensic evidence

Cons

• Can give a lot of false alarms if alerts aren’t heavily configured
• Cost is fairly high compared to similar products