Protecting your business: Antivirus or EDR? It’s not as simple a question as it seems.
Given the complexity and rise of cyberattacks, it is essential to have the right tools to secure your company's information system. Antivirus protection is a must. Both Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and antivirus software are part of the arsenal every business needs. After all, who hasn't heard of antivirus (AV) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)?
Two types of solutions for endpoint security: primarily for your computers and servers.
What is the difference? Let’s revisit a concept that isn't actually all that new.
Antivirus
Definition
The dictionary defines antivirus as " Utility software that detects and destroys computer viruses that attack a computer's memory. "
Antivirus software has been around for many years, protecting against malicious software.
Antivirus is software designed to detect and remove viruses and malware from a computer.
Its role
An antivirus scans data, web pages, files, software, and applications as they travel across the network to your devices. It inspects every incoming file to determine if it is potentially malicious. Depending on the result, it will either block the file or place it in quarantine..
How antivirus works
An antivirus triggers a scan when malware or ransomware is detected. It relies on a database of known malicious software: if the malware is listed, it blocks, quarantines, or deletes it.
However, signature databases must be updated regularly to keep up with the new threats that emerge every day.
Its limitations
Its scope? Antivirus is limited to viruses and malware, which is a problem because attackers can bypass signature-based detection by using evasion techniques and polymorphic software.
It only addresses known threats. If the antivirus is not up to date or the threat is new, it will not be detected immediately, thereby increasing the risk of a cyberattack.
Its advantages
- Its cost; the price per user for antivirus software is often minimal.
- Its effectiveness against internal threats. It is impossible to force an update or uninstall the antivirus without the necessary permissions.
EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response)
Definition
The acronym EDR was first used in 2013 by Anton Chuvakin (Gartner) and stands for Endpoint Detection and Response.
EDR provides endpoint protection and detects threats that go beyond traditional malware.
How it works
EDR identifies specific operational patterns and detects anomalies. It collects telemetry and behavioral data from endpoints, then sends it to a centralized database for correlation and analysis.
It relies onAI. Thanks to its integrated machine learning and advanced artificial intelligence, it can identify and address abnormal behaviors.
Its benefits
- Greater security, EDR allows for the management of a large number of endpoints.
- Advanced threat detection. EDR combats emerging, unknown threats.
- Increased visibility. EDR provides context, reports on the attack process, and shares information about its spread. It thus provides the necessary data for forensic teams to conduct investigations.
- Enables proactive detection. EDR is not limited to detection; it also searches for abnormal or suspicious activity patterns, contributing to a better security strategy.
- Automation : EDR is highly automated and acts in real time; as we know, the faster the system, the more effective it is. EDR agents are installed on all endpoints, allowing for rapid investigations.
- The agent is lighter, making it less resource-intensive
In short, EDR detects, investigates, and remediates.
EDR or Antivirus: which one should you choose?
- Proactivity : antivirus software requires updates, whereas EDR is proactive, detecting potential threats.
- Broader protection surface : antivirus protects against malware, while EDR detects viruses and malware, monitors suspicious traffic, and identifies fileless attacks.
- Speed : EDR acts in real time.
- Unknown threats : unlike antivirus, EDR also tackles unknown threats. EDR is designed to protect against all types of cyberattacks.
As you can see, while choosing an antivirus may be a perfectly sensible decision for protecting your personal computer, it is less certain when it comes to protecting your business.
Regardless of the size of your organization or the number of devices on your network, considering an EDR is the most suitable solution.
The main difference between these two product categories therefore lies in the detection method. Antivirus remains a simple but limited solution.
