On Nov. 12, 2024, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the four other agencies in the Five Eyes global intelligence alliance warned of a surge in zero-day threats. The agencies noted that the majority of threats identified in 2023 were initially exploited as zero-day vulnerabilities. The trend continued into 2024. This marks a major change from previous advisories, in which the agencies warned that threat actors were exploiting older vulnerabilities more often than new ones.
Few organizations are equipped to address this shift in the cybersecurity landscape. The security tools used in most IT environments detect threats based on known signatures and behavioral patterns. They may be able to identify an attack once it’s in progress, but the organization is unable to respond until after the damage is done.
Managed detection and response (MDR) has emerged to help combat today’s sophisticated threats. MDR combines advanced security tools and skilled professionals to provide organizations with more robust protection.
What Are Zero-Day Threats?
In a zero-day attack, a threat actor exploits an unknown vulnerability in hardware or software. The threat actor identifies the vulnerability before the vendor or security analysts are aware of it, then quickly creates an exploit to use in an attack. The attack is often launched without warning and is likely to succeed because there are no defenses. It is called “zero day” because the vendor has no time to develop a patch before the vulnerability is exploited.
What Is Managed Detection and Response?
MDR isn’t one tool but a collection of technologies that perform continuous monitoring and proactive threat hunting. Software continuously searches for threats that may have evaded traditional security measures.
Two key components of MDR solutions are endpoint detection and response (EDR) and extended detection and response (XDR). EDR solutions continuously scan endpoints for anomalous behaviors that could point to new threats. XDR tools collect, correlate and analyze data from across the IT environment, using machine learning to sift through events and alerts. They also conduct contextual analysis, providing IT teams with more actionable intelligence.
MDR layers managed services on top of these technologies. Experts in a security operations center (SOC) monitor activity around the clock and respond rapidly to threats. The managed security services provider (MSSP) can work independently or in collaboration with the organization’s in-house security team.
What Is the Role of the Security Operations Center?
The purpose of a SOC is to centralize monitoring and mitigation efforts. SOC personnel use information gathered from XDR and other tools to identify, investigate, analyze and respond to threats. A well-defined, systematic approach ensures that their activities are consistent, repeatable, documented, tracked, measured and continually improved upon.
Routine tasks are automated, allowing the SOC team to focus on more complex analyses. Standardized operating procedures and repeatable workflows ensure that all tasks — manual and automated — are handled efficiently.
How Do You Take Advantage of MDR?
Implementing EDR and XDR tools can be difficult for smaller organizations that lack skilled in-house resources. MDR overcomes this hurdle with a comprehensive onboarding process.
A qualified MSSP will assess the organization’s security posture in the context of specific risks to the business. The MSSP will also evaluate existing tools to identify any gaps in capabilities or coverage. The next step is to develop an implementation plan and integrate MDR technologies into the IT infrastructure. The MSSP then takes over continuous monitoring and optimizes the solution based on the threat landscape and business requirements.
The experts at Verteks offer MDR as part of our comprehensive suite of security solutions. Let us help you leverage our advanced tools and expertise to combat zero-day vulnerabilities and other sophisticated threats.