What is MDR?

With the average cost per data breach reaching 4.88 million U.S. dollars (as of February 2024, via Statista), cybersecurity is not an area of your organization that you should skimp on. A data breach is an expensive and time-consuming mistake to learn from! But how can you stay safe from these data breaches?

With so many types of cybersecurity solutions, how do you know which is right for you and your organization? One of the most common options is MDR, a versatile solution that is suitable for a wide range of organizations.

What is MDR?

MDR stands for managed detection and response, which is a cybersecurity service that allows organizations to outsource threat detection and mitigation in a comprehensive manner. Common MDR security offerings include around-the-clock monitoring, active threat hunting, and even managed threat investigations. These efforts work hand in hand to create a proactive and strong front line of cyber defense for any organization. 

Benefits of managed detection and response services 

MDR comes with a number of benefits, but one of the biggest is that it allows organizations to handle their security concerns through a dedicated, expert provider. This means that the company does not necessarily need to have the in-house resources to successfully execute an IT security strategy – instead, a third-party MDR provider will handle it. 

That third party is typically an MSP (managed service provider) or, more specifically, it might be an MSSP (managed security service provider). That person or group will be the ones responsible for detecting, monitoring, and responding to any security threats on behalf of the organization. One of the biggest upsides here is that this reduces the organization’s internal workload and responsibilities. 

Other benefits of MDR cybersecurity efforts include:

• Reduced threat detection time: According to Crowdstrike, the average threat detection time without MDR solutions is 277 days – that’s about nine months! With MDR security solutions, however, that time goes down to mere minutes, making organizations safer. 
• Enhance customer trust and satisfaction: When downtime is reduced, your customers and end users will have a more positive experience. Additionally, security breaches can be a huge threat to customer trust. Instead of rebuilding trust after a breach, you can take a proactive approach and prevent that breach entirely. 
• Improve cyber attack resilience: MDR solutions often enable companies to improve their security posture overall and respond to even advanced and sophisticated threats more effectively than before. 
• Better resource allocation: Instead of tying up your IT team with reactive and repetitive incident response work, outsourcing your security needs to an MDR solution can free up those human resources to focus on more pressing and non-rote projects. 

How does MDR work? 

Now that we’ve established the core concepts of MDR, let’s answer the question you may have; “how do MDR strategies actually work to improve security for organizations?”. The core capabilities of an MDR solution include the following… 

1. Prioritize: Managed detection response solutions can help sift through all of those pesky security alerts to determine which are actually pressing.
2. Hunt for threats: MDR takes a proactive approach to seeking out threats instead of simply waiting for breaches and then responding. This vulnerability management strategy is effective at reducing company-wide risks. 
3. Investigate: Managed detection & response approaches help organizations understand threats better and faster by providing enhanced context and root cause analysis. 
4. Respond: With the expertise of a dedicated MDR security team, organizations can respond faster and in a more informed manner that is more effective in mitigating both the current threat and future ones. 
5. Recover: After a security breach, recovery and measures to prevent attacks in the future are paramount. MDR providers offer expertise and assistance with prompt, effective, and responsive recovery. 

MDR vs EDR vs XDR

As you look at managed threat detection and response as an option for your security needs, you will quickly discover that MDR is not the only option available to you. There are also EDR (endpoint detection and response) and XDR (extended detection and response) options to consider as you look for the right security solutions for your organization. 

So what is the difference between MDR software and EDR or XDR offerings? All of these acronyms refer to cybersecurity solutions that are focused on detecting and responding to cyber-attacks. However, these options differ in their approaches and their scopes. Let’s break it down a little bit further… 

• Reach: EDR focuses on endpoint-level security, while MDR encompasses a broader scope with security solutions across the organization’s full IT environment. 

• Responsibility: A major difference in these options centers around who is responsible for monitoring and deployment. EDR solutions are normally spearheaded by in-house IT teams. MDR solutions are typically managed by third-party providers. That also means that EDR solutions require more internal expertise to effectively deploy. 
• Responses: EDR solutions usually yield incident containment strategies – for instance, a security team might isolate infiltrated endpoints or remove malicious files from a device. MDR responses, like their overall reach, are typically broader and can include endpoint containment as well as a thorough investigation, and guidance on reducing the risk of threats in the future.
• Costs: While the exact costs depend on which platform or software you choose, EDR and MDR costs are normally structured differently. EDR tools are typically a one-time purchase, although there may be ongoing operational costs. MDR services, on the other hand, often use a subscription model. 

As for XDR, many describe this model as a middle ground between MDR and EDR solutions. XDR typically builds on the capabilities of an EDR option, as it can usually be executed by an in-house team (like an EDR option) but still improves upon the EDR model by offering a wider range of capabilities (like an MDR option). 

Some companies opt to implement both EDR and MDR solutions to address their unique security needs and challenges – however, it is important to examine the differences between MDR, EDR, and XDR options to find the right solution for you. There are also options like Atera available, which are all-in-one RMM offerings with strong security capabilities. 

Managed detection and response FAQs

What is MDR in cyber security? 

MDR in cyber security refers to a set of security solutions categorized as “managed detection and response.” That means that a comprehensive security strategy for an organization is deployed typically by an external, third-party provider with expertise in the IT security space. This reduces the toll of security monitoring and response on in-house resources and generally offers a broader swath of proactive and protective security measures. 

Who implements MDR solutions? 

MDR cybersecurity solutions are usually implemented by an external provider. That cuts down on the need for in-house IT security experts, although these team members can be crucial communicators and a bridge between the external MDR team and internal decision makers. 

Why are MDR security solutions important? 

MDR security solutions as well as any other type of IT security solution are crucially important for the success of any organization. IBM reports that the average cost of a data breach exceeds $4 million as of 2024, and you do not want to incur that kind of cost. Additionally, a security threat can lead to downtime in your organization, cutting into profits as well as customer trust. Security solutions such as MDR are important in building a front line of defense. 

Is MDR the right kind of security for my organization? 

The right kind of security for any organization will depend on the company’s individual needs, assets, and resources. If you have a robust in-house IT team with security expertise, you may be able to efficiently and cost-effectively deploy an EDR or XDR solution. If you have a smaller in-house IT team or lack security expertise, it may make more sense to outsource your security needs to an MDR software provider. 

Secure your organization the right way

If you’re considering an MDR security solution, it’s important to gain a robust and well-rounded perspective on the security options that are out there for you. While a standalone MDR, EDR, or XDR solution could be the right call for you, it’s also worth investigating all-in-one RMM options like Atera that simplify your IT environment with best-in-class security measures, protections, and integrations.