MDR, or “managed detection and response,” refers to a type of cybersecurity service that combines 24/7/365 human expertise with advanced digital tools that together promise to proactively monitor and neutralize the types of threats that a modern business is likely to face.
But there’s a lot more variance from one provider to the next than most businesses realize – at least until it’s too late.
The truth is that not all MDR services are created equally, in the same way that one local mechanic might only offer basic services like oil changes while the other offers more advanced services like body work and paint jobs. They’re both still referred to as “mechanics,” but they operate totally differently.
That’s the same way you need to look at MDR services. Some just forward alerts and call it protection. Others reduce risk through real-time monitoring. The differences aren’t subtle – and knowing what you should be looking for (and what you should be wary of) is the key to making the right choice moving forward.
Why Many MDR Services Fail to Deliver Real Security Outcomes
One of the most common reasons why MDR services fail to deliver actual business results has to do with alert-only MDR solutions. These are exactly what they sound like – they monitor logs, generate ticks, and escalate suspicious activity, but don’t execute an actual response. They identify a problem, they do not solve it.
Limited response authority is another common issue. Some providers recommend actions to take based on the given information, but they cannot execute actual containment.
A third issue involves visibility gaps. They pour over information in logs, but if a key piece of data isn’t contained in one of those logs, it’s essentially invisible to the tool. They lack integration with endpoint controls, identity systems, and more.
Finally, you arrive at an overreliance on manual processes, which is another issue that people tend not to grapple with until it’s far too late. Analysts are still needed to review tickets, coordinate response steps, and more. This requires an enormous amount of time and as a process isn’t capable of moving quickly enough to keep up with the speed at which the threat landscape is evolving.
Modern Organizations Need Outcome-Driven Security.
A modern MDR is supposed to address many of the gaps outlined above, but choosing the wrong service will actually make things worse.
What modern organizations actually need from MDR involves response speed. We’re not talking about an email summary of Monday’s activity sent on Tuesday morning. We’re talking about instant identification and containment just as quickly. They need visibility across not only endpoints and identity systems but also the cloud, SaaS platforms, remote infrastructures, and more.
More than anything, they need outcome-driven security. This means forward progress that is always improving containment rates, incident quality, and more.
The Capabilities That Define High-Quality MDR
Indeed, these are many of the capabilities that define a high-quality MDR in the first place. When you’re looking for a solution of your own, one of the biggest to watch for involves intelligent detection systems. These leverage behavioral analytics and machine learning to identify patterns across potentially massive volumes of data, paying close attention for when anything deviates from “normal” behavior to address suspicious activity as quickly as possible.
Automated triage is another main capability to look for. The MDR platform can prioritize events automatically. Those events that can be handled by the system will be, and only hat which requires a human analyst will be routed to one for input.
Other capabilities that define high-quality MDR systems include but are certainly not limited to integrated incident response, threat hunting, and a strong emphasis on continuous improvement on behalf of the provider.
The Role of AI in Differentiating Strong MDR From Weak MDR
Recently, AI has emerged as one of the core capabilities that define a high-quality MDR. It’s certainly an element that instantly differentiates a strong MDR from a weak one.
Modern MDR platforms embed artificial intelligence directly into their detection capabilities to monitor behavioral signals across endpoints, identity solutions, and even the cloud. The end result is that this leads to fewer alerts because issues are proactively addressed before they have a chance to become problems in the first place. This also leads to not only higher accuracy, but faster containment as well.
Choosing an MDR Partner Built for Today’s Threat Landscape
In the end, remember that choosing an MDR provider in the modern era should focus not on a bullet point list of features, but on the measurable outcomes that you get from a provider. At a bare minimum, you need to prioritize strong integration with endpoint and identity controls, continuous improvement for detection, and artificial intelligence.
Prioritizing these elements will help your organization shift from a reactive to a proactive security cadence, which is one of the keys to staying protected in the fast-paced world we currently live in.
Tenex.AI is a modern MDR that offers the first AI-native, human-led SOC that Triages every alert, investigates every threat, and frees your team for the strategic work they need to drive your business forward. To find out more information about what modern organizations should demand when it comes to an MDR, or to learn more about unlocking 10x faster detection and 100% alert coverage for your organization with Tenex.AI, please don’t delay – contact us today.