Educational IT Articles & Blog Posts From An Award-Winning IT Company

Your Business Needs Better Cybersecurity

Written by Matt Kraska | Tue, Feb 20, 2024

Why It’s Essential You Transition Your Business from Antivirus to EDR

Today, businesses deal with more sophisticated threats and need better protection. Old antivirus software was effective in its time, but it's not enough for today's cyber issues. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is the next generation of software to help keep your business secure. It’s a proactive cybersecurity solution that not only detects and mitigates threats but also provides real-time visibility into all user devices. It's like a much smarter security guard for your digital assets. This blog explores the reasons why businesses should transition from antivirus to EDR, highlighting the enhanced capabilities and benefits that EDR brings to modern cybersecurity.

Understanding the Basics

Antivirus relies on an endpoint protection platform (EPP) and scans for known threats based on a database of malware signatures. Essentially antivirus works like a guard that looks for known bad guys by checking a list. 

On the other hand, EDR is based on endpoint detection and response, continuously monitoring activity on each endpoint using AI-based engines to detect and respond to threats in real-time. Think of EDR as a 24x7 security team using high-tech tools like facial recognition to catch and stop problems the moment they appear.

 

Comprehensive Breakdown

 

 

Why Should You Care?

In short, EDR offers proactive, adaptive protection, making it a valuable upgrade as you strengthen your cybersecurity defenses. In the long run, it's not just a "should have" but a "must have" for any company's cybersecurity defenses.

 

Risks for Companies that Choose Not to Implement EDR

  • Increased vulnerability to cyberattacks leading to direct costs such as incident response, legal fees, and potential regulatory fines, as well as indirect costs like reputational damage and lost business opportunities.
  • Failure to meet legal and compliance obligations, with regulatory frameworks such as NIST, CMMC, and HIPAA imposing strict data protection requirements. Additionally, cyber insurance often requires EDR as the baseline.
  • Operational disruptions resulting from cyber incidents, leading to downtime, productivity losses, and service interruptions.
  • Intellectual property theft, putting your competitive edge and long-term growth at risk.


Making the transition from antivirus to EDR is not just a strategic move; it's a critical step in safeguarding your business against the evolving landscape of cyber threats.