Managed Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) & Managed Detection and Response (MDR) for Microsoft 365
Nancy Simmons had always been proactive about cybersecurity. She encouraged her team to use strong passwords and always kept her antivirus software up-to-date. Although aware of more advanced cyber security measures, she thought they were overkill for her 10-employee marketing agency.
But one day, an employee accidentally clicked a phishing link, granting threat actors access to her entire network. The threat actors patiently bid their time as they monitored her business activity, waiting for a big payday.
After months of concerted efforts, Nancy’s agency landed two huge contracts, each worth $25,000. Finally, she was in the big league. She rode her employees hard to deliver, promising pay bumps and bonuses. Her team came through. The clients were delighted and released the funds.
But when Nancy checked her accounts, they were still in red. Naturally, the fallout was catastrophic, but she got to the bottom of the matter.
In the ensuing follow-up, she discovered that hackers breached her network and changed the payment details on her invoices. Nancy had fallen victim to invoice fraud.
The Limitations of Antivirus
While antivirus software remains an essential cybersecurity component, it’s proving woefully inadequate at detecting the latest threats. Threat actors often engineer malware to be undetectable by antivirus software.
Antivirus software has a twofold disadvantage when combating modern-day cyber threats. First, an antivirus focuses on known malware signatures—it can only detect and block threats that are previously identified and catalogued. Second, antiviruses are reactive—they only respond to threats that infiltrate your system.
Like Nancy, you may be running the latest updates but fail to uncover an ongoing data breach. While small and medium enterprises lean toward antivirus due to budgetary constraints, there are superior yet affordable solutions on the market.
The Power of Endpoint Detection and Response
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) offers a more comprehensive approach to cybersecurity. Unlike antivirus software, EDR solutions use machine learning and advanced behavioural analysis to detect and mitigate cybersecurity threats in real time. They analyse activity on every device on your network, often nipping potential threats in the bud.
On detecting a threat, an EDR system initiates a barrage of defensive measures. It automatically isolates the affected device, blocks malicious processes, and alerts your security team. The timely and streamlined response helps mitigate threats and minimise potential damage and business interruptions.
Enhancing Microsoft 365 Security with Managed Detection and Response (MDR)
After protecting your endpoints with an EDR solution, you should secure your cloud-based Microsoft 365 environment with managed detection and response (MDR).
MDR for Microsoft 365 is a dedicated service that gives SMEs the best of both worlds. It combines advanced cybersecurity technology with a dedicated security team to secure your Microsoft 365 environment. MDR for Microsoft 365 also protects against the biggest SMB cybersecurity threat—business email compromise (BEC).
MDR for Microsoft 365 uses machine learning to continuously monitor the BEC attack modes. The system forwards suspicious detections to the SOC for review, and the team applies immediate remedial actions to protect your system.
Don’t Let a Data Breach Take Down Your Business
While Nancy’s agency survived the BEC, many other SMBs aren’t so lucky—over 60% of SMBs that suffer a data breach close shop within six months. In the face of rapidly evolving cyber threats, it only takes a compromised email account or stolen credentials to penetrate your network.
Proactive solutions such as EDR and MDR for Microsoft 365 let you act proactively rather than reactively when responding to cyber threats. They amplify your capacity to detect and respond to early signs of an attack and safeguard your business reputation.
With cyberattacks becoming more sophisticated by the day, no business is safe from the bad actors’ radar. Besides stealing money and information, hackers often target SMBs to gain a foothold in a country. They can hack your business to gain access to bigger companies in your network.
Don’t take chances. Shut down hackers with the best-in-class cybersecurity protection for SMBs.