Network Detection and Response Tools

What is NDR?

Network Detection and Response (NDR) is an advanced cybersecurity approach focused on monitoring and analyzing an organization's network traffic to promptly identify and address potential threats. Unlike traditional network security measures, an NDR solution operates in near real-time, employing sophisticated detection mechanisms like artificial intelligence and machine learning. The primary objective of NDR is to bolster the organization's capability to both detect and respond to threats, thereby mitigating the risk of data breaches or unauthorized access.

NDR solutions continuously gather and scrutinize network traffic data, utilizing a combination of predefined rules, signatures, and advanced algorithms to detect known threats, abnormal patterns, or indications of malware infection. The anomalies that NDR systems can pinpoint include unusual data transfers, suspicious user behaviors, potential malware beaconing activity, and data exfiltration, among others.

Many NDR solutions incorporate tools for behavioral analysis, enabling them to establish a baseline of normal network behaviors. This capability allows the system to recognize deviations that may signify potential security threats.
What distinguishes NDR from conventional security tools is its multifaceted capabilities. While NDR systems do include detection methods based on predefined rules or signatures, similar to those in an intrusion detection system, they also integrate modern detection methods. These modern techniques enable the system to dynamically adapt and respond to emerging threats.

NDR plays a critical role in the overall cybersecurity strategy of an organization by offering deep visibility and insights into network activities. This, in turn, empowers security professionals to respond swiftly to potential incidents.

What are NDR tools?

NDR systems incorporate a diverse set of network detection and response tools that determine the approach used for identifying potential threats. These tools are integral to the examination of network traffic and significantly influence the outcomes of this analysis. While not all NDR systems include the same set of tools or capabilities, many commonly feature the following:

• Deep Packet Inspection: Certain NDR systems engage in real-time capture and analysis of network traffic. This process involves extracting metadata, understanding communication patterns, detecting potential threats, identifying anomalies, and logging activity.
• Behavioral Analysis Engines: NDRs utilize machine learning and behavioral analysis to establish normal network behavior baselines. These engines are adept at detecting deviations that may indicate malicious activities.
• Threat Intelligence Integration: Competent NDR solutions seamlessly integrate with third-party threat intelligence feeds. This integration enhances detection capabilities by providing up-to-date information about known threats and indicators of compromise.
• Network Forensics: Network forensics tools assist in investigating security incidents by analyzing historical network data. This aids security teams in comprehending the scope and impact of potential breaches.
• Automated Incident Response: Most NDR systems can initiate predefined automated responses to security incidents. This feature enables quick containment and mitigation of threats.
• Vulnerability Discovery: Some NDRs claim the ability to identify and assess vulnerabilities within the network that could be exploited by attackers. This contributes to proactive threat mitigation.
• Threat Hunting: A threat hunting platform — often integrated into the NDR — utilizes data collected by the NDR to sift through network traffic and identify user-selected threats, suspicious behaviors, or anomalous activities.

What challenges does network detection and response solve?

Network detection and response solutions address key challenges in cybersecurity, enhancing an organization's ability to protect its networks, assets, and data. These challenges encompass various use cases that organizations should consider when assessing their security needs.

• Advanced Threat Detection: Traditional security measures struggle with identifying advanced threats. NDR utilizes advanced analytics, machine learning, and behavioral analysis to detect unusual patterns and behaviors, enabling early identification of sophisticated threats like zero-day exploits and advanced persistent threats (APTs).
• Visibility and Context: NDR solutions provide comprehensive visibility into network activities, offering insights into user behavior, device interactions, and application usage. This contextual information is vital for effective threat detection and response, helping organizations understand what is happening within their networks.
• Real-time Network Monitoring: NDR tools operate in real-time, allowing continuous monitoring of network activities. This real-time capability reduces "dwell time" — the duration a threat goes undetected — minimizing the potential impact of security incidents.
• Insider Threats: NDR solutions effectively identify unusual user behaviors that may indicate insider threats or compromised accounts. By monitoring user activities and establishing baselines for normal behavior, NDR tools can detect deviations signaling malicious intent or unauthorized access.
• Improved Incident Response Time: NDR facilitates rapid incident response by automating certain actions and providing timely alerts to cybersecurity teams. This quick response time is crucial for preventing the escalation of security incidents and minimizing the damage caused by a breach.
• Adaptability to Evolving Threats: The cybersecurity landscape is dynamic, with new threats emerging regularly. NDR's adaptive nature, utilizing mechanisms like machine learning and updated threat intelligence, allows organizations to stay ahead of evolving threats by dynamically adjusting to new attack vectors and tactics.
• Reducing False Positives: NDR tools employ sophisticated analytics to minimize false positives. This ensures that security teams focus on genuine threats, enhancing the efficiency of cybersecurity operations by avoiding unnecessary investigations into benign events.

What is the need for network detection response?

NDR is needed because of its unique functionality and utility in relation to other available cybersecurity products. Network detection and response vendors develop these systems to support organizations that can’t maintain full coverage using other types of systems. Here are four reasons why NDR is needed:

1. NDR Bridges Gaps Left by EDR and Similar Tools:
    
   Endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems necessitate the installation of an endpoint agent on every device. This approach creates coverage gaps in environments where such installations are impractical, like those utilizing internet of things (IoT) devices, many medical facilities, and organizations embracing a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy. In contrast, NDR operates without agents, offering real-time monitoring that ensures optimal visibility regardless of the environment.
   
   
2. NDR Safeguards Cloud and Hybrid Environments:
    
   With the growing popularity of cloud and hybrid setups, the demand for security systems capable of monitoring these environments is on the rise. Given that almost all cloud assets utilize the network for communication, network telemetry data becomes a valuable source for monitoring, analysis, threat detection, and investigation.
   
   
3. NDR Benefits Both Security and IT Teams:
    
   While the security advantages of NDR are evident, its benefits for the IT team are often overlooked. For IT operations, the heightened visibility into the network and its information aids in diagnosing network issues and optimizing overall network performance.
   
   
4. NDR Empowers Zero-Trust Security:
    
   The zero-trust security model stands as one of the most globally adopted security frameworks. To implement zero-trust, organizations must continuously verify users, devices, and applications on their network. This verification is unattainable without comprehensive visibility into the network, a feat easily accomplished with NDR.

What is NDR used for?

The primary use cases for NDR software are:

Automated Threat Detection:

Utilizing advanced algorithms and machine learning, NDR software automatically pinpoints potential threats within network traffic. By continuously monitoring and analyzing network data, NDR swiftly identifies anomalous behaviors, malicious patterns, and Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) in near real-time. This functionality is pivotal for executing incident response strategies.

Incident Response:

NDR software captures detailed logs of network activity and traffic data, empowering security teams to reconstruct the sequence of events, investigate the root cause, and comprehend the extent of a breach. This heightened visibility accelerates response times, allowing organizations to efficiently contain and mitigate the impact of security incidents.

Proactive Threat Hunting:

Security analysts leverage the advanced search capabilities, behavioral analytics, and threat intelligence provided by NDR for proactive threat hunting. By actively exploring network data, analysts can identify hidden threats and uncover emerging attack patterns. This proactive approach keeps organizations ahead of threat actors, enabling the detection and neutralization of threats before they cause harm.

Remediation:

Once a threat is identified, NDR software can automatically initiate response actions through integrations with other systems, such as EDR. These actions may involve blocking suspicious IP addresses, isolating compromised end-user devices, or implementing access control policies. Such automated responses effectively contain the threat, prevent lateral movement, and minimize the impact of a security incident.

What is the difference between NDR and NTA?

Network detection and response (NDR) is an evolution from network traffic analysis (NTA). Initially, NTA was just a method of network monitoring using flow data (from devices like routers) or packet data (from SPAN, network TAPs, or mirror ports). As time advanced, the best NDR solutions emerged, building upon the foundational principles of NTA and effectively rendering the two terms synonymous.

NDR tools, in their expansion beyond NTA systems, bring enhanced capabilities for exploring historical metadata, engaging in threat hunting, and executing automated threat responses. Notably, many of today's prominent NDR solutions originated as simpler NTA solutions but have evolved to encompass a broader range of functionalities. As a result, the terms NTA and NDR are now commonly used interchangeably in the cybersecurity industry. When seeking the best NDR solutions, understanding this evolution and the convergence of these terms is essential for making informed choices in network security.

What is EDR?

Endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools focus on monitoring and responding to threats at the individual device level, encompassing computers, servers, mobile devices, etc. To achieve this, EDR tools employ an endpoint agent — a discreet application embedded in the device’s operating system. This agent continuously monitors for suspicious activities, malware, or malicious processes that have infiltrated the endpoint.

The goal of EDR, like NDR, is to swiftly identify and respond to threats. Upon detection, an EDR solution can initiate response actions such as quarantining the endpoint. When integrated with an NDR, the threat might be discovered through the network but the response might be through action at the endpoint level.

EDR tools are a common counterpart to NDR, and many organizations choose to use both for maximum visibility into user activities. Combining both of these tools is essential to creating a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, as they complement each other to provide a holistic view of the organization's infrastructure.

Why do I need NDR?

Your organization might need NDR to enhance visibility into network traffic and activities that are being overlooked by your existing security solutions or outdated network monitoring tools. The best NDR tools stand out as highly effective solutions for threat detection and response, offering substantial value, particularly for well-established organizations seeking heightened visibility. However, the suitability of NDR varies for each organization. To assess which network detection and response solution aligns best with your needs, consider examining the following characteristics:

• Sophisticated Detection: Look for solutions with advanced detection capabilities that identify intricate threats effectively.
• Transparent and Explainable Results: Prioritize solutions that provide clear, understandable results supported by evidence, fostering transparency.
• High-Fidelity Response Triggers: Seek NDR solutions with high-precision response triggers, ensuring accurate and targeted actions.
• Guided Threat Hunting: Opt for solutions that facilitate guided threat hunting, empowering security teams to proactively explore potential risks.
• Openness and Extensibility: Choose NDR solutions that offer openness and extensibility, allowing seamless integration with existing infrastructure and future adaptability.
• Complete Data Sovereignty: Ensure that the NDR solution guarantees complete data sovereignty, safeguarding the organization's data in compliance with regulations.

We believe that these six traits are the signs of a mature and effective network detection and response solution. When evaluating whether a particular NDR is a good fit for your organization, you should check for these qualities.

Is Stamus Security Platform right for you?

Network detection and response tools vary between each NDR solution. The tools listed above, including the use-cases and benefits, are not present in every NDR. It is up to each organization to carefully evaluate their unique needs before making any purchasing decision.

If you are in the market for an NDR solution, consider the Stamus Security Platform (SSP).

SSP is the world’s most advanced Suricata-based network detection and response (NDR) system. We combine the very best of machine learning, signature-based, IoC matching, and algorithmic threat detection into a single platform that identifies both known and unknown threats lurking on your network.

If you want to see the Stamus Security Platform in action, schedule a demo with one of our NDR experts at the link below.