Blind Spots in Endpoint Security: How Sophos NDR Fills the Gap

BY MARYAM AHTASHAM

20 Feb 2024

Those of you who already understand Sophos MDR and are currently taking advantage of the service to protect your company from network attacks and cybercrime are real champions. Those who haven’t, are you waiting for malware to ruin your business? However, in today's hyper-connected digital world, the security of an organization's network is of utmost importance. They need more than MDR.

As cyberthreats continue to evolve and become more advanced, traditional endpoint security solutions are facing limitations in detecting threats across the entire network. Let us explain the challenges posed by insider threats, unmanaged devices, and hidden lateral movement, and discuss how Sophos Network Detection and Response (NDR) effectively bridges these gaps with deep network traffic analysis.

The Limitations of Endpoint Security

Endpoint security solutions have long been the backbone of an organization's cybersecurity strategy. These solutions are designed to protect individual devices such as computers, laptops, and mobile devices by monitoring and securing their endpoints. While endpoint security is crucial for safeguarding against a variety of threats, it does have its limitations when it comes to detecting threats across the entire network.

Insider Threats

One of the significant challenges that organizations face is insider threats. These threats may come from employees, contractors, or other individuals with legitimate access to the network (those are the scary ones). Traditional endpoint security solutions are often ill-equipped to identify suspicious or malicious behavior from trusted insiders who may attempt to misuse their privileges.

Unmanaged Devices

In a modern workplace, unmanaged devices like Internet of Things (IoT) devices, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, printers, smart TVs, and other non-traditional endpoints are ubiquitous. These devices may lack the capability to have a security agent installed, making them vulnerable to threats that traditional endpoint security solutions cannot detect or protect against.

Hidden Lateral Movement

Attackers are becoming increasingly adept at moving laterally within a network without triggering alarms. They can exploit vulnerabilities, evade detection, and gain access to sensitive data or critical systems. Traditional endpoint security solutions may struggle to monitor and detect these hidden lateral movements effectively.

Sophos NDR: Bridging the Gap

Sophos NDR steps in to address these limitations and provide comprehensive network security. It enhances an organization's ability to protect against a wide range of threats by offering deep network traffic analysis.

Let's delve into the core functionalities of Sophos NDR to understand how it overcomes these challenges:

Encrypted Traffic Analysis

One standout feature of Sophos NDR is its ability to analyze encrypted traffic effectively. The Encrypted Payload Analytics (EPA) engine can identify malware even within encrypted communications, where threats often remain hidden from view. This capability is crucial in today's environment where encryption is increasingly used to protect sensitive data.

Domain Generation Algorithm (DGA) Detection

Sophos NDR's DGA detection engine adds an extra layer of protection by identifying communications with command-and-control servers and malicious domains. What makes this feature unique is that it doesn't rely on additional threat intelligence, making it highly effective in detecting zero-day attacks and emerging threats.

Session Risk Analytics (SRA)

SRA is a powerful tool for identifying anomalous behavior in network traffic. It flags activities such as self-signed certificates or non-standard ports, which indicate potentially high-risk activities. When combined with other suspicious behaviors, SRA helps security teams prioritize investigations.

Data Detection Engine (DDE)

DDE plays a critical role in identifying devices on the network that are not managed by Sophos. This not only helps organizations identify coverage gaps for authorized devices but also detects unauthorized or potentially malicious systems or devices operating within the network.

Deep Packet Inspection (DPI)

Deep Packet Inspection allows Sophos NDR to search the network for specific indicators of compromise, such as communication with command-and-control servers or the presence of suspicious IP addresses. This deep level of inspection helps organizations proactively detect and respond to potential threats.

Why Invest in Sophos NDR?

Now, the question is why invest in Sophos NDR. It’s a strategic decision for organizations looking to bolster their network security.

Here are some reasons to consider:

Integration with Sophos Central

Sophos NDR seamlessly integrates with other Sophos solutions such as Managed Detection and Response (MDR), Extended Detection and Response (XDR), and the Sophos Firewall. This integration creates a unified security ecosystem that offers the ultimate in threat detection and response capabilities, ensuring that threats are identified and mitigated across the entire network infrastructure.

Patented Machine Learning Approach

Sophos NDR employs a unique, patented machine learning approach that allows it to identify malware within encrypted traffic. This innovation significantly enhances the ability to detect and respond to threats, even when they attempt to hide within encrypted communications.

Powerful Risk Analytics

Sophos NDR's risk analytics go beyond simple detection and provide insights into abnormal activity and patterns that warrant further investigation. This advanced analytics capability enables security teams to focus their efforts on the most critical threats, enhancing overall efficiency.

Ending Notes

Did we convince you enough to pique your interest in Sophos NDR? It's a powerful solution that offers many benefits. If you don't have MDR or XDR licenses but want to give Sophos a try, you can easily purchase them from Softech Store or contact us for more information. Our team will be happy to provide you with more details.