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The problem with traditional antivirus
Imagine a security guard at a concert who only has a list of known troublemakers. They can stop anyone on the list, but they’re powerless against someone who has never caused trouble before【886322580920872†L9-L10】. This is how traditional AV works—reactive, not proactive. It’s blind to zero‑day attacks, struggles with fileless malware and provides little information about how an attack happened【886322580920872†L9-L11】.
Enter EDR: the security analyst on your endpoint
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) is less like a guard with a list and more like a seasoned detective actively monitoring the entire venue【886322580920872†L12-L14】. Instead of looking for known bad files, it watches for suspicious behaviour. It asks questions like:
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- “Why is this user account, which normally only accesses spreadsheets, now trying to scan the entire network?”【886322580920872†L14-L15】
- “Why was a file encrypted just moments after being downloaded from an unusual source?”【886322580920872†L14-L15】
By focusing on the verb (the action) rather than just the noun (the file), EDR spots malicious activity even if it has never been seen before【886322580920872†L15-L16】. It provides full visibility into the attack chain, showing exactly what happened so security teams can respond effectively【886322580920872†L15-L16】.
What this means for your business
Switching from traditional antivirus to EDR is a fundamental shift in security posture. With EDR you gain【886322580920872†L17-L19】:
- Proactive threat hunting. Security teams can actively search for indicators of compromise across the network instead of waiting for an alert【886322580920872†L17-L19】.
- Real‑time response. EDR can automatically isolate a compromised computer from the network, stopping an attack like ransomware from spreading【886322580920872†L17-L19】.
- Deep forensic data. If a breach occurs, you have a rich, detailed record of the attacker’s every move【886322580920872†L17-L19】.
In today’s threat landscape, simply hoping to block known viruses is a recipe for disaster【886322580920872†L19-L20】. A robust EDR solution is no longer a luxury for large enterprises—it’s a foundational necessity for any business that takes security seriously.