An Antivirus Evolution

A Defined Comparison:

Traditional antivirus

Traditional antivirus programs are a familiar simplistic approach to protecting endpoints, however are limited in scope and less effective compared to the modern Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) systems.

Antivirus serves basic purposes like scanning, detecting and removing viruses and different types of malware. These programs detect malware and viruses using signature-based detection which is downloaded in its database daily. However, hackers are now capable of creating and easily modifying malware to bypass signature verifications, leaving these programs ineffective.

Endpoint Detection and Response

EDR.jpg

EDR not only includes antivirus, but it also contains advanced security features focusing on behavioral analysis, a firewall, Artificial Intelligence, and the ability to rapidly perform incident response activities.

This comprehensive and effective approach protects the computers of an enterprise. Additionally, EDR programs provide critical forensics information including process actions, service behavior, file access information, network events, and endpoint configuration changes. These actions are extremely helpful in root-cause analysis, and forensic investigations.

This insight can help you understand the complete scope of the attack, which increases your preparedness, and reactive ability to stop threats in their tracks.


FirmGuardian’s Managed Approach:

Although EDR Solutions provide incredible visibility into the security of an environment, they are often overcomplicated, and contribute to tens of thousands of alerts. EDR services that provide Artificial Intelligence to reduce alerts are also often missing key information, and approach the challenges by over simplifying. Managed EDR provides the best approach, and through proprietary alert filtering and expert analysis, FirmGuardian is able to provide these services to all business sizes.

FirmGuardian’s Security Monitoring rapidly identifies and limits the impact of security incidents to customers though an annual subscription model. These services are focused on remotely managed 24/7 threat monitoring, detection, and incident response services. FirmGuardian uses a combination of these technologies, as well as advanced analytics, threat intelligence, forensic data collection, and most importantly, human expertise.

Our incident validation process:

  • Assemble the appropriate context

  • Investigate the scope and severity given the information and tools available

  • Provide actionable advice and context about the threat

  • Initiate actions to remotely disrupt and contain threats

How has FirmGuardian evolved in the industry?

FirmGuardian has continued to mature threat detection and response service offerings, and have established a trusted relationship with our customers, adding supplementary services to address other security operations gaps, particularly focusing vulnerability and patch management, security awareness training, compliance gap assessments, and annual risk assessments.

Well-performed incident response takes time and skill, which many organizations just don’t have, especially when there are multiple threats being detected in a short time frame. Deeper investigation, analysis and validation of threats, along with enhanced guidance on how to contain and mitigate the threat provide significant value to FirmGuardian customers.