EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response)

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions monitor and record activities on endpoints—such as laptops, desktops, and servers—to detect suspicious behavior and respond automatically. Unlike traditional antivirus, which looks for known malware signatures, EDR focuses on behavioral patterns and unusual activity. By analyzing events in near real time, EDR empowers IT administrators to see what’s happening across all endpoints, investigate threats, and contain them before they escalate.

How can your business use EDR effectively?

EDR works best when it’s tuned to your environment. Instead of relying only on alerts, it should integrate with policies that automatically block or isolate suspicious behavior. ThreatLocker Detect, for example, monitors for indicators of compromise, such as unusual Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) traffic or erased event logs. When anomalies are spotted, administrators can trigger automated responses—like locking down a device—to stop the attack in progress.

Robust EDR platforms combine telemetry from multiple sources, including operating system logs and application events, to provide a complete picture of endpoint activity. This visibility is critical for detecting advanced threats that bypass traditional defenses.

Catching what prevention misses

Threat actors increasingly exploit trusted applications and fileless malware techniques. Because these attacks don’t always leave obvious signatures, they can slip past antivirus software and even preventative controls. EDR reacts to these threats by monitoring what processes are doing in real time rather than relying only on static signatures. When an application behaves abnormally, EDR flags the activity and can trigger alerts or automated responses, helping to contain attacks that would otherwise remain hidden.

Practical benefits

• ‍Near real-time response: Stop threats as they emerge, not after the damage is done.
• ‍Forensic detail: Logs every action on endpoints for deep investigation.
• ‍Policy-driven protection: Automated rules can isolate devices or trigger lockdowns instantly.
• ‍Alignment with Zero Trust: EDR enforces the “assume breach” doctrine by constantly verifying endpoint activity.

Key takeaway

‍EDR shifts endpoint security from reactive cleanup to proactive defense, using real-time monitoring and automated responses to catch suspicious behavior before it becomes a full-blown incident.

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