For busy cybersecurity and risk managers, extended detection and response (XDR) offers a way to simplify security operations. XDR unifies multiple security tools into a single, integrated system.
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) platforms protect network entry points — such as laptops, desktops, printers, mobile devices, and fixed-function systems like ATMs — from breaches that can lead to data theft and operational disruption. EDR’s core mission is to detect and respond quickly to endpoint threats while recording and analyzing incidents to prevent future attacks.
Why EDR Falls Short
Traditional EDR deployments often involve multiple products for detection, response, and analysis. This complicates implementation and management. “Security and risk management leaders are struggling with too many security tools from different vendors with little integration of data or incident response,” said Peter Firstbrook, distinguished vice president and analyst at Gartner.
Peter Firstbrook
Firstbrook added, “Security alerts are often excessive, uncoordinated, and too often go unattended. Configurations are not actively maintained or tested for effectiveness, and security products are too infrequently upgraded.”
How XDR Changes the Game for MSPs
XDR addresses these challenges by consolidating capabilities. Its value proposition is “to improve security operations productivity and enhance detection and response capabilities by including more security components into a unified whole,” Firstbrook explained.
Unlike EDR, XDR extends prevention and detection beyond endpoints to networks, users, cloud environments, and more. “It can also automate investigation and response actions across the environment,” noted Eyal Gruner, founder and board director of New York-based Cynet. The Cynet 360 Autonomous Breach Prevention Platform integrates XDR capabilities for endpoints, users, and networks with an incident engine that fully automates investigation and remediation.
Eyal Gruner
For resource-constrained security teams, XDR can reduce complexity and improve outcomes. “XDR products may be able to reduce the complexity of security configuration and incident response to provide a better security outcome than isolated, best-of-breed components,” Firstbrook said.
Gruner agreed. XDR is tailored for organizations with lean security teams. “These organizations typically don’t have the budget, bandwidth, or expertise to deploy, integrate, and manage all the technology required to protect their companies against modern cyberthreats.”
Is XDR Ready for Prime Time?
While XDR shows promise, Firstbrook cautioned that the market still needs to mature as its capabilities vary widely among products. Many offerings are still in beta or early trials, though several vendors have production-ready solutions. Looking ahead, Gruner sees XDR as an ideal fit for teams without the time or expertise to manage threat alerts.
This article was updated on 1/13/2026.
Featured image: iStock
