MDR vs. EDR: Which Solution Is Best for Your Business?

Every unmonitored device in your environment is a potential gateway for cybercriminals. According to IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach report, the average breach cost now exceeds $4.5 million. To avoid costly breaches and operational disruptions, you must choose the proper defense. 

Whether you’re evaluating an endpoint security tool or a fully managed service, knowing the key differences between Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and Managed Detection and Response (MDR) will steer you to the right cybersecurity solution.

An effective EDR solution can stop attacks in their tracks, minimizing disruption and reducing the risk of data loss. However, if you need full-network coverage and expert threat hunting around the clock, MDR might be the better fit.

In this article, you’ll see precisely how EDR and MDR differ, what each brings to your security posture, and which aligns with your size, budget, and risk tolerance, so you can close those blind spots before attackers find them.

Key Takeaways

• EDR provides real-time threat detection and automated response capabilities on every device.
• MDR pairs with 24/7 expert-driven threat hunting across your entire network.
• Your choice hinges on your team’s skills, company size, budget, and security goals.
• Both defend against cyber threats, but differ in terms of who manages them and the extent of their coverage.
• Extended Detection and Response (XDR): Understand how extended detection and response stacks up against traditional EDR and MDR solutions.

What Is Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)?

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is a cybersecurity technology that goes beyond basic antivirus by continuously monitoring and protecting each device. This includes desktops, laptops, and mobile devices across your IT environment, which can serve as potential entry points for attackers.

By collecting and analyzing telemetry data, such as process activity, file changes, and network connections, EDR solutions can detect malicious behavior or anomalies in real-time. When suspicious activity is identified, they generate alerts and can automatically isolate the compromised endpoint to prevent threats from spreading.

How EDR Works

1. Data Collection: EDR tools collect telemetry, activity logs, and system metrics from each endpoint in real-time.
2. Threat Detection: Utilizing machine learning and behavioral analysis, they identify threats such as malware, ransomware, or unauthorized access. Flag malicious activity, detect zero-day vulnerabilities, and reduce false positives.
3. Automated Response: When a threat is detected, EDR isolates the affected device and triggers remediation to prevent the attack from spreading.

Key Features and Benefits

EDR solutions offer your business several advantages, including: 

• Clear Visibility & Control: Provides a simple view of what’s happening on each device, allowing your team to focus on real issues and disregard noise.
• Real-Time Monitoring: Tracks security monitoring across applications and processes.
• Smarter Detection: Leverages advanced threat detection to cut through noise.
• Fast Response: Automatically deploys firewalls or isolates endpoints to stop attacks.

Implementing an EDR solution strengthens your ability to detect and respond to advanced threats before they compromise sensitive data.

What Is Managed Detection and Response (MDR)?

Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is a fully managed service provider model. It combines advanced technology with dedicated human expertise to help protect your entire IT setup, including endpoints, servers, cloud workloads, and network traffic.

MDR services tap into a SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) backbone and human analysts to find threats your on-premises controls might miss. MDR goes beyond device-level protection, using a Security Operations Center (SOC) to detect, hunt for, and respond to threats across your infrastructure.

How MDR Works

1. Continuous Monitoring: Aggregates logs and telemetry from endpoints, servers, and cloud resources in real time.
2. Threat Hunting & Detection: Analysts leverage threat intelligence and specialized tools to proactively search for suspicious activity, even before alerts are triggered.
3. Incident Response: When a threat is confirmed, MDR teams contain the issue, perform root-cause analysis, and guide remediation to prevent repeat attacks.

Key Features and Benefits

• Automated & Human-Driven Response: Blends automated detection with expert validation for faster, more accurate remediation.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Guards endpoints and on-premises servers alike.
• Expert Management: Your go-to service provider for 24/7 monitoring without building your own Security Operations Center (SOC)

Implementing MDR provides an all-in-one, fully managed security solution that continually strengthens your defenses around the clock.

Comparing EDR and MDR

When comparing EDR and MDR, consider their scope, management responsibilities, and associated cost implications. 

Here’s a detailed comparison:

Category	EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response)	MDR (Managed Detection and Response)
Functionality and Coverage	Focuses on endpoint detection and response. Requires strong in-house IT expertise.	Covers the entire network infrastructure. Offers proactive threat hunting and remediation.
Management Responsibility	Requires skilled internal security teams to monitor dashboards and manage incident responses.	Managed by external experts who provide continuous monitoring.
Expertise Requirements	Suitable for organizations with robust internal cybersecurity expertise.	Beneficial for organizations lacking in-house resources or expertise.
Cost Considerations	More cost-effective for organizations with strong internal security teams.	Higher cost due to round-the-clock monitoring by security experts.

Choosing the Right Solution for Your Business

Selecting your next cybersecurity solution involves evaluating your team’s skills against the risk of unpatched vulnerabilities and potential unseen security incidents. Choosing between EDR and MDR depends on your company’s size, security posture, industry risks, and budget. 

Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services are becoming increasingly popular. The MDR market is projected to grow from $2.6 billion in 2021 to $5.6 billion by 2026, according to MarketsandMarkets. This rapid growth reflects the rising need for expert-driven, 24/7 cybersecurity protection, especially for businesses without large in-house security teams.

Here’s a breakdown of what to consider when trying to determine what’s best for your organization.

Company Size

Smaller organizations or those with limited in-house IT capabilities may benefit more from MDR services, as these provide comprehensive protection without the need to staff a full security operations center.

Current Security Posture

Evaluate your existing cybersecurity strategy. Do you already have robust endpoint detection and security tools in place? If so, you might only need an EDR solution to fill gaps. However, if your security operations are minimal, MDR could provide the proactive threat detection and remediation you require.

Industry Risks

Consider the specific cyber threats that your industry faces. Highly regulated sectors or businesses handling sensitive data may require the advanced threat hunting and continuous monitoring capabilities offered by MDR.

Cost and Complexity

Balance the cost of acquiring and managing an EDR solution against the comprehensive service and expertise offered by MDR providers. When deciding, assess the long-term benefits, such as reduced downtime and lower risk of cyberattacks.

By weighing these factors, you can select the solution that best suits your business needs, ensuring robust security and a robust cybersecurity strategy.

Potential Challenges and Solutions

Even the best security tools have trade-offs:

EDR’s Trade-Offs
EDR provides real-time visibility but can overwhelm you with alerts, requiring skilled analysts. Adjust detection settings to reduce noise, equip your team with clear triage playbooks, and leverage automation to prioritize critical events. 

If resources become scarce, consider outsourcing advanced threat hunting to boost capacity and expedite response times. You may still need traditional antivirus or firewalls to plug gaps that EDR doesn’t cover.

MDR’s Trade-Offs
MDR delivers 24/7 expert monitoring but comes at a premium and may require tight integration with your tools and workflows. Offset costs by building an ROI model that factors in avoided breach expenses, and negotiate tiered service plans to match your budget. 

Start with MDR on your most at-risk systems and define clear roles, service-level agreements (SLAs), and documentation with your provider to ensure a smooth and controlled deployment. MDR also requires integration with your existing SIEM and IT infrastructure, so plan for upfront configuration and setup.

How Parachute Strengthens Your Security Posture

Every unmonitored device is an open door for attackers, and waiting until the next breach is not an option. At Parachute, we’ve combined cutting-edge EDR technology with 24/7, expert-driven MDR so you never miss a threat. You stay focused on your core business while we identify, contain, and remediate risks before they escalate into disasters.

Whether you need device-level protection, full-network coverage, or a tailored mix of both, we’ll build a security plan around your team, budget, and risk profile. Let’s close those blind spots together and give you the confidence to move fast without compromise.

Get in touch with our team to build a cybersecurity strategy that fits your business.