NDR: Not Just a "Nice to Have" Anymore
Network Detection and Response (NDR) is no longer a 'nice-to-have'—it’s essential. NDR complements EDR, accelerates incident response, and enhances visibility, making it a critical tool for modern cybersecurity strategies and service providers.
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Network Detection and Response (NDR) technology has become essential in today’s cybersecurity landscape. If you ask most IT professionals or Incident Responders (IR) what NDR is and what it can do, they’ll typically understand its purpose. This is no surprise, as billion-dollar companies have successfully leveraged this technology. However, there’s a persistent issue: many IT administrators and even IR professionals still view NDR as a "nice to have" rather than a "need to have."
Having worked for several years in the IR space with Trend Micro, I’ve seen firsthand how deploying an NDR solution can transform incident response, reducing response times from days to minutes. Despite this, resistance persists, often hinging on misconceptions about deployment speed and integration. Let’s address these challenges and explore why NDR is indispensable.
The Misconceptions Around Deployment
A frequent argument I hear, even from within sales teams, is, "Are you saying we’ll wait two days while a box gets shipped?" My experience running IR teams confirms that this concern is valid—shipping hardware often introduces delays that compromise timely responses. The reality, however, is that modern NDR solutions are not limited to physical appliances. At Trend Micro, we recognised this challenge and prioritised the development of a virtual sensor. This lightweight, rapidly deployable virtual appliance comes preconfigured and ready to go, enabling organisations to stand up an NDR solution in minutes rather than days.
NDR vs. EDR: Complementary Technologies
While Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools are powerful, they have limitations. Deploying EDR agents takes time, especially when Active Directory (AD) computer lists are outdated or poorly maintained. Machines not on these lists often remain unprotected. Additionally, modern EDR tools struggle to support legacy systems or diverse Linux distributions. This gap underscores the need for network-based visibility.
NDR solutions address these issues by:
- Providing visibility into all devices on the network, including those unsupported by EDR.
- Feeding critical data to edge and EDR technologies, enhancing their efficacy.
- Identifying services or shadow IT events that shouldn’t be active on the network.
According to Trend Micro, "NDR is an essential addition to an organisation’s cybersecurity toolkit, one that complements EDR, ITDR, and ASM to cover off network vulnerabilities and provide full-fledged XDR[1]."
Accelerating Deployment with Virtual Appliances
The concern that deploying an NDR appliance takes too long is outdated. Trend Micro’s virtual appliance template can be downloaded and operational in minutes. While IT admins or responders configure the virtual machine, the network team can set up port mirroring to direct traffic from core switches to the new appliance. As soon as the system is live, traffic begins flowing to Vision One, enabling immediate analysis and threat intelligence correlation.
This rapid setup allows organisations to:
- Start EDR deployment while simultaneously gaining network visibility.
- Shut down beacons and block malicious communications before EDR agents are fully deployed.
- Proactively disrupt threat actor activities by feeding actionable intelligence to edge devices.
Why NDR Should Be Standard
The network remains the most truthful part of any IT environment. While attackers can attempt to obscure their activities, network traffic patterns reveal critical insights into their operations. NDR enables teams to:
- Spot suspicious connections, such as unexpected RDP or SSH sessions.
- Identify compromised services or devices engaging in lateral movement.
- Gain retrospective visibility into traffic associated with newly identified threats.
To make NDR adoption seamless, we’ve focused on creating ready-to-use templates and guides for deploying virtual appliances and mirroring traffic. By simplifying the process, we aim to make NDR a standard component of every incident response playbook.
A Call to Action for MSPs, MDRs, and MSSPs
For managed service providers (MSPs), managed detection and response (MDR) providers, and managed security service providers (MSSPs), NDR is a game-changer. It’s not just a tool for improving incident response; it’s a differentiator in an increasingly competitive market. Investing in NDR technology positions you to offer faster, more comprehensive protection, setting you apart from competitors.
Conclusion
NDR is no longer optional. It’s a critical component of modern cybersecurity operations. By addressing deployment challenges and demonstrating its complementary role alongside EDR, we can ensure that NDR becomes a standard part of every organisation’s security strategy. Whether you’re an IT admin, IR professional, or service provider, now is the time to embrace NDR and lead the charge toward faster, more effective incident response.
[1] For a comprehensive overview of NDR, Trend Micro provides an in-depth explanation.
For insights into how NDR can protect organisations from cyber threats, see Trend Micro's recent article.
For a detailed comparison between NDR and EDR, Trend Micro offers valuable insights.