For decades, the go-to advice for Calgary companies striving to maintain a basic cybersecurity posture was to install antivirus software. In fact, this was still the recommendation during the 2024 Cyber Security Awareness Month campaign. Traditional antivirus software, however, is outdated and cannot keep up with cybersecurity threats that have evolved and continue to evolve so rapidly. Managed Detection and Response (MDR) offers game-changing technology for both individuals and companies to more fully protect them from cyberthreats at every point where they are vulnerable. Here, we’ll explore MDR service and why it’s so critical for your Calgary business.
What Is Managed Detection and Response?
Managed Detection and Response is a next-level cybersecurity and vulnerability management solution that goes far beyond simply loading static antivirus software onto your system. Rather than wait for threats, MDR is capable of hunting for them. MDR service is a proactive system that actively seeks out signs of compromise. MDR services like Sophos MDR, eSentire MDR, and Watchguard MDR provide advanced threat detection. These cybersecurity tools are capable of learning so that they continually improve monitors your network 24/7, detecting early and responding forcefully to threats to keep them from reaching your network.
MDR supersedes antivirus software by offering comprehensive, round-the-clock threat hunting, monitoring, and response capabilities, while continually updated databases of the most current threats. By using AI and machine learning, combined with the human expertise of your managed service provider leveraging real-time threat intelligence, threats can be thwarted before they cause damage.
This shift from antivirus software to MDR is driven by the realization that prevention alone is not enough. With cybercriminals constantly devising new attack methods, businesses cannot afford to be caught off guard. MDR offers a proactive approach to cybersecurity, enabling organizations to detect, respond to, and recover from cyber threats efficiently.
Antivirus Software Limitations
One of the biggest drawbacks of antivirus software is that the programs are reactive, rather than proactive. They work only on already known threats that are stored within the antivirus database. As new threats develop rapidly, Calgary businesses using an antivirus solution are left vulnerable to emerging attack vectors.
In addition, antivirus software was designed primarily as an endpoint solution, incapable of providing proactive protection to servers, cloud infrastructure, or mobile devices that may also be susceptible to attack. As the volume and complexity of cyber threats continue to grow, and given that cybercriminals constantly evolve their tactics, traditional antivirus solutions often struggle to keep pace.
MDR Proactively Protects Your Entire Network
Managed Detection and Response offers a comprehensive suite of features and benefits that empower businesses to stay ahead of cyber threats. The benefits of MDR include:
Continuous Monitoring
One of the most significant advantages of MDR is its ability to provide 24/7 monitoring and threat detection. Unlike traditional antivirus software, which may only scan for threats at scheduled intervals, MDR solutions constantly monitor an organization’s network and systems, looking for any signs of suspicious activity or potential security incidents.
Early Threat Detection
One of the key roles of MDR within a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy is to provide early warning and detection of potential threats. By proactively threat hunting, continuously monitoring an organization’s network and systems, the MDR solution can quickly identify and flag any suspicious activity or anomalies, allowing the organization and its managed IT partner to take swift action to mitigate the threat before it can cause significant damage.
Rapid Incident Response
When a security incident is detected, the MDR service team works closely with the client’s IT and security personnel to investigate the incident, determine its scope and severity, and implement the necessary steps to contain and resolve the issue. This may involve actions that include threat containment, malware removal, system restoration, and the implementation of additional security measures, to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
In addition to the powerful proactivity of MDR service, the level of protection offered through MDR is entirely scalable for your growing Calgary business and does an exceptional job of helping Canada organizations meet the compliance requirements necessary for their industries when implemented with your MSP’s high level of expertise.
Of course, any time an organization is capable of being more proactive in their cybersecurity efforts, the result is operational efficiency. MDR helps reduce downtime by deflecting and containing threats as quickly as possible.
Reduced Cost for Cyber Insurance
Using an MDR can save companies money on the cost of their cyber insurance. In fact, clients who use the MDR The ITeam provides also get access to an insurance provider who is willing to discount their policy.
MDR Service Is Part of a Comprehensive Cybersecurity Strategy
Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is not a standalone solution, but rather a critical component of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. While MDR provides a powerful set of tools and capabilities for detecting and responding to cyber threats, it works best when integrated with other security technologies and best practices.
The Future of Cybersecurity
Managed Detection and Response (MDR) represents a significant shift in the way organizations approach cybersecurity, moving away from a focus on prevention and towards a more proactive and comprehensive approach to threat detection and response. By leveraging advanced technologies, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, MDR solutions reduce a company’s level of threat tolerance by being able to quickly identify and respond to potential threats before they can cause significant damage.
This proactive unlimited threat hunting approach to cybersecurity is essential in today’s digital landscape, where the pace of technological change and the proliferation of new attack vectors can quickly outpace the capabilities of traditional security solutions. By choosing a managed IT partner whose services include MDR, Calgary businesses can gain a competitive edge, staying one step ahead of cybercriminals and ensuring the protection of their most critical assets.
The ITeam is Calgary’s leading source for managed IT support and cybersecurity services. As security service providers, we have been recognized among the world’s 501 most strategic and innovative managed service providers (MSPs) by Channel Futures and named Sophos 2024 Partner of the Year, Canada. As we continue to celebrate serving the Calgary community for more than 30 years, we look forward to helping you navigate the security tools you need to keep your business safe with our security teams and cybersecurity experts.
Get in touch today to learn more.