XDR vs. SIEM: Which is Right for Your Organization?
Since they have quite similar goals and implementation, it is hard to distinguish between the two of them and conclude which one is right for your organization.
XDR and SIEM are complex cybersecurity tools intended to strengthen an organization’s threat defenses; while they share some similarities, they are fundamentally different. This is according to reports of Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike; while SIEM mainly focuses on the collection and analysis of the log data, XDR in turn has a broader approach where it consolidates data from several security layers and provides sophisticated threat detection and response across the entire security stack of an organization.
XDR Syntactics When Using Existing Security Technologies
Evaluating XDR concerning existing security solutions is vital for improving organizations’ cybersecurity status. XDR solutions can be either closed, assimilating to security analytics, SIEMs, and SOARs or open to enhance outcomes with firewalls, EDRs, and other security technology layers. This is normally done by different ways for instance by use of log forwarders, connectors, application programming interfaces and data streaming mechanisms. XDR contributes to enhanced visibility throughout an organization’s touchpoints, better threat analysis, and automated response. Nonetheless, it is crucial to amend that integration can be delicate especially where the organization is employing a compound format, which include a mix of modern and old models. Some guidelines that can be adopted while integrating, are as follows: ‘Big bang’ approach should be avoided; it is recommended that connections should be made one data source at one time, the integration should be first performed on test facilities.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of XDR and SIEM
Thus, the decision whether to implement XDR and SIEM solutions and which vendor’s offerings to choose is based on several conditions that allow comparing the cost of implemented solutions to the benefits received. XDR normally has a competitive advantage attributing to factors such as the ability to decrease the complexity of security and lower costs. However, by simplifying the structure, there can be vast cost benefits with regard to the operations and liabilities of its management. On the other hand, there are SIEM solutions which can be more flexible, but still required more resources and efforts, and can contain log management and compliance reports that are indispensable in some cases. Namely, XDR can be easily integrated with the existing security structures and its primary goal is threat prevention and this can lead to TCO reduction in many organizations. Due to the incorporation of artificial intelligence as well as automation, the use of XDR solutions can lead to optimization of operational efficiency at scale, which might limit the requirement of extra security staff. However, if the organization requires advanced log management and/or compliance, it can be more beneficial to use SIEM even if it has the higher initial and ongoing charges. Thus, the question of which solution to choose for enhanced security – XDR or SIEM – should be answered with reference to the specifics of an organization’s existing system, budget, and security needs.
Case Studies: Successful XDR Implementations
The positive outcomes of XDR have been observed in studies that proved increased effectiveness in threat identification and mitigation for different industries. Certain cases done on the companies that are using the XDR has shown that they have received improved MTTD and MTTR of security threats. For example, it is reported that High Wire Networks eradicated 99% of alert noise and doubled their SOCs’ capacity after implementing a Smart SOAR, which is typically an element of XDR solutions. Also, one of the leading financial companies in the UK was able to incorporate XDR into their security processes improving their ways to deal with various types of threats in the financial sphere especially within the framework of compliance with strict rules. From the above real-life scenarios, it is clear that with proper XDR application, the procedure is efficient in enhancing security operations, productivity, and readiness against cybercrimes.
The best practices for the integration of XDR are as follows
Several guidelines must be adhered to in implementing XDR in an organization that already has a security infrastructure. First, one should commence by communicating to all the stakeholders to explain how their roles are going to be affected by XDR. Start with pilot applications initially and use one source at a time to check for issues and compatibility. Acquire detailed plans to handle the identified threats in order to reduce their overall effects. Use test beds to apply the XDR solution on production program and adhere to typical change control measures during the integration exercise. To get the most out of XDR, align with current solutions and processes, build upon existing security technology stack. Last, shareholders/ management ought to train the employees that will be directly handling the XDR platform on how the tool works so as to gain confidence in handling it and or using all the available functions.
Hidden Costs of SIEM
Despite the claim of providing better security, organizations face numerous concealed costs of the SIEM solutions that compromise their implementation and even budgets. When it comes to the scale of data, these costs can rise significantly to handle and accommodate the increasing log data. Some of the hidden expenses can be the extra license costs, acquiring consultants’ services, modifying the infrastructure to accommodate growing volumes of data. There are also resource-demanding issues concerning implementation of SIEM into the existing security frameworks, which many organizations are going to encounter high expenditure of time, funds and human resources. One common drawback of growth is scalability problems and subsequent issues in the slowness of the SIEM and lack of complete event logging. To avoid these hidden costs, there are different vendors that now propose subscription plans which are based on an unlimited and unlimited-expanded model where, in this way, there are no extra costs during the use of capacity. However it is vital for any organization to undertake an analysis of that particular organization needs and weigh various aspects related to various prices and get rid of shocking surcharges in case of SIEM.
