What is Cortex XDR? - Administrator Guide - Cortex XDR - Cortex - Security Operations

Cortex XDR Documentation

Product
Cortex XDR
Creation date
2024-03-06
Last date published
2024-10-01
Category
Administrator Guide
Abstract

Learn about Cortex XDR and the security challenges it addresses.

Alert Alert Exclusion Analytics behavioral indicators of compromise Attack Surface Management Behavioral indicators of compromise Bring Your Own Machine Learning Broker Virtual Machine Broker Virtual Machine Fully Qualified Domain Name Causality Chain Causality Group Owner Causality View Cloud Detection and Response Cortex Copilot Cortex Data Model Cortex Query Language Dataset Elasticsearch Filebeat Endpoint Detection and Response Endpoint Protection Platform Exception Exception vs Alert Exclusion Extended Detection and Response External Dynamic List Filebeat Forensics Fully Qualified Domain Name Identity Threat Detection and Response Incident Indicators of compromise IT Metrics Dashboard Managed Threat Hunting Management, Reporting, and Compliance Master Boot Record Protection MITRE ATT&CK Framework Coverage Dashboard Next-Generation Firewall Notebooks On-write File Protection Playbook Prisma Script Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response Security Information and Event Management Threat Intelligence Platform User and Entity Behavior Analytics Unified Extensible Firmware Interface Protection Virtual Machine Vulnerability Assessment Windows Event Collector XDR Collector XSIAM Command Center

Cortex XDR sets a new standard in Extended Detection and Response (XDR) solutions, offering comprehensive protection, detection, and response capabilities. By analyzing data from the Cortex endpoint and various third-party sources, it effectively counters evolving threats in the cybersecurity landscape. Cortex XDR goes beyond traditional endpoint security, providing full visibility across network, endpoint, cloud, third-party, and identity sources.

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Key features

  • Automation for enhanced efficiency: Cortex XDR incorporates simplified automation actions, streamlining the investigative processes for security analysts and making them more efficient in threat response.

  • Comprehensive visibility: Unlike conventional solutions, Cortex XDR ensures complete visibility, not limited to the endpoint. It covers network, cloud, third-party, and identity sources, offering a holistic approach to threat detection.

  • Reduced time to detect and respond: Cortex XDR significantly reduces Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) and Mean Time to Respond (MTTR), enhancing overall incident response capabilities.

  • Identity-focused threat detection: Out-of-the-box identity-focused threat detection addresses initial access tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). Additional add-ons are available for advanced identity-based threat detection analytics, like insider threats.

  • Proven effectiveness: Cortex XDR boasts impressive results from the MITRE ATT&CK Round 4 Evaluation, achieving a 97% detection rate.

  • Data science-driven detections: Leveraging machine learning algorithms, Cortex XDR ensures true data science-driven detections, minimizing noise and improving efficacy, especially for hard-to-detect threats.

  • Cloud-powered scalability: Cortex XDR is designed to scale according to enterprise needs, harnessing the power of the cloud without on-premise solution requirements.

  • Unified endpoint agent: A unified endpoint agent is included, providing Next-Generation Antivirus (NGAV), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), host firewall, device control, disk encryption, and optional add-ons for forensic collection and host insights.

Security challenges addressed by Cortex XDR

Cortex XDR effectively tackles several security challenges faced by organizations today:

  • Breaking down silos: By delivering an integrated solution encompassing an endpoint agent, threat detection analytics, automation, identity threat detection, and forensic capabilities, Cortex XDR breaks down security solution silos.

  • Continuous threat intelligence integration: Cortex XDR addresses the challenge of outdated and fragmented threat intelligence by continuously integrating curated Unit 42 and Cortex threat research, providing clients with up-to-date insights.

  • Balancing threat detection: Cortex XDR mitigates the risk of missing both known and unknown threats, as demonstrated by third-party testing. It maintains a low signal-to-noise ratio, reducing false positives and relieving security analysts from chasing false flags.

  • Increased ROI: Cortex XDR offers an increased return on investment (ROI) compared to narrowly focused Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions. It provides enhanced detection efficacy while minimizing the management burden on clients.

  • Identity-based threat detection: Cortex XDR stands out by addressing the rising concern of identity-based threats, covering insider threats, lateral movement, and anomalous user and entity behavior with the Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) module.

Cortex XDR data flow

The following image describes the data collection, flow, and processing from various sources to Cortex XDR.

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Data sources are collected at the bottom of the chain and processed by on-premise servers and engines. Data is initially processed and analyzed using XQL, allowing for queries and analysis. The processed data is integrated with Virtual Machines, Forensics and AI analytics, ML models. This allows Cortex XDR to automate alerts and security.