When choosing protection for company computers and servers, three abbreviations keep recurring in offers – EPP, EDR and XDR. They are often presented as the “good”, “better” and “best” versions of the same product, but in reality they are different approaches to security that require different levels of company readiness. In this article we explain what each solution does, who it is enough for and how to avoid the most common purchasing mistakes.
The article is useful both for company IT managers and for IT service companies choosing protection for their customers.
EPP – protection that stops known threats
EPP (Endpoint Protection Platform) is an advanced form of classic antivirus protection. Its goal is to prevent malware from launching and causing damage on a workstation or server. Modern EPP usually includes:
- Malware detection based on signatures, behavioural analysis and cloud reputation data.
- A firewall, web traffic and website filtering.
- Device control, for example restricting the use of USB drives.
- Application control and centralised management of security policies from a single console.
A well-configured EPP stops most everyday threats. However, it only answers the question “is this file or action malicious?” and says almost nothing about what happened before and after an incident.
EDR – visibility and response when an attack slips through
EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) complements prevention with continuous monitoring. The agent collects event data – process launches, network connections, file and registry changes – and looks for signs of an attack that look innocent on their own. This is exactly how attacks that use no known malicious file at all are detected.
- Detection of suspicious activity, for example when legitimate system tools or an administrator account are abused.
- A view of the incident chain: where the attack started and which processes and devices it affected.
- Response actions from the console: isolating a device from the network, stopping a process, moving a file to quarantine.
- Historical data that makes it possible to investigate after the event.
The most important feature of EDR, rarely mentioned during the sale, is that it needs a person. Someone has to review the alerts, assess them and make a decision. If there is nobody in the company to do this, it is worth planning a managed detection service (MDR) from the outset or agreeing with an IT partner who will take on this function.
XDR – one view across several layers
XDR (Extended Detection and Response) applies the same principle beyond workstations. Data from endpoints, email and cloud services, identity management systems and sometimes the network is combined into a single analysis. This makes it easier to spot an attack that starts with a phishing email, continues with a stolen account and ends with encrypted files on a server.
For example, WithSecure Elements XDR combines endpoint protection with EPP and EDR capabilities, protection of Microsoft 365 email and collaboration tools and Microsoft Entra ID identity monitoring in a single Elements Security Center. In the Kaspersky Next line, the XDR level is covered by Kaspersky Next XDR Expert – a solution for organisations with their own security team.
Comparison: how they differ in practice
- Main goal: EPP – stop, EDR – detect and investigate, XDR – correlate events from several systems.
- Who works with the solution: EPP – an IT administrator occasionally, EDR – a person who regularly reviews alerts, XDR – a security specialist or a service provider.
- Amount of data collected: EPP – small, EDR – large, XDR – the largest.
- Typical user: EPP – small companies, EDR – medium-sized companies and regulated sectors, XDR – larger organisations and IT service providers.
It is important to understand that these levels do not cancel each other out. EDR and XDR solutions work together with preventive protection, not instead of it.
How to choose: five questions before an enquiry
- How many and what kind of devices need to be protected – workstations, servers, mobile devices, which operating systems are used?
- Is there someone in the company who will review security alerts daily, or will a partner perform this function?
- Does NIS2 or other requirements apply to the company, under which it must prove that incidents are detected and investigated?
- Which cloud services do you use – Microsoft 365, Google Workspace or others?
- Is it important to manage both vulnerabilities and software patches from the same console?
For many small companies, a well-configured EPP with centralised management is enough. As a company grows, handles sensitive data or falls within the scope of NIS2, EDR becomes the logical next step. XDR is worth choosing when there is someone who will actually use its capabilities.
The NIS2 directive in Lithuania: what companies must do
The most common mistakes when buying business protection
- The highest tier is bought, although nobody has time to review the alerts. Then an expensive EDR or XDR works like an ordinary antivirus.
- A licence is purchased but the default settings are left. Even the best EPP without configured policies, device control and updates does not use its capabilities.
- Only employees’ computers are protected, while servers, virtual machines and laptops are left out.
- Email and cloud services are not taken into account, although a large share of attacks starts through them.
- The number of licences is calculated without a reserve, so a new employee or server is simply left without protection.
Which solutions we supply to partners and businesses
We supply business protection lines from several vendors covering all three levels, so the solution can be chosen according to real needs rather than one vendor’s catalogue:
- WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection, Elements EDR and Elements XDR.
- Kaspersky Next EDR Foundations, Kaspersky Next EDR Optimum and Kaspersky Next XDR Expert.
- Bitdefender GravityZone Small Business Security, Business Security and Business Security Premium.
- The AVG Business line for small companies with centralised management.
We provide the price of business licences on request, taking into account the number of devices and the period. Licences are registered in the company’s name, a VAT invoice is issued for every order and the licence key is sent by email.
Frequently asked questions
Does EDR replace an antivirus?
No. EDR complements preventive protection rather than replacing it. Most modern EDR solutions work together with EPP in the same agent, so there is no need to install a second application.
Does a small company need XDR?
Usually not. If there is nobody to analyse the alerts daily, the capabilities of XDR will remain unused. It is wiser to start with a well-configured EPP and move to EDR when needed.
Can I start with EPP and move to EDR later?
Yes. On platforms such as WithSecure Elements or Kaspersky Next, the higher tiers are managed from the same management centre, so moving up usually means changing the licence rather than redeploying the whole solution.
How long is the data collected by EDR stored?
It depends on the vendor and the licence chosen. We state the exact retention period in our quote once we know which solution you are choosing.
Conclusion
EPP, EDR and XDR are not competing technologies – they are steps. The most important thing is not to buy the highest level but the one the company will actually use and maintain. If in doubt, write to us: based on the number of devices and your situation, we will suggest a suitable solution.