Extended Detection and Response (XDR) technology is quickly taking the enterprise cybersecurity industry by storm.

The term XDR, first coined in 2018 by Omdia Principal Analyst Rik Turner, is defined by Omdia as a single, stand-alone solution that offers integrated threat detection and response capabilities.

To meet Omdia's criteria to be classified as a "comprehensive" XDR solution, a product must offer threat detection and response functionality across three key platforms:

• Endpoints (often referred to as Endpoint Detection and Response or EDR)
• Networks (often referred to as Network Traffic Analysis or NTA, more recently as Network Detection and Response or NDR)
• And cloud computing environments (occasionally referred to as Cloud Detection and Response or CDR).

Specific to the cloud, this should encompass software-as-a-service (SaaS) environments such as Office 365 and Salesforce, as well as infrastructure- and platform-as-a-service (IaaS and PaaS) modes of delivering cloud computing.

Support for other platforms or threat vectors — such as email — is also common, and XDR solutions may also foster integration among stand-alone threat detection and response solutions that specialize in any of the three areas noted above, as well as others.

Omdia has a comprehensive library of research on XDR, detailing how the technology works, the way in which it is already evolving, and what specific approaches various vendors have adopted.

See a selection of Omdia's research content on XDR below.

Editor's note: Access to Omdia content requires an Omdia research subscription; click here for more information about Omdia.

Fundamentals of XDR versus SIEM and SOAR: Understanding the evolution of SecOps architectures
XDR represents a significant advancement in enterprise threat detection and response technology. This report explains how XDR solutions work, their strengths and limitations, and ways in which XDR complements — or is an alternative to — SIEM/SOAR-based SecOps architectures.

Fortinet's FortiXDR challenges rivals with focus on automated investigation and response
Fortinet's new XDR solution is based on proven technology and pushes the envelope on threat detection and response automation.

FireEye buys its way into XDR, but questions abound on its portfolio and its future
FireEye's $186 million acquisition of analytics vendor Respond Software is buttressed by a new $400 million private equity cash infusion. However, a growing divergence in its product portfolio may indicate further disruption.

Microsoft Ignite 2020: SIEM and XDR improvements highlight advancing enterprise SecOps efforts
With its Azure Sentinel SIEM and rebranded Defender XDR, the Microsoft SecOps strategy centers on delivering best-of-breed capabilities in a unified, cloud-native platform. 

Palo Alto Networks adds security consulting and forensics with purchase of The Crypsis Group
Palo Alto Networks intends to buy The Crypsis Group, a cybersecurity services and managed security services provider, for $265m to bolster sales opportunities and support for its Cortex XDR solutions.

VMware pushes toward XDR play with acquisition of NDR vendor Lastline
Discusses VMware's acquisition of Lastline, a network detection and response (NDR) vendor. It is pursuing an XDR offering to compete with Palo Alto Networks and Trend Micro.

Stellar Cyber adds cloud detection and response to its XDR offering
Provides an update on Stellar Cyber's new capability for cloud environments termed cloud detection and response (CDR) to complement its Starlight platform.

On the radar: Awake Security offers network detection and response
When combined with the vendor's endpoint detection and response capabilities, the move positions the company for an XDR offering; it already has cloud monitoring capabilities. A managed NDR service is also offered.

WatchGuard buys Panda in the industry's latest XDR play
The acquisition of the Spanish endpoint security vendor is the latest move in the emerging XDR segment, in which unified detection and response capabilities are offered across network, endpoint, and beyond.

RSA Conference 2018 featured managed detection and response and life beyond SIEM
Principal Analyst Rik Turner coins the term "xDR" in this report, highlighting the coming convergence involving various types of threat detection and response technologies and services.