EDR vs CDR

The goal isn’t to stack up a variety of security solutions that add complexity and expense. It’s about prioritizing the right tools for the environment and using them in smarter ways. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) and cloud detection and response (CDR) are two similar-sounding solutions with different targets. Add extended detection and response (XDR) and managed detection and response (MDR), and the landscape just gets more complex.

We’re focusing on EDR and CDR (alongside CNAPP) in the context of a complete toolbox built for the precise architecture and threat landscape of any given team. We’ll break down the differences, but also the secondary challenges that security teams can anticipate — and the smartest ways to employ each solution.

What is the Difference Between EDR and CDR?

Both EDR and CDR monitor cloud workloads in real time, but EDR is a workload-specific solution to secure individual instances, even when they’re in the cloud. CDR is focused less on individual instances and more on the overall cloud infrastructure.

Let’s break that down:

EDR tools monitor endpoint devices. That includes all devices or systems connected to a network that might serve as entry points for attackers, like desktops, servers, IoT devices, virtual machines (VMs), cloud workloads, and network devices.

They’re specialized solutions that can operate independently to secure endpoints across a network, though they can also be incorporated into broader solutions (like XDR or unified endpoint security suites that include features like data loss prevention capabilities, antivirus, and mobile device management). EDR capabilities include:

• Monitoring and detecting threats in real time, scanning for issues like anomalous behaviors, threats such as malware or ransomware, and unauthorized access.
• Responding to incidents, like isolating an infected endpoint or terminating a malicious process, to reduce its potential impact.
• Conducting forensic and root cause analysis: Logs, file changes, and traffic data can offer insight into attacks.

CDR is a tool concerned with the bigger picture, securing cloud configurations, API vulnerabilities, and preventing lateral movement between cloud services. Today, CDR is rarely deployed as a standalone tool since its features mesh well with more comprehensive cloud security tools like CNAPP. 

CDR capabilities most often include:

• Detecting vulnerabilities unique to the cloud, identifying anomalies in short-lived workloads and lateral movement.
• Tuning incident response to cloud requirements, including monitoring APIs and network traffic.
• Integrating with cloud tools, like cloud workload protection platforms (CWPPs) so CDR can isolate threats in real time.

EDR vs CDR (vs CNAPP) for Protecting Cloud Workloads

Because EDR capabilities include protection for cloud workloads, its differences from CDR aren’t always apparent. However, the two solutions focus on different types of threats within workloads.

EDR solutions are all about endpoints. When they’re deployed to a cloud environment, they function to protect endpoints like VMs, containers, and other instances running in cloud environments (e.g., AWS EC2, Azure VMs, and Google Cloud instances, for example). 

EDR uses real-time monitoring but specifically monitors what’s happening at individual endpoints and cloud workloads (where applicable), like what calls are being made and what processes are running. For EDR, the goal lies in identifying potential threats or malware. In EDR, behavior analysis means tracking what’s happening on a specific endpoint, like user activity and file access.

CDR solutions secure the cloud infrastructure as a whole, from services to configurations and data in the cloud, like storage, database, and network configurations. They target cloud-specific risks like misconfigurations that might be used by attackers, detect and respond to active threats, and conduct real-time monitoring of API calls, user behaviors, and network traffic.

Cloud-native application protection platforms, or CNAPPs, combine CDR functions with cloud security posture protection and often, other capabilities, too. CNAPPs with advanced runtime capabilities may leverage machine learning to identify and prioritize anomalies in running workloads and use sensors to continually monitor system calls, network communication, and service interactions. 

CDR solutions can trigger alerts or remediations for issues that occur in cloud spaces, even in ephemeral resources.

EDR vs CDR and CNAPP Features in Depth

To understand whether EDR, CDR, CNAPP, or “none of the above” is the right decision, teams need to know how each solution handles the complexity of modern threats, whether that means endpoint-specific attacks, cloud misconfigurations, or real-time anomaly detection in ephemeral environments. 

Effectively handling these threats is important because endpoint attacks, like file-based attacks, are increasing; even as far back as 2020, 68% of organizations had experienced one or more attacks that successfully compromised their data or IT infrastructure. At that point, the majority of organizations were either already outsourcing endpoint security or planning to. Why? Fifty percent said they wanted to cut complexity and the number of solutions.

Sorting through these capabilities can help pinpoint the right tool for each layer of the stack while minimizing overlap and keeping complexity in check.  Let’s look at these solutions side by side.

Feature / Capability	EDR	CDR	CNAPP
Primary Focus	Detecting and responding to threats on endpoints	Detecting and responding to threats in cloud environments	Comprehensive security for cloud-native applications, including infrastructure and runtime monitoring
Best For	Securing endpoints (e.g., VMs, containers, devices)	Securing cloud infrastructure and services (e.g., APIs, misconfigurations)	Securing cloud-native applications (containers, serverless, microservices) and their runtime
Key Use Case	Protecting individual workloads (e.g., VMs, cloud instances, IoT devices) from endpoint threats	Protecting cloud services, identifying misconfigurations, and detecting cloud-specific threats	Protecting and monitoring entire cloud environments, with a focus on real-time anomaly detection in cloud workloads
Real-Time Monitoring	Yes (for endpoint behavior like processes and file access)	Yes (for cloud activity and misconfigurations)	Yes (for both configuration and runtime activities across cloud resources)
Integration with Other Tools	Can integrate into XDR, SIEM, or broader security suites	Part of a cloud security suite, integrates with CSPM/CWPP tools	Combines CSPM, CWPP, and CDR into a single solution for continuous cloud security. Can also integrate insights into SIEM solutions
Behavioral Analysis	Detects abnormal behavior at endpoint level (e.g., system calls, user actions	Monitors cloud-specific behaviors (e.g., misconfigured APIs, unusual access pattern	Monitors and analyzes cloud infrastructure and runtime behavior (service interactions, network anomalies)
Incident Response	Isolates endpoints, kills malicious processes	Isolates cloud threats, remediates misconfigurations	Remediates threats and misconfigurations across entire cloud environments
Post-Incident Analysis	Yes (root cause analysis at the endpoint level)	Limited (focused on cloud misconfigurations and API issues)	Extensive (root cause analysis across cloud stack, using sensors and ML)
Cloud Workload Protection	Partial (focus on cloud VMs and containers)	Yes (focus on entire cloud environment)	Yes (focus on cloud-native apps and continuous runtime protection)
False Positives	Moderate (depends on endpoint activity complexity)	High (cloud environments are dynamic and complex)	Low (continuous, context-aware monitoring with ML)
Visibility into Ephemeral Resources	Limited (focus on specific, often static, cloud instances)	Moderate (works well for short-lived cloud instances)	High (real-time, ML-driven insights into ephemeral cloud workloads)
Misconfiguration Detection	No (focused on endpoint threats)	Yes (focus on cloud misconfigurations and access controls)	Yes (full visibility into configuration and runtime for cloud-native apps)
Key Challenges	False positives, integration complexity	Misconfigurations, managing dynamic cloud environments	Complexity integrating with multi-cloud environments, though lightweight sensors can minimize overhead from continuous monitoring

For teams with individual devices and workloads in the cloud, EDT can offer real-time response but with limited visibility into the broader cloud infrastructure. 

For securing cloud environments holistically, CDR makes more sense. It provides real-time monitoring and threat response but is often part of CNAPP solutions because it lacks the ability to provide strong protection for cloud-native applications.

For those protecting apps, CNAPP has come to the fore: it offers unparalleled visibility, which can include on-prem, hybris, and multi-cloud ecosystems. And it monitors workloads in real-time in ways that are custom-built for cloud resources. 

Secondary Challenges in Adopting EDR or CDR Solutions

In adopting EDR, CDR, or both, teams must adapt to the inherent limitations of each tool individually and contend with secondary challenges post-adoption. 

EDR solutions, while highly effective at monitoring endpoint activity, can face limitations in cloud-native or multi-cloud environments, including:

• Ephemeral Cloud Resources: Cloud instances (VMs, containers) are created and destroyed quickly, which results in inconsistent visibility for EDR tools. Teams can Implement tools like Cloud Workload Protection Platforms (CWPP) or CNAPPs that can monitor ephemeral resources in real time. They should prioritize sensor-driven or machine learning-powered monitoring to adapt to cloud dynamicity.
• Complex, Cloud-Native Architectures: Traditional EDR is built for endpoint protection and struggles with the complexity of containers, microservices, and serverless architectures. Teams should also employ cloud-native security tools that are designed for containerized environments (e.g., Kubernetes security, Docker security) for granular monitoring of cloud-native workloads.
• Limited Visibility into Cloud Interactions: EDR focuses on endpoints, not the broader interactions between cloud services (APIs, networking). Teams should integrate CSPM tools and API security solutions (or a consolidated CNAPP with both features) to monitor the configuration and access patterns between services.

However, using EDR for endpoint protection alone can mean secondary challenges, including:

• Alert Fatigue and Noise: With EDR in cloud environments, large volumes of alerts, especially from dynamic cloud workloads, can lead to alert fatigue. Use intelligent filtering, machine learning-based anomaly detection, and automated triage to prioritize high-fidelity alerts and reduce noise.
• Integration Complexity: EDR solutions often have difficulties integrating with existing cloud-native tools (e.g., CSPM, CWPP, SIEM). A centralized CNAPP or XDR (Extended Detection and Response) can be key to unifying data sources for cross-platform visibility.
• Resource and Performance Overhead Concerns: Continuous monitoring means resources, and in cloud environments with large-scale and ephemeral resources, that comes with costs. Optimize resource allocation with cloud-native monitoring tools that can scale automatically with the environment, keeping costs low.

Employing either EDR and CDR comes with an added layer of complexity, and ultimately, both are complementary tools, not stand-alone solutions. That leave many to conclude that their best use cases come when teams need additional, specific security alongside a comprehensive solution like a CNAPP. For example, with CNAPP visibility:

• Teams might add EDR when they want real-time monitoring and protection specifically for individual endpoints or cloud workloads. They’ll get more granular control to detect and respond to threats at the device or instance level.
• Teams may add CDR when they want more granular, real-time monitoring of cloud-specific threats like API vulnerabilities, lateral movement, and abnormal service-to-service behavior than their preferred CNAPP allows. 

That said, a CNAPP like Upwind is a CDR that offers real-time visibility into layers 3, 4, and 7. Further, with a baseline understanding of typical behavior, it pinpoints anomalies that are truly critical.

Upwind Protects Cloud Resources

Upwind is a comprehensive system that tames complexity and tool creep  — while moving faster to monitor and protect all your cloud resources, including cloud detection and response. teams have the CDR features they need to see and secure their assets across the cloud.

And with the ability to monitor API traffic, Upwind gives teams the ability to detect unauthorized interactions, lateral movement, and misconfigurations as an EDR solution can.

To streamline your security posture for more protection (with less complexity in your tool stack), schedule a demo.

FAQ

Do I need both EDR and antivirus?

Even with EDR, antivirus is still useful for traditional endpoints and hybrid/cloud environments with legacy systems. It may not be necessary for modern cloud-native workloads that don’t interact with traditional malware. Here’s when to use antivirus:

• Hybrid Environments: With a mix of on-premise systems and cloud resources, antivirus is still necessary for traditional endpoints that EDR or cloud-native solutions don’t fully cover.
• Cloud Workloads with Legacy Software: While running legacy applications or VMs in the cloud that rely on traditional operating systems, those systems might still need antivirus to address malware at the operating system level.
• For Employee’s Endpoint Devices on External Networks: If employees are accessing cloud resources through secure virtual private networks (VPNs), Zero Trust architectures, or other secure connections, EDR can effectively monitor their behaviors and detect suspicious activities on the laptops themselves. Those on external networks? They’ll prioritize antivirus in addition to EDR.

What is the difference between EDR and ADR? What about MDR?

ADR (Automated Detection and Response) is essentially a more automated version of detection and response. It quickly identifies and responds to threats without human intervention. ADR focuses on automating the remediation actions after a threat is detected. It’s faster but less flexible than intervening manually.

MDR (Managed Detection and Response) involves outsourcing threat detection and response to a third-party service, which comes with human expertise to monitor, investigate, and respond to security incidents. 

These 2 competing solutions also differ from EDR in their focus on endpoints. ADR can be applied more broadly than EDR, targeting endpoints, but also cloud environments and network traffic. MDR is also used to protect a range of assets, from cloud infrastructure to network layers or user behavior. 

Is EDR proactive or reactive?

EDR is primarily reactive. It detects and responds to threats as they occur, such as when malicious behavior occurs on an endpoint, like unauthorized access or unusual activity. That’s the point at which EDR solutions leap into action, isolating devices or terminating malicious processes. 

However, EDR also comes with some proactive capabilities. When behavioral analysis shows an anomaly, for example, it has identified a risk before it escalates into a full-blown attack and can allow early responses that proactively prevent damage.

What is the difference between XDR and CDR? 

Extended detection and response (XDR) is a broad, integrated security platform that combines data from various sources like endpoints, networks, and servers to provide a more comprehensive view of threats across an organization. It adds to the capabilities of EDR by incorporating data from other layers to give better visibility and faster detection and response. It can also correlate threats across layers.

CDR is made for cloud environments, so it focuses on threats within the cloud infrastructure: APIs and microservices, for instance. It provides real-time monitoring and response. 

It’s not uncommon for companies to use both solutions (or combine XDR with CNAPP) for a more complete, layered defense for both cloud and traditional infrastructure. 

Why is XDR better than SIEM?

XDR (Extended Detection and Response) may seem more advanced and integrated than Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools.

After all:

• XDR goes beyond collecting and aggregating data to actively detect threats. SIEM primarily collects logs from various sources and then analyzes them for potential threats, without the real-time detection capabilities of XDR.
• XDR integrates multiple sources and layers, from endpoints to network traffic and cloud resources. SIEM may collect data from a similar variety of sources, but can’t correlate it well and may only “see” isolated events.
• XDR automates suspicious activity alerts. SIEM relies on other security analyses to interpret its data, leading to longer response times.

Where does CNAPP fit in? It doesn’t replace either XDR or SIEM but works alongside both. A cloud-native company using containers and serverless architecture could use CNAPP for securing workloads, XDR for endpoint and network security, and SIEM for event logging and compliance reporting.