Traditional antivirus software has long been an important part of enterprise security, but modern cyberattacks have become increasingly sophisticated. Attackers often use legitimate administrative tools, stolen credentials, and fileless techniques that can bypass signature-based detection. As a result, organizations have adopted Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions to improve visibility into endpoint activity and respond more effectively to security incidents.
For Security Operations Center (SOC) analysts, EDR is one of the most valuable sources of information during an investigation. Rather than simply identifying known malware, EDR records process execution, command-line activity, network connections, file modifications, and other endpoint events that help analysts understand attacker behavior. The MITRE ATT&CK framework and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) both support this approach by emphasizing behavioral detection, continuous monitoring, and rapid incident response.
What Is EDR?
Endpoint Detection and Response is a security technology that continuously monitors endpoints such as workstations, laptops, and servers for suspicious activity.
Unlike traditional antivirus software, which primarily detects known malicious files, EDR collects detailed telemetry that allows analysts to reconstruct an attack timeline.
Typical information collected by an EDR solution includes:
- Process creation and termination.
- Parent and child process relationships.
- Command-line arguments.
- Network connections.
- File creation and modification.
- Registry changes.
- User activity.
This visibility allows SOC analysts to investigate suspicious behavior even if malware is not immediately identified.
EDR and MITRE ATT&CK
The MITRE ATT&CK framework focuses on attacker behavior rather than specific malware families. This makes EDR an ideal source of telemetry because it records many of the actions documented within ATT&CK.
For example, an attacker may execute PowerShell using T1059 – Command and Scripting Interpreter, attempt T1003 – OS Credential Dumping, or establish persistence through T1053 – Scheduled Task/Job.
Rather than relying solely on malware signatures, EDR allows analysts to observe these behaviors as they occur.
Mapping EDR alerts to MITRE ATT&CK techniques also helps analysts understand the attacker’s objectives and identify additional activity that should be investigated.
NIST Recommendations
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework emphasizes continuous monitoring and effective incident response.
EDR supports these objectives by providing organizations with detailed endpoint visibility and enabling analysts to detect suspicious activity in near real time.
NIST also recommends centralized logging and evidence collection. EDR telemetry, when combined with Windows Security Events, firewall logs, DNS records, and authentication data, provides investigators with a comprehensive view of security incidents.
Organizations should also ensure that EDR agents remain properly configured and updated so they continue collecting accurate telemetry across the enterprise.
Investigation Tips
When reviewing EDR alerts, SOC analysts should avoid focusing only on the alert name.
Instead, consider questions such as:
- Which process triggered the alert?
- What was the parent process?
- Which user executed the activity?
- Did the process establish network connections?
- Were additional ATT&CK techniques observed on the same endpoint?
Correlating EDR telemetry with authentication logs and network activity provides valuable context and reduces false positives.
Conclusion
Endpoint Detection and Response has become an essential component of modern cybersecurity because it provides visibility into attacker behavior rather than simply identifying known malware. By collecting detailed endpoint telemetry, EDR enables SOC analysts to reconstruct incidents, identify suspicious activity, and respond more effectively to cyber threats.
When combined with the behavioral guidance of the MITRE ATT&CK framework and the continuous monitoring recommendations of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, EDR significantly strengthens an organization’s ability to detect, investigate, and contain security incidents. For SOC analysts, understanding how to interpret EDR telemetry is a fundamental skill that supports accurate threat detection and effective incident response.