Top 5 Features to Look for in a Managed Detection and Response Provider

A managed detection and response (MDR) provider protects companies against cyber attacks via advanced detection and quick incident response. They use MDR for combining human expertise and technological advancements to detect, assess, and respond to cyber threats.

As cyber attacks become more and more sophisticated – from ransomware to denial of service attacks to AI-driven incursions – it is imperative that companies take note and bolster their cybersecurity capabilities. And with costs of maintaining in-house security teams skyrocketing and old, legacy systems not cutting it, a managed detection and response provider is your answer.

But first, it is important to know what features make a difference when choosing the right MDR partner and what challenges must be navigated for the best results. We discuss these in the rest of this article and how Sangfor compares with Sophos and Crowdstrike.

Challenges of MDR

MDR, despite its advantages, has some challenges that must be noted. From a service perspective, these include contrasting technologies, false positives, log maintenance, and security analyst retention.

The complexity arises from the fact that MDR is co-managed. It isn’t effective without constant communication between the managed detection and response provider and the customer. A clear discussion is also necessary to determine the precise extent of the service provider’s capabilities versus what the customer must handle.

The Features that an MDR Provider Must Have

1. Threat hunting

The purpose of professional threat hunting activities is to ensure that all cyber threats missed by cybersecurity tools are detected and remediated. The ideal managed detection and response provider covers every aspect to ensure that your or your customer’s data is always safe.

Sangfor

Unlike other platforms, Sangfor’s Athena MDR service provider tries to identify the root cause of a cyber attack through forensic investigation. Its AI-powered detection and human logical analysis together find residual threats in a network through its quarterly threat hunting activity.

Athena MDR is also capable of integrating with Sangfor’s other cybersecurity platforms, like the Athena Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) and Athena Cyber Command, with capabilities like attack chain visualization and MITRE ATT&CK mapping to provide threat correlation and visibility that enhance MDR functions.

Sangfor’s cybersecurity specialists assess areas missed by cybersecurity tools for any missed threats. The service also includes pre-onboarding assessments and threat notifications customized for a customer’s needs.

Sophos

Sophos MDR has analysts who use techniques based on hypotheses to uncover remaining threats in a network. You get tailored workflows for hunting that fit with different companies.

Crowdstrike

CrowdStrike Falcon Complete uses the Adversary Overwatch team for threat hunting. This incorporates endpoints, cloud, third-party SIEM data, and identity.

2. 24/7 monitoring

Round-the-clock monitoring ensures threats never go unnoticed and that remediation is always prompt and effective.

Sangfor

Sangfor MDR’s 24/7 monitoring with a dedicated SOC team is made for operational efficiency. Real-time monitoring means real-time threat analysis and notifications, along with remote assistance customized for businesses.

Sophos

Sophos MDR also has 24/7 monitoring capabilities, and customers get to choose from service tiers. It can also integrate smoothly with existing security technology.

Crowdstrike

Their Falcon Complete MDR includes 24/7 protection and a mean time to detect (MTTD) of 4 minutes. They handle detection, investigation, and remediation, aiming for minimal to zero disruption.

3. Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence in cybersecurity and particularly MDR speeds up detection and aids in threat analysis and response. Although powerful in itself, its true potential surfaces when coupled with human involvement.

Sangfor

Sangfor utilizes AI and machine learning with Neural-X and Security GPT, which improve detection capabilities, produce contextual insights, and automate investigations. Global threat data is continuously fed into Sangfor’s systems that keep its AI ready for any threat detection and analysis.

Sophos

Sophos MDR uses generative AI for natural language queries and guided workflows. The Sophos AI assistant is helpful for all kinds of users who are doing threat investigation or response. It receives real-world threat intelligence on a continuous basis.

Crowdstrike

CrowdStrike’s Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR also uses generative AI and AI-driven workflows/agentic workflows for faster detection and response. Their AI is called Charlotte AI and it operates in conjunction with humans for effective insights and remediation.

4. Compliance and reporting

Regular risk assessment is critical to finding compliance risks as it assesses progress, recognizes deviations, and makes adjustments on time. This includes understanding the probability of non-compliance, its impact, and then focusing on areas that need attention.

Sangfor

Sangfor’s MDR includes ISO 27001-certified SOC operations for detailed logs, active detection, and incident response. This is great on two fronts – companies can set up effective security policies while gaining actionable advice on threats.

Sophos

Sophos MDR supports compliance through data retention and customizable reporting. With over 350 technology integrations, organizations can align with regulations effectively.

Crowdstrike

CrowdStrike provides full visibility across endpoints, cloud workloads, and even third-party data. This means that organizations can monitor and create activity logs across their attack surface, something required by GDPR and HIPAA. It also has a breach prevention warranty with detailed documentation that aligns with audit or reporting obligations.

5. Integration and scalability

A modern managed detection and response provider is able to integrate seamlessly with different technologies—IT environments, endpoints, SIEMs, and identity systems. A core necessity is scalability because it allows companies to increase coverage as needed. The ideal MDR with a good architecture behind it drives rapid deployment, total visibility, and flexible service tiers.

Sangfor

Sangfor’s Athena MDR is made for rapid deployment and high scalability. This service offers customized packages and easily integrates with Sangfor’s broader cybersecurity ecosystem, including Next Generation Firewall (NGFW), Endpoint Secure, Cyber Command, and other solutions.

Sophos

Sophos MDR supports integration with numerous third-party tools and offers service tiers that are flexible to your requirements. They have an AI-native platform that collates data from diverse sources, both streamlining operations and boosting ROI.

Crowdstrike

CrowdStrike’s  Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR collates data from diverse sources, enabling centralized visibility. This leads to quick deployment and flexibility in expansion, whereby companies get to reduce operational expenses while achieving defined security outcomes.

5 Questions to Ask Your MDR Provider

1. Can they decrease alert fatigue and noise disguised as actionable insights and reduce triage time?
2. How are their security analysts different in terms of expertise and threat detection?
3. Is their tech stack relevant to your needs and do they use tools like XDR, SOAR, and machine learning?
4. Do their human analysts monitor your systems 24/7 every day?
5. Do they handle incident response directly or via reliable breach response firms?

Working With a Managed Detection and Response Team

Your managed detection and response provider must be a part of your extended security team and not feel like an external entity. 

To ensure this collaboration is successful, here are two additionally important questions to consider:

• Are your MDR provider’s cybersecurity analysts retaining and utilizing what you are communicating to them?
• Do they keep coming back to you with the same question every time there is a situation?

If you don’t feel like they know how your business works, at least from a security standpoint, and are unable to collaborate with you during security incidents or otherwise, then it’s a problem. To protect your company from exposure, choosing the right MDR for your purposes is crucial. For that, you need to ask the right questions at the right time.

Conclusion

In conclusion, selecting the right Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider is essential for protecting your business from evolving cyber threats. By first evaluating the essential features—such as threat hunting, 24/7 monitoring, AI capabilities, compliance, and integration—you can determine which provider best meets your needs.

Sangfor, Sophos, and Crowdstrike each offer unique strengths in these areas, so choosing the right one depends on your specific security requirements. After identifying these features, asking the right questions about how they handle incidents and manage communication will ensure that your MDR provider integrates effectively with your security team. Make sure the provider you choose understands your business and can provide timely, tailored responses to any threats.