EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) — real endpoint protection for organizations compliant with NIS2, ISO 27001, and DORA
Classic antivirus only stops what it recognizes by signature. Modern attacks (ransomware, fileless malware, living-off-the-land, supply chain) increasingly bypass traditional defences by exploiting legitimate system tools (PowerShell, WMI, RDP) and brief access windows. EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) addresses this — instead of just blocking files, the EDR agent continuously records process behaviour, network connections, and user activity; correlates events with MITRE ATT&CK tactics; and allows isolation of an attacked device before the incident spreads across the rest of the infrastructure.
Virtline designs and deploys EDR for manufacturing companies, financial institutions, healthcare entities, and public administration. We select the platform to the client’s scale, IT team maturity, and regulatory requirements — most often working with WithSecure Elements EDR, WatchGuard EPDR/Endpoint Security, ESET Inspect, and ThreatDown EDR by Malwarebytes. Every deployment includes a pilot, tuning of detection rules to the specific environment, integration with Active Directory/Entra ID, MFA and SIEM, and a set of incident response playbooks. As an organization holding the ISO/IEC 27001:2023 certificate issued by TÜV NORD, we know exactly which artefacts from the EDR console auditors require for NIS2, ISO 27001, and DORA compliance — and we deliver them in ready-to-use format.
What do you gain with EDR?
Deploying EDR changes the way an organization views endpoint security — from reactive (signature-based blocking) to proactive (telemetry, correlation, threat hunting). Key outcomes:
Telemetry from every device — the EDR agent records processes, libraries, network connections, registry modifications, and user activity with a 30–90 day retention period.
Fileless attack detection — detection of living-off-the-land techniques (PowerShell, WMI, mshta) and abuse of legitimate system tools that bypass classic antivirus.
Automatic network isolation — an attacked endpoint is disconnected from the network with one click (or by rule), while maintaining management console access for analysis.
MITRE ATT&CK mapping — every alert described by ATT&CK tactic and technique, simplifying analysis, reporting, and communication with management.
Post-incident rollback — restoration of encrypted or deleted files from local endpoint cache (on selected platforms).
Audit evidence — complete process and connection history as proof of compliance with NIS2 Art. 21(2), ISO 27001 A.8.16, and DORA Art. 9–10.
EDR platforms we work with
We are not tied to a single vendor. Platform selection depends on scale (50 workstations vs 5,000 endpoints), existing tool stack (M365 Defender, SIEM), industry requirements, and budget. In deployment practice we most often select:
WithSecure Elements EDR — European platform with the Broad Context Detection™ engine, strong SMB support, integration with Co-Monitoring and MDR service.
WatchGuard Endpoint Security (EPDR) — EPP + EDR + Zero-Trust Application Service combination, cost-effective for mid-sized organizations, single agent for multiple protection layers.
ESET PROTECT Enterprise/Elite + ESET Inspect — our choice for clients already running ESET; Inspect adds an EDR layer with a lightweight agent and MDR ecosystem.
ThreatDown EDR by Malwarebytes — lightweight agent, strong behavioural detection, and optional ThreatDown MDR 24/7 add-on service.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (Plan 1/2) — recommended for clients with a mature M365/E5 ecosystem; integration with Defender XDR, Sentinel SIEM, and Intune.
SIEM/SOAR integrations — all listed platforms connect to our SOC (SIEM+SOAR) or the client’s Microsoft Sentinel, Splunk, or Wazuh for full event correlation.
How we deploy EDR — 4 stages
EDR is not a plug-and-play tool. A deployment without rule tuning and without an alert response process ends in one of two scenarios: a flood of false positives or silence in the console during a real incident. We work in a repeatable framework where each stage ends with a concrete deliverable.
1. Inventory and pilot — endpoint fleet review (OS, role, criticality), selection of a representative sample of 20–50 devices for piloting, agent installation, telemetry baseline, and rule calibration for the specific environment (false-positive exclusions, policy tuning).
2. Production deployment — rolling agent rollout across the entire fleet via GPO, Intune, Workspace ONE, or Jamf; integration with Active Directory/Entra ID, MFA, SIEM; differentiated policies per group (servers, workstations, field employee laptops, OT).
3. Response processes and playbooks — development of response cards for typical alerts (ransomware, lateral movement, suspicious PowerShell); integration with the client’s helpdesk or our duty service (Managed SOC); agreement on detection SLA (MTTD) and response SLA (MTTR).
4. Quarterly review and tuning — recurring analysis of effectiveness (alert TTR, TP/FP ratio), rule adjustment for the evolving threat landscape, executive report with metrics and recommendations for the next quarter.
EDR in NIS2, ISO 27001, and DORA requirements
Endpoint security monitoring and incident response is an area explicitly addressed by three key regulations affecting the European market. Without a deployed EDR, it is practically impossible to document compliance with controls related to detection, monitoring, and response.
- NIS2 Art. 21(2)(b) — incident handling. Essential and important entities must implement technical measures ensuring detection, analysis, and response to security incidents. EDR provides the telemetry and automation needed to genuinely fulfil this requirement.
- NIS2 Art. 21(2)(f) — policies and procedures for assessing risk management measure effectiveness. The EDR console generates metrics (MTTD, MTTR, number and classification of alerts) that serve as direct proof of compliance.
- ISO/IEC 27001:2022 A.8.16 — Monitoring activities. Requires network, system, and application monitoring to detect anomalies and potential incidents. EDR is the practical implementation of this control at the endpoint layer.
- ISO/IEC 27001:2022 A.8.7 — Protection against malware. The malware protection requirement combined with A.8.16 means in practice the need to deploy an EPP+EDR class solution.
- DORA Art. 9–10 — protection and detection mechanisms. Financial entities must deploy tools for detecting unusual activities and prepare for incident response — EDR with SIEM integration fulfils both requirements.
Frequently asked questions about EDR
What is the difference between EDR and antivirus (EPP)?
EPP (Endpoint Protection Platform) is the evolution of classic antivirus — it blocks known threats using signatures, heuristics, and ML. EDR works one layer above: it continuously collects telemetry (processes, connections, file modifications), correlates events over time, and allows detection of attacks that passed through EPP. In practice, modern platforms combine both approaches — a single agent performs EPP and EDR functions (e.g. WatchGuard EPDR, WithSecure Elements, ESET PROTECT + Inspect, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint).
Does EDR make sense for a company with fewer than 100 endpoints?
Yes, though at smaller scale we recommend the managed (MDR) model rather than self-managing the console. Ransomware and BEC attacks do not skip smaller organizations — ENISA statistics and national CERT reports show a growing share of SMBs in incidents. A sensible model for 30–100 endpoints combines EDR (e.g. WithSecure Elements or ThreatDown) with a Virtline MDR service or a vendor MDR service — without the need to build an in-house SOC.
How does EDR integrate with an existing SIEM?
Every platform we work with exports alerts and telemetry to SIEM via a native connector (Microsoft Sentinel, Splunk, IBM QRadar, Elastic, Wazuh), syslog, or REST API. We typically send high-priority alerts in real time and full daily telemetry in batch mode. SIEM correlation supplements EDR visibility with events from firewalls, domain controllers, M365, and other sources — enabling detection of attacks only visible at layer boundaries.
Does EDR work on servers, laptops, and mobile devices?
Yes, to varying degrees. Windows and Linux servers and Windows/macOS workstations are the standard supported platforms — all listed products provide full functionality here. Mobile endpoints (iOS, Android) are protected by Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) modules, which we standardly integrate as part of UEM/MDM. Container environments and cloud workloads require dedicated CWPP-class tools, which we recommend for organizations running larger Kubernetes/AWS/Azure deployments.
How much does EDR deployment cost?
Cost depends on three variables: number of endpoints, chosen platform, and maintenance model (self-managed vs managed). EDR licences for SMBs start from a few euros per endpoint per month; for enterprise solutions (Defender for Endpoint Plan 2) the price can be several times higher. Add to this the implementation project cost (pilot, tuning, playbooks) and optionally a Managed Detection and Response service. We prepare a quote after a brief discovery call.
Does EDR respond to incidents automatically or does it require human decisions?
Modern EDRs combine both approaches. Some actions (file quarantine, endpoint network isolation, process termination) are performed automatically based on defined rules and the ML engine output. Actions with greater operational impact (registry change rollback, system reimaging) require an analyst’s decision. In the Managed Detection and Response model, the decision is made by an on-call SOC analyst within the agreed SLA — offloading the client’s IT team.
Why choose Virtline for EDR deployment
Virtline has been designing and maintaining EDR-class solutions since the first platforms combining EPP with EDR came to market. We work from the perspective of both integrator and auditor — we protect our own processes with EDR integrated with SIEM, and our deployment service is covered by the ISO/IEC 27001:2023 certificate issued by TÜV NORD. This means the client receives the exact artefacts an auditor expects: an endpoint security policy, console reports, response runbooks, and performance metrics.
Key benefits of EDR deployment with Virtline:
ISO/IEC 27001:2023 certificate by TÜV NORD — we deploy from the audited organization’s perspective
Partner status with WithSecure, WatchGuard, ESET, ThreatDown, and Microsoft
Pilot before full deployment — rule and policy tuning to the specific environment
Integration with Active Directory, Entra ID, MFA, SIEM, and UEM/MDM
Incident response playbooks and MITRE ATT&CK mapping
Control mapping to NIS2, ISO 27001 A.8.16, DORA Art. 9–10
Optional Managed Detection and Response 24/7 model instead of self-managing the console
English-language support and communication — no handoffs to a call centre in a different time zone
Contact us to select an EDR platform matched to your organization’s scale, tool ecosystem, and regulatory requirements — with a concrete pilot, deployment, and maintenance plan.
Deploy EDR that sees what antivirus misses — and cut incident response time from days to minutes.
ISO/IEC 27001:2023 Certification
Virtline certified by TÜV NORD
Virtline holds the PN-EN ISO/IEC 27001:2023-08 certificate issued by TÜV NORD. Certificate number: AC090 121/2469/6137/2026, valid until 02.2029. EDR deployments are designed from the audited organization’s perspective — we deliver the artefacts ISO, NIS2, and DORA auditors require.
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