MDR vs EDR: do you need both?

Q: Do I need MDR if I already have EDR?

EDR is a tool. MDR is the team that operates it. Having EDR without MDR means you need internal staff to monitor, investigate, and respond to EDR alerts 24/7. If you don't have that capacity, you likely need MDR.

Q: Can MDR work with my existing EDR?

Yes, if you choose a technology-agnostic (BYOT) MDR provider. Providers like Expel, Red Canary, and Arctic Wolf integrate with existing EDR tools like CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender, and SentinelOne. Platform-native MDR providers require you to use their own EDR.

Q: Is EDR enough without MDR?

EDR alone catches many threats automatically but generates alerts that require human investigation. Without 24/7 analysts to work those alerts, sophisticated attacks can go undetected for days or weeks. Organizations without dedicated SOC staff typically need MDR.

The core distinction

EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) is software you install on endpoints. It detects suspicious activity, logs telemetry, and blocks known threats. CrowdStrike Falcon, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and SentinelOne are EDR products.

MDR (Managed Detection and Response) is a service where analysts operate your security tools (including your EDR), investigate alerts, and respond to threats. The EDR is the tool; the MDR provider is the team using it.

Why EDR alone isn't enough

EDR catches many threats automatically: known malware, common attack patterns, behavioral anomalies. But it also generates alerts. Lots of them. Each one needs human investigation to determine: Is this a real attack? What's the scope? What action should we take?

Without 24/7 analysts working those alerts:

Alerts pile up overnight and on weekends
False positives erode trust in the tool
Sophisticated attacks that evade automated detection go unnoticed
Response time stretches from minutes to hours or days

BYOT vs platform-native: the key decision

When choosing MDR, the biggest question is whether you keep your existing EDR or adopt the MDR provider's own platform.

Model	Examples	Pro	Con
BYOT (technology-agnostic)	Expel, Red Canary, Arctic Wolf	Keep existing tools, no lock-in	Integration complexity
Platform-native	CrowdStrike Falcon Complete, SentinelOne Vigilance	Deepest integration, single vendor	Must adopt their platform

If you already have an EDR you're happy with, choose a BYOT MDR provider that integrates with it. If you don't have an EDR yet (or are willing to switch), a platform-native MDR provider gives you both the tool and the team in one contract.

FAQ

Do I need MDR if I already have EDR?

EDR is a tool. MDR is the team that operates it. If you don't have internal staff to monitor, investigate, and respond to EDR alerts 24/7, you likely need MDR.

Can MDR work with my existing EDR?

Yes, if you choose a BYOT MDR provider. Providers like Expel, Red Canary, and Arctic Wolf integrate with CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender, SentinelOne, and others.

Is EDR enough without MDR?

For organizations with dedicated SOC staff, possibly. For everyone else, EDR without MDR means sophisticated attacks can go undetected for days.