EDR, MDR, or XDR – Which is the Right Option in 2025?

John Munyiri
Jul 10
3 min read

Updated: Aug 4

Understanding Cybersecurity Threats: EDR, MDR, and XDR in 2025

Introduction

Corporate decision-makers grapple with pressing questions in cybersecurity:

Where is the breach happening—and why?
Are we dealing with sophisticated threat actors or just poor visibility?
Why does malware feel like it’s always one step ahead?
How do we eliminate cyber threats effectively?

In today’s landscape, these questions are more urgent than ever. With distributed workforces, hybrid cloud infrastructure, and AI-powered malware, visibility and response are no longer optional—they are existential.

In this post, we demystify the current threat detection models—EDR, MDR, and XDR—and guide you on how to choose the right approach based on your organization’s cybersecurity maturity level.

The Challenge: Silos and Blind Spots

Modern IT environments are increasingly fragmented. Devices, users, and data spread across office networks, home setups, and cloud applications. This lack of unified visibility is what attackers exploit the most.

In 2025, we have seen a surge in:

Zero-day attacks targeting SaaS tools.
Living-off-the-land attacks that use built-in tools like PowerShell to evade detection.
Cloud-to-endpoint attacks, where lateral movement goes unnoticed due to siloed monitoring.

This makes a layered, integrated approach not just strategic but necessary.

Cybersecurity Maturity Model – 2025 Perspective

To determine the right solution—EDR, MDR, or XDR—your organization must first assess its Security Maturity Level:

Level 1: Foundational Security (Reactive)

Security is managed by general IT support.
Relies on basic antivirus or endpoint protection.
Responds to known threats but is blind to evasive or persistent threats.

Level 2: Optimum Security (Proactive)

A dedicated security team or IT security lead is in place.
Uses EDR tools for endpoint visibility and limited response.
Capable of investigating suspicious behaviour but still suffers from alert overload.

Level 3: Expert Security (Strategic & Adaptive)

Security is driven by an internal SOC or trusted MSSP.
Fully equipped with MDR or XDR solutions.
Continuous monitoring, threat hunting, and intelligence-led response.

Ariel Technology assesses your security posture against these levels using industry frameworks like NIST CSF, MITRE ATT&CK, and ISO 27001. We recommend a fit-for-purpose solution tailored to your needs.

EDR vs. MDR vs. XDR in 2025

Feature	EDR	MDR	XDR
Focus	Endpoint-specific	Managed threat detection	Cross-layered visibility
Visibility	Endpoints only	Endpoints, with human support	Endpoints, email, cloud, network
Management	In-house	Outsourced team	In-house or hybrid
Response	Requires internal team	24/7 response team	Automated + manual
Ideal for	Mid-sized, growing teams	Organizations without SOC	Mature teams needing unified detection

Kaspersky MDR Framework (2025)

Kaspersky’s MDR platform continues to be a robust, subscription-based service that evolves with your organization. Key tiers include:

Level 1 – Foundational Protection

Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business
Kaspersky Embedded Systems Security
Kaspersky Hybrid Cloud Security
Kaspersky Security for Mail & Internet Gateways

Level 2 – EDR Capabilities

Kaspersky EDR Optimum
Kaspersky Sandbox
Kaspersky Threat Intelligence Portal
Kaspersky Security Awareness (KASA)

Level 3 – Expert Threat Hunting

Kaspersky EDR Expert (KEDR)
Kaspersky Anti Targeted Attack (KATA)
Kaspersky Security Assessment & Incident Response
Cybersecurity Training for SOC Teams

XDR in Action – Trend Micro Vision One™

XDR (Extended Detection & Response) isn’t just a buzzword. In 2025, it is a core architecture for threat detection across users, endpoints, email, network, and cloud.

How to Choose the Right Option

Choose EDR if:

You have a small team with growing detection needs.
You're ready to go beyond antivirus but can't manage full threat hunting.

Choose MDR if:

You want 24/7 monitoring without building a SOC.
You're in a regulated industry or facing advanced threats.

Choose XDR if:

You have diverse environments—cloud, email, endpoints—and want centralized response.
You want faster, AI-assisted investigation and correlation.

How Ariel Technology Can Help

We partner with leading vendors including Kaspersky, Fortinet, and Palo Alto Networks to deliver:

Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR)
Managed Detection & Response (MDR)
Extended Detection & Response (XDR)
Security Assessment Services
Threat Intelligence Subscriptions
Security Awareness Training

Let’s assess your current posture and recommend the most effective security architecture for your maturity level.

Free Security Assessment

Want to find out how well your current security tools are performing?

Try our Security Assessment Service – we’ll simulate attacks to identify detection gaps in your email, endpoint, and cloud systems.