GigaOm Radar for Network Detection and Response (NDR)v2.0

Table of Contents

  1. Executive Summary
  2. Market Categories and Deployment Types
  3. Decision Criteria Comparison
  4. GigaOm Radar
  5. Solution Insights
  6. Analyst’s Outlook
  7. About Ivan McPhee

1. Executive Summary

Network detection and response (NDR) solutions represent a critical evolution in cybersecurity. Designed to address the increasingly sophisticated and varied nature of cyberthreats facing organizations today, they enable the detection of malicious behavior and the response to cyberthreats within network traffic, offering a level of visibility and analytical depth that traditional security measures cannot match. By leveraging advanced analytics, AI, and ML, NDR solutions can identify subtle attack signals and anomalies in network traffic, providing a proactive stance against potential security breaches.

The importance of NDR solutions in the modern cybersecurity landscape cannot be overstated. As organizations continue to expand their digital footprints, incorporating cloud services, internet of things (IoT) devices, and remote work models, the complexity and volume of network traffic have increased exponentially. This expansion, coupled with the sophistication of cyberattackers who continually develop new methods to bypass traditional security defenses, necessitates a more dynamic and intelligent approach to network security. NDR solutions fill this gap by offering comprehensive network visibility, including analysis of encrypted traffic and the ability to detect and respond to threats in real time. This ensures continuous operation and threat detection capabilities under a wide array of failure scenarios, including catastrophic events.

The NDR market is rapidly evolving, driven by several key trends. Integration with AI and ML is becoming more sophisticated, enabling NDR solutions to become even more adept at identifying anomalies and predicting malicious activity. There is a growing convergence with extended detection and response (XDR) platforms, blurring the lines between NDR and XDR to offer more unified detection and response capabilities across the entire IT environment. Additionally, the focus on automation is intensifying, with NDR solutions streamlining incident response protocols to mitigate threats more efficiently.

For organizations considering NDR solutions, several factors are critical to the purchase decision. Interoperability with existing network and security infrastructures ensures that NDR solutions can seamlessly integrate into the organization’s technology stack. Manageability and scalability are essential for adapting the solution to changing security needs, while performance and resilience guarantee that the solution can effectively protect the network without disrupting business operations. Vendor support is also a key consideration, as robust support models with highly trained staff and comprehensive documentation can significantly enhance the solution’s effectiveness.

As the market continues to evolve, organizations must carefully evaluate NDR solutions against their specific needs and requirements, ensuring that they select a solution that not only addresses current security challenges but is also capable of adapting to future threats and technological advancements.

This is our second year evaluating the NDR space in the context of our Key Criteria and Radar reports. This report builds on our previous analysis and considers how the market has evolved over the last year.

This GigaOm Radar report examines 29 of the leading NDR solutions and compares offerings against the capabilities (table stakes, key features, and emerging features) and nonfunctional requirements (business criteria) outlined in the companion Key Criteria report. Together, these reports provide an overview of the market, identify leading NDR offerings, and help decision-makers evaluate these solutions so they can make a more informed investment decision.

GIGAOM KEY CRITERIA AND RADAR REPORTS

The GigaOm Key Criteria report provides a detailed decision framework for IT and executive leadership assessing enterprise technologies. Each report defines relevant functional and nonfunctional aspects of solutions in a sector. The Key Criteria report informs the GigaOm Radar report, which provides a forward-looking assessment of vendor solutions in the sector.