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EDR vs CDR
Cloud security has evolved beyond protecting endpoints and workloads alone. As environments become increasingly distributed and cloud adoption accelerates, the way threats appear and are detected has changed dramatically. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) was built for traditional devices, while Cloud Detection and Response (CDR) was designed for dynamic, cloud-native systems. One focuses on what happens on machines, the other on what happens inside the cloud.
When teams rely on a single source, visibility gaps appear. EDR cannot see into ephemeral cloud workloads, and CDR cannot track what happens on unmanaged devices. When both work together, organizations gain a continuous, connected view of risk across endpoints, identities, and cloud services.
Learn the key differences between EDR and CDR, why both are essential in modern environments, and how combining them helps security teams detect faster, respond smarter, and close the visibility gap across hybrid infrastructure.
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What Is EDR?
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is a cybersecurity capability designed to monitor and analyze endpoint activity to detect suspicious behavior, stop ongoing attacks, and support investigations.
EDR focuses on assets such as laptops, servers, and managed workstations. It collects endpoint telemetry, identifies anomalies, and provides visibility into:
- Process execution and file changes
- Network connections from devices
- Registry or configuration tampering
- User and system behavior on a host
EDR operates at the device level and was created for environments where infrastructure is persistent and centrally managed.
What Is CDR?
Cloud Detection and Response (CDR) brings the same principles of visibility and reaction to cloud environments. Instead of tracking devices, it monitors workloads, APIs, identities, and cloud services.
CDR gathers and correlates data from native cloud telemetry to detect suspicious or malicious activity across compute, storage, identity, and network layers.
Common examples include:
- Unusual API calls or service usage patterns
- Cross-account or cross-region access attempts
- Compromised identities or privilege escalation
- Suspicious data transfers within or across clouds
CDR is cloud-native and works at cloud scale without requiring agents. It is built to handle short-lived, highly dynamic workloads that traditional tools cannot monitor.
Why the Difference Matters
EDR and CDR share the same goal: faster detection and response. The difference lies in what they protect.
EDR secures endpoints that users directly interact with, while CDR protects the underlying infrastructure that powers cloud applications. As workloads and data move from endpoints to cloud services, detection must evolve.
Organizations that rely only on EDR lose visibility into cloud threats. Those that focus only on CDR may miss device-level compromise that leads to cloud breaches. A complete security strategy requires both.
EDR vs CDR: Key Differences
| Category | EDR | CDR |
| Focus | Devices and endpoints | Cloud infrastructure and services |
| Visibility | Device-level activity | Cloud-native operations and identities |
| Data Source | Agent-based telemetry | Native cloud telemetry via APIs and audit logs |
| Detection Method | Signature and rule-based | Contextual and behavioral analytics |
| Deployment | Installed on endpoints | Integrated through cloud provider APIs |
| Environment Type | Static and managed | Dynamic and ephemeral |
| Response Action | Isolate endpoint or terminate process | Disable identity or suspend resource |
| Primary Goal | Protect endpoint activity | Correlate and respond to cloud behavior |
EDR sees the user’s world. CDR sees the cloud’s. Both are required for end-to-end defense.
How CDR Complements EDR
EDR is vital for endpoint protection, but cloud workloads operate differently. Containers, functions, and identities move faster than endpoints. CDR complements EDR by filling these gaps and connecting the dots between device and cloud activity.
Together, they provide:
- Complete visibility from endpoint to cloud
- Cross-correlation of identity and activity signals
- Faster investigation by tracing attacks across systems
- A single pane of glass for both on-premises and cloud incidents
This unified approach transforms detection into a continuous, connected process.
Benefits of Adopting CDR Alongside EDR
When organizations deploy CDR with EDR, they create a layered and adaptive detection strategy that strengthens response across all environments.
A few common benefits include:
- Full visibility across endpoints, users, and cloud workloads
- Faster and more accurate investigations through correlated data
- Shorter dwell time through behavioral analytics
- Prioritized alerts based on real risk context
- Simplified compliance with integrated audit trails across systems
CDR does not replace EDR. It extends it. Together, they make detection and response complete.
Common Challenges in Transitioning to Cloud Detection
Organizations expanding from endpoint-centric detection to cloud-native detection often face:
- Visibility gaps from legacy tools that cannot access cloud telemetry
- Skills limitations in cloud-specific detection engineering
- Duplicate or overlapping alerts from multiple platforms
- Disconnected processes between endpoint and cloud security teams
- Tool fragmentation across multi-cloud environments
Solving these challenges requires integrated technology, shared workflows, and consistent detection logic across both environments.
Best Practices for Unified Detection and Response
- Integrate EDR and CDR alerts into a central system such as SIEM or SOAR
- Create unified playbooks that connect endpoint events with cloud incidents
- Prioritize alerts based on correlated activity and risk
- Continuously tune detections using real-world data and behavioral insights
- Automate remediation across both endpoint and cloud resources
- Foster collaboration between cloud, infrastructure, and SecOps teams
Unified detection and response is not about more tools, it is about connecting insights for faster, more confident action.
