XDR, or Extended Detection and Response, is a unified security solution designed to enhance the efficiency of security operations by providing a holistic view of threats across various domains, including endpoints, email, and cloud applications. It automates the correlation and analysis of data, allowing security teams to detect and respond to threats more effectively. This integrated approach helps organizations transition from a reactive to a proactive defense strategy, ultimately improving threat detection and response times.

Siloed security solutions are ineffective because they fail to provide a comprehensive view of threats that span multiple domains. As attacks increasingly target the gaps between these isolated solutions, security analysts are left to manually correlate alerts, which slows down detection, investigation, and remediation. With attackers moving laterally within an average of 72 minutes after a phishing link is clicked, this lack of integration can significantly hinder an organization's ability to respond quickly and effectively to sophisticated attacks.

Microsoft Defender XDR supports SOC teams by providing a unified investigation and response experience that enhances their ability to manage threats. It correlates signals across multiple platforms, offering a complete view of the attack kill chain. This deep context allows SOC teams to prioritize incidents effectively and respond more quickly. Additionally, Defender XDR automates attack disruption, enabling teams to contain threats in progress and minimize their impact on the organization.