Security Improvements – Part 2

EDR, MDR, and XDR: Strengthening Detection and Response in Media & Entertainment

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In Part 1, we introduced the updated TPN best practices and highlighted the importance of modern security approaches. Among these, Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR), Managed Detection & Response (MDR), and Extended Detection & Response (XDR) stand out as transformative solutions. In this article, we’ll go deeper into what each of these means, the impact they have on your business, and practical steps for implementation within the Media & Entertainment industry.

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Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR)

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What It Is

EDR focuses on the endpoints in your environment—workstations, laptops, and mobile devices. Agents installed on each endpoint continuously monitor activity, looking for suspicious behavior like unauthorized access attempts, unusual file transfers, or malware activity. When triggered, the EDR platform can automatically isolate the device, kill malicious processes, or alert administrators.

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Impact on the Business

For creative studios, endpoints are where the majority of valuable content resides—scripts, assets, renders, and project files. A compromised workstation can mean not only downtime for a critical artist but also potential exposure of intellectual property. With EDR in place, threats are detected and contained early, minimizing disruption to workflows and protecting sensitive client material.

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Implementation Steps

• Deploy lightweight EDR agents on all endpoints (Windows, macOS, Linux).
• Configure policies to balance protection with performance, ensuring creative applications (editing suites, rendering software) are not disrupted.
• Establish automated responses for high-severity events (e.g., network isolation).
• Train IT teams to review alerts and integrate findings into broader security processes.

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Managed Detection & Response (MDR)

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What It Is

MDR takes EDR a step further by adding human expertise and 24/7 monitoring. Instead of relying solely on your internal IT staff, MDR providers manage and analyze the alerts, investigate incidents, and respond in real time. This service effectively extends your security team without adding headcount.

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Impact on the Business

Many M&E companies operate under tight deadlines with small IT departments. MDR alleviates the burden of round-the-clock monitoring, ensuring no alert goes unnoticed. This allows your in-house team to stay focused on supporting production rather than drowning in false positives or delayed incident responses. Most importantly, MDR reduces risk by ensuring immediate professional response to security incidents, even outside business hours.

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Implementation Steps

• Partner with a reputable MDR provider familiar with the M&E industry.
• Define escalation paths so incidents are communicated to the right stakeholders (producers, executives, IT).
• Integrate MDR alerts with your existing ticketing or communication systems for seamless response.
• Review provider reports regularly to ensure they align with TPN compliance requirements.

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Extended Detection & Response (XDR)

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What It Is

XDR unifies detection and response across multiple layers—endpoints, firewalls, servers, cloud applications, and even storage systems. By correlating signals across your environment, XDR provides a holistic view of threats, reducing blind spots and improving accuracy.

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Impact on the Business

For studios, where collaboration happens across multiple systems—editing suites, storage clusters, remote workstations, and cloud collaboration platforms—XDR ensures nothing falls through the cracks. Instead of chasing isolated alerts, XDR connects the dots, detecting coordinated attacks (e.g., simultaneous endpoint compromise and cloud account access). This helps prevent disruptions to production pipelines and provides assurance to clients that their content is protected at every stage.

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Implementation Steps

• Choose an XDR solution that integrates with your existing tools (endpoint protection, firewalls, cloud platforms).
• Configure integrations to cover all major data flows—especially storage and collaboration tools that are critical in M&E workflows.
• Develop correlation rules tailored to your environment, filtering out noise from expected high-volume activities like rendering or media transfers.
• Assign responsibilities for incident investigation, ensuring your security and IT teams can act quickly on cross-platform alerts.
• Choosing the Right Approach
• Start with EDR if your studio needs foundational endpoint protection and visibility.
• Adopt MDR if your IT team is small, overextended, or if 24/7 coverage is required.
• Invest in XDR when you need comprehensive protection across endpoints, infrastructure, and cloud services—especially valuable for hybrid and distributed studios.

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Each of these solutions builds on the other, and many organizations will use them in combination. What matters most is aligning the solution with your business size, workflows, and client security expectations.

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Final Thoughts

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The evolution from EDR to MDR to XDR reflects the growing complexity of today’s threat landscape. For Media & Entertainment companies, the stakes are high: a single breach can result in lost content, delayed productions, or damaged client trust. By implementing these solutions strategically, you not only achieve TPN compliance but also gain the peace of mind that your creative work is safeguarded—allowing your teams to focus on what matters most: creating.

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Check out Zalcore’s solution page to find out more about EDR options, Vulnerability Scanning and many more.

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