---
title: 'Extended detection & response (XDR)'
url: 'https://triplepoint.org.uk/security/detect-and-respond/xdr'
markdown: 'https://triplepoint.org.uk/security/detect-and-respond/xdr.md'
date: '2026-09-28'
description: 'Extended detection and response (XDR) for UK businesses. Bring together signals from devices, firewall, email, cloud and identity so an attack across several of them is not missed.'
---

# Extended detection & response (XDR)

The riskA typical attack crosses several systems: a phishing email, a stolen password, a sign-in from somewhere unusual, then a laptop running something it shouldn't.

Each security tool sees only its own piece, and on its own each piece might not look worth an alert.

 What it does- Brings together detections from devices, servers, firewalls, email, network, cloud and identity
- Works with more than 500 third-party tools, including Microsoft, CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks
- Groups related activity into prioritised cases, so an attack across several systems shows up as one story
- An AI assistant that answers questions in plain English
- More than 130 ready-made automated response playbooks
- Everything in EDR, included

 Who it's forBusinesses with an IT team, or an IT provider, looking after several security tools, including ones from other vendors, who want to investigate across all of them in one place.

 How we supply itBy default we supply the licence and your IT team uses it. If you'd rather not run it yourselves, MDR puts a 24/7 team on the same data.

 What's under the hood**Sophos XDR** — includes Sophos Endpoint and Sophos EDR, and feeds the same data to Sophos MDR if you'd rather hand the watching over.

 Questions What's the difference between EDR and XDR?+EDR looks at devices. XDR looks across devices, firewall, email, cloud and identity together, so it can connect events that each look harmless on their own.

 Do we need to use Sophos for everything?+No. It works with a wide range of other vendors' tools too.

 Is it worth it for a small business?+If you have someone in-house with the time to investigate, yes. If not, MDR usually makes more sense: the same visibility, with someone else doing the watching.

[← Back to Detect and respond](https://triplepoint.org.uk/security/detect-and-respond)

## Not sure what you need?

Tell us a little about your business and we'll recommend the controls that matter most for it — no obligation, and no jargon.

[Talk to us →](https://triplepoint.org.uk/contact?about=Extended%20detection%20%26%20response%20%28XDR%29) or [see every security area →](https://triplepoint.org.uk/security)

---

## Navigation

- Parent: [Threat detection and response](https://triplepoint.org.uk/security/detect-and-respond.md)
- Previous: [Endpoint detection & response (EDR)](https://triplepoint.org.uk/security/detect-and-respond/edr.md)
- Next: [24/7 managed detection & response (MDR)](https://triplepoint.org.uk/security/detect-and-respond/mdr.md)