Huntress is an EDR provider through Huntress Managed EDR. Updated.

Huntress also offers identity security, SIEM and security awareness products, so EDR is one part of its wider platform. Huntress Managed EDR combines a Huntress-built endpoint agent with 24/7 SOC monitoring, threat hunting, investigation and response.

Huntress Managed EDR at a Glance

Question Answer
Is Huntress an EDR? Yes, through Huntress Managed EDR
Is it only EDR software? No. It includes managed monitoring and response
Does it require Microsoft Defender for Endpoint? No
Does it use a Huntress-built agent? Yes
Does Huntress provide human monitoring? Yes, through its AI-assisted SOC and threat experts
Which operating systems does it support? Windows, macOS and Linux
Who is it best suited to? Businesses that need EDR protection without running their own 24/7 SOC

What Makes Huntress an EDR?

Endpoint detection and response, or EDR, monitors computers and servers for suspicious activity. It collects endpoint telemetry, investigates threats and supports containment or remediation.

Huntress Managed EDR provides these capabilities through a Huntress-built endpoint agent and platform. Huntress says its EDR analyzes endpoint activity, performs forensic monitoring and detects suspicious behavior beyond traditional antivirus signatures.

The service includes:

  • Endpoint activity monitoring
  • Suspicious behavior detection
  • Threat investigation
  • Threat hunting
  • Endpoint containment
  • Remediation guidance and response
  • 24/7 SOC monitoring
  • Human review of suspicious activity

Huntress manages the EDR technology and the security operations around it. That means customers receive endpoint detection alongside alert review, investigation and response from the Huntress SOC.

Is Huntress EDR or MDR?

Huntress Managed EDR is both endpoint detection technology and a managed security service. Its primary category is managed EDR.

The terms describe different parts of the service:

  • EDR: Endpoint software and a platform that detect, investigate and respond to endpoint threats.
  • MDR: A managed service that monitors security tools, investigates alerts and responds to threats.
  • Huntress Managed EDR: Huntress supplies the endpoint technology, manages it, tunes detections and operates a 24/7 SOC.

A traditional MDR provider may monitor an EDR platform supplied by another vendor. Huntress says its Managed EDR combines its own endpoint detection technology with managed monitoring, threat expertise and response services.

Does Huntress Managed EDR Depend on Microsoft Defender?

No. Huntress Managed EDR does not require paid Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Microsoft Entra licenses.

Huntress states that its core EDR detection, behavioral monitoring, tasking and remediation do not rely on Microsoft Defender.

Huntress can still work with Microsoft security products:

  • Huntress can manage Microsoft Defender Antivirus at no additional cost alongside Managed EDR.
  • Huntress can integrate with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
  • Organizations using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint must still meet Microsoft's licensing and deployment requirements.

This gives organizations an option beyond a service that only monitors Microsoft Defender alerts.

What Is the Difference Between Huntress and a Standalone EDR Tool?

A standalone EDR product gives an internal IT or security team the software, alerts and investigation tools. The customer remains responsible for:

  • Configuring the platform
  • Reviewing alerts
  • Tuning detections
  • Investigating incidents
  • Deciding whether a threat is real
  • Containing affected endpoints
  • Coordinating remediation

Huntress Managed EDR includes these operational services. Huntress says its SOC reviews suspicious activity, filters false positives and determines the appropriate response.

The Practical Difference

Standalone EDR Huntress Managed EDR
The customer operates the platform Huntress manages the platform
The customer reviews alerts The Huntress SOC reviews suspicious activity
The customer tunes detections Huntress threat experts help tune and improve detection
Response depends on internal staff Huntress provides managed investigation and response
The customer may need an internal SOC The service is designed to reduce the need for one

Who Should Consider Huntress Managed EDR?

Huntress Managed EDR suits businesses that need endpoint detection and response but do not have the staff, budget or expertise to run a 24/7 security operations center.

It may be relevant to:

  • Small and midsize businesses
  • Lean IT teams
  • Managed service providers
  • Organizations with remote or distributed endpoints
  • Companies that need after-hours monitoring
  • Businesses replacing basic antivirus with managed detection and response

Huntress supports Windows, macOS and Linux endpoints, which can help organizations with mixed operating system environments.

What Does Huntress Managed EDR Not Replace?

Huntress Managed EDR protects endpoints. It does not provide complete security coverage by itself.

An organization may still need separate controls for:

  • Email security
  • Network monitoring
  • Cloud infrastructure
  • Identity and account takeover attacks
  • Security log management
  • Vulnerability management
  • Backup and disaster recovery
  • Security awareness training

Huntress also offers Managed ITDR and Managed SIEM for identity and broader security monitoring use cases. Huntress says SIEM can identify threats earlier in the attack chain than endpoint detection alone.

Final Verdict: Is Huntress an EDR?

Huntress is an EDR provider through Huntress Managed EDR. The service combines:

  1. Huntress-built endpoint detection technology
  2. Endpoint telemetry and behavioral monitoring
  3. Threat hunting and investigation
  4. Managed containment and remediation
  5. A 24/7 SOC backed by security experts

For organizations that want EDR protection without running their own security operations center, Huntress Managed EDR provides managed EDR with MDR-style monitoring and response.