As cyberattacks become more advanced with the use of artificial intelligence, traditional antivirus solutions are struggling to keep up with evolving security demands. As a result, organizations worldwide are turning to Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions—advanced tools designed to secure connected devices and reduce vulnerabilities across digital environments. According to ?lkem Ozar, General Manager of Kaspersky Turkey, EDR has now become one of the top three cybersecurity priorities for businesses of all sizes.
“Traditional antivirus solutions are becoming obsolete. Today’s organizations are exposed to threats that need to be tracked and countered, not just blocked,” said Ozar.
Beyond the Antivirus Software
On top of trying to detect known malware, EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) solutions offer continuous visibility into all endpoint devices from traditional laptops and desktop computers to smartphones and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
EDR technology operates in real time, tracking abnormal activity, discovering potential sources of an attack, capturing suspicious behavior, and automatically responding, such as by isolating infected devices, to prevent them from spreading throughout the network.
“Ozar made a good analogy,” said Chris Ozar, president of ThreatQuotient, “If antivirus is like passport control, then EDR is like airport security scanning. Companies need to go beyond the minimum check.”
Expanding Attack Surface
The explosive growth of IoT devices has created an expanding risk surface that organizations must consider. From smartwatches and sensors to retail checkout machines, every connected device is a potential vulnerability exposed to the threat landscape.
As Ozar noted, even point-of-sale devices in retail environments must now be protected with specialized EDR solutions. These solutions are increasingly designed for IT as well as OT, and must span a broad range of industries from finance and manufacturing to retail. As digital ecosystems expand, so must our cybersecurity strategies, which must become broader, more adaptive, and more capable than ever before.
The Human Factor Still Counts
Of course, advanced tech such as EDR is critical, but it’s the human awareness that remains one of the biggest vulnerabilities. Ozar emphasized that employee training and cybersecurity awareness are just as important as the tech itself. "Awareness is extremely unequal. Finance is relatively mature but retail and manufacturing have work to do especially small and medium-sized businesses," she said. Kaspersky is increasing its reach in countries such as Turkey and Brazil and India, enhancing local support teams and a range of ongoing cybersecurity training for our partners and customers.
EDR: The New Cybersecurity Standard
To wrap up, Ozar reminded everyone that cybersecurity has to keep up with technology. As organizations become more connected digitally, advanced cybersecurity is no longer a nice-to-have, it is a must-have. “Anywhere there is technology, there has to be advanced cybersecurity; in the near future every endpoint will need constant EDR protection. It’s going to be the new global standard,” she said.
.webp)