Partner content: Neutralise Cyber Threats, 24/7: Rethinking Risk and Resilience in a Shifting Landscape

In an age of constant digital exposure, the conversation around cybersecurity is shifting.

It is no longer enough to discuss threats in purely technical terms, nor is it sufficient to rely on tools that operate in isolation. Today’s cyber risks are deeply intertwined with business continuity, insurance viability, reputational resilience and operational integrity.

And in this context, Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is beginning to emerge not as an optional upgrade to endpoint protection, but as a critical layer of assurance in the face of accelerating complexity.

While many organisations have historically leaned on endpoint protection as the cornerstone of their security strategy, recent data shows that this approach leaves too much to chance. It offers a limited view – focused narrowly on the device, rather than the broader digital ecosystem in which the modern enterprise operates. MDR takes a wider lens, bringing visibility across the full spectrum of risk: from cloud and network infrastructure to identity systems, email and backup environments.

24/7 coverage – because criminals don’t work a 9-5

One big argument for MDR is around-the-clock coverage – something desperately needed in a modern security environment. Data from Sophos shows that 91% of ransomware attacks now begin outside traditional business hours1 – a window during which many in-house teams are off the clock.

This is more than just an operational inconvenience: it’s a massive strategic weakpoint. According to a recent survey from CRN2, 80% of companies have 24/7 coverage – half of which rely on outsourcing coverage to an MDR program. But for the other 20% of businesses whose coverage is limited to business hours, there is a very real security gap that could grant adversaries the luxury of time.

MDR services address that problem directly by providing 24/7 monitoring and response in a way that can seamlessly integrate with existing security protocols. Led by dedicated security and operations professionals, it can also address any gaps in talent or skillset you may have – something which the same CRN research showed was a top-of-mind issue for over half of IT leaders.

That always-on coverage is more than a technical advantage or a nice-sounding buzzword. It’s a very real string to your bow that adds a much-needed vector of protection.

Making cybersecurity outcomes more predictable

A key argument in favour of MDR is its demonstrable impact on business outcomes. For many decision-makers, cybersecurity has evolved from a line item in the IT budget to a board-level concern – one tied closely to risk, liability and long-term operational continuity. This shift has made measurable outcomes and financial predictability more important than ever.

MDR users also experience more predictable outcomes3 – in both the scale of insurance claims and the speed of recovery. In the event of a ransomware incident, MDR-enabled organisations had an average recovery time of three days, with a narrow five-day recovery window. Compare that to EDR/XDR users, who faced an average recovery time of 55 days and a wide 66-day window – underscoring how unpredictable these tools can be without managed support. Endpoint-only users also lagged behind, taking 40 days on average to fully recover.

The predictability of MDR users’ claims reflects the consistency with which MDR providers quickly detect and neutralise threats. By providing 24/7 monitoring, investigation and response delivered by security operations specialists, MDR services can take swift action at any time of the day or night.

By contrast, EDR and XDR solutions – while valuable – show a far wider variance in results. Their effectiveness is heavily dependent on in-house capabilities: the availability of skilled analysts, the ability to monitor around the clock, and the discipline to respond with speed and accuracy.

The discovery that EDR/XDR users’ claims cover a wider band than those of endpoint users further suggests that the poor use of these tools can, in fact, exacerbate the situation.
Some organisations delay bringing in external experts while trying to resolve the situation themselves, which can increase both the financial and operational impact of an attack.

Ultimately, the MDR conversation is no longer about whether organisations should adopt it, but how quickly they can afford not to. When the cost of delay is measured in downtime, ransom payments, regulatory fines and long-term reputational damage, the value proposition becomes clear.

Cybersecurity is now a matter of resilience – and MDR is increasingly the foundation on which that resilience is built.

1 Sophos: Active Adversary Report for Tech Leaders 2023

2 CRN Research, June 2025

3 Sophos: Quantifying ROI: Understanding the impact of cybersecurity products

This article is sponsored by Sophos.