Threat Investigation Using Network Detection and Response (NDR)

When a security incident occurs, context is everything. Knowing what happened isnt enoughyou need to know how, when, where, and why to respond effectively. This is where Network Detection and Response (NDR) shines: by offering rich threat context, it transforms raw network activity into actionable intelligence for rapid, accurate investigations.

Why Threat Context Matters

Without context, alerts are just noise. For example:

• A login from a foreign country might be maliciousor just a traveling employee.

• A file transfer could be routineor unauthorized data exfiltration.

NDR helps answer critical questions like:

• Was this activity normal for this user or device?

• What other systems were involved?

• Was this part of a larger coordinated attack?

How NDR Provides Deep Threat Context

1. Full Packet and Flow Visibility

NDR platform captures and analyzes:

• Metadata (NetFlow, sFlow, etc.)

• Packet payloads (when enabled)

• Encrypted traffic patterns

This helps reconstruct the entire incident timeline:

• When the attack started

• Which IPs, devices, and users were involved

• What data was accessed or exfiltrated

2. Behavioral Baselines and Anomaly Detection

NDR solutions uses machine learning to understand normal behavior and spot anomalies like:

• A server communicating with an unusual foreign IP

• Sudden spikes in outbound traffic

• A user accessing sensitive systems they dont normally use

These anomalies are key indicators of:

• Insider threats

• Credential misuse

• Stealthy malware activity

3. Attack Path Reconstruction

NDR can visualize and correlate:

• Initial access vectors

• Lateral movement patterns

• Command-and-control (C2) connections

• Exfiltration routes

This gives security analysts the fullkill chain view, making it easier to:

• Pinpoint root cause

• Understand attack scope

• Prevent recurrence

Investigation Tools Built into NDR

Most modern NDR platforms include:

• Visual threat maps showing device interactions

• Session replay tools for inspecting past traffic

• Drill-down capability to see full communication logs

• Enrichment with threat intelligence (IP reputation, domain analysis)

These tools empower analysts to investigate in minutes, not hours or days.

Integration for Deeper Investigation

When integrated with:

• EDR: You can trace from network activity to endpoint behavior

• SIEM: Correlate with logs from identity providers, firewalls, and apps

• SOAR: Automate evidence gathering and incident response playbooks

This creates aholistic view of the threat, reducing investigation time and increasing accuracy.

Summary: How NDR Supports Threat Investigation

Scenario: Sensitive files were leaked from your finance server.

With NDR:

• Analyst sees unusual outbound HTTPS traffic from the finance server.

• Drill-down reveals access at midnight by a user who typically logs in only during business hours.

• NDR identifies lateral movement from an earlier-compromised HR workstation.

• Integration with SIEM confirms login anomalies.

Result: The full threat path is mapped within minutes, leading to rapid containment and a complete post-mortem.

When a security incident occurs, time is criticaland so is clarity. Network Detection and Response (NDR) provides deep, real-time visibility into network traffic, enabling security teams to investigate threats quickly, accurately, and with full context. From the first alert to root cause discovery, NDR empowers you to trace, understand, and contain threats more effectively than traditional tools alone.

What Is Threat Investigation with NDR?

Threat investigation is the process of analyzing suspicious activity to determine:

• What happened?

• Who or what was involved?

• How did it happen?

• What was the impact?

• How can it be contained and prevented in the future?

NDR supports every stage of this process by continuously analyzing network traffic patterns, behaviors, and anomalies.