Network Threat Detections vs Network Detection and Response

Network Threat Detection and Network Detection and Response (NDR) are related but not the same. Here's a clear breakdown to help you understand the difference:

1. Network Threat Detection

Definition:

The process of identifying suspicious or malicious activity in network traffic using tools, rules, or algorithms.

Key Points:

• It's a capability, not a full product or platform.
• Can be achieved using various tools: IDS/IPS, firewalls, SIEMs, or traffic analyzers.
• Focuses on identifying threats, such as:
• Malware traffic
• C2 (command & control) communications
• Port scanning or lateral movement
• Data exfiltration patterns

Example Tools That Perform Threat Detection:

• Snort or Suricata (open-source IDS/IPS)
• Zeek (protocol analysis)
• Firewalls with IDS/IPS features
• SIEMs (e.g., Splunk, QRadar) with log-based detections

Threat detection ≠ response or investigation.

2. Network Detection and Response (NDR)

Definition:

Network Detection and Response is a comprehensive security solution that not only detects threats in network traffic but also provides tools for investigating and responding to them.

Key Capabilities:

• Real-time threat detection using ML and behavior analytics
• Threat hunting tools (e.g., timeline analysis, traffic metadata)
• Incident response features, like:
• Integration with SOAR for automated actions
• Contextual alerts with remediation guidance
• Long-term network data retention for retrospection

Example NDR Tools:

• NetWitness
• Vectra AI
• ExtraHop Reveal(x)
• Darktrace
• Corelight
• Cisco Secure Network Analytics (Stealthwatch)

NDR = Threat Detection + Investigation + Response

Network Threat Detection vs. Network Detection and Response (NDR)

Feature	Network Threat Detection	Network Detection and Response (NDR)
Definition	The process of identifying potential threats in network traffic	A full platform that not only detects threats, but also investigates and responds to them
Scope	Focused on identifying anomalies or known malicious behavior in network traffic	End-to-end: Detects, investigates, correlates, and helps mitigate threats
Response Capability	Limited or none — typically alert-only	Includes automated or guided incident response actions
Technology	May include basic IDS/IPS, log scanning, or NetFlow analysis	Uses ML/AI, behavioral analytics, metadata correlation, and deep packet inspection
Threat Coverage	Alerts on suspicious patterns, rule-based or heuristic detection	Detects stealthy threats (zero-day, insider, lateral movement), correlates multiple events
Integration	Often standalone or basic integration	Integrates with SIEM, SOAR, EDR, and cloud platforms for coordinated defense
Analytics	May be signature or heuristic-based	Often includes ML/AI and behavioral analysis
Use Case	Alert generation	Alert + triage + investigation + action
Examples	Open-source IDS (e.g., Snort, Suricata), NetFlow analyzers	NetWitness, Darktrace, Vectra AI, ExtraHop Reveal(x), Corelight

• Network threat detection is just one piece of the puzzle.
• NDR platforms build on threat detection by adding visibility, context, and response, making them more powerful and useful for security teams.

Think of It This Way:

• Network Threat Detection = The ability to identify threats on the network.
• NDR = A complete system that detects, analyzes, and responds to those threats — often using AI and behavioral analytics.
• NDR = Network Threat Detection + Investigation + Response

Use Case Example

Imagine a compromised device starts sending data to an external server:

• Network Threat Detection: Notices the odd traffic and raises an alert.

NDR:

• Detects the anomaly
• Analyzes historical and behavioral context
• Links it to command-and-control patterns
• Scores the risk
• Sends alerts or initiates a response (e.g., isolate the device, notify SOC)

Network Threat Detection is a function — part of many tools. NDR is a comprehensive solution that wraps threat detection into a broader system of visibility, investigation, and response.

Using Network Threat Detection in Network Detection and Response (NDR)

Network threat detection is a core function inside NDR. It acts as the first step — identifying suspicious, abnormal, or malicious activity in real-time based on network traffic.

How Threat Detection Fits Into NDR

NDR works in three stages, and threat detection is central to stage 1:

NDR Stage	Function	Role of Threat Detection
1. Detect	Analyze raw traffic to spot threats	Uses behavioral analytics, threat intelligence, ML to flag anomalies
2. Investigate	Correlate threat data across sessions, users, and devices	Helps SOC teams understand the full scope and timeline of an incident
3. Respond	Alert or take action (manual or automated)	Escalates verified detections to incident response systems (SIEM/SOAR/EDR)

Types of Threat Detection Inside NDR

NDR systems use multiple detection techniques:

Methods	What It Detects	Example
Signature-based	Known malware/C2 patterns	Traffic matching known malware indicators
Behavioral Analysis	Abnormal actions vs baseline	IoT printer initiating outbound SSH
Machine learning	Subtle or unknown threats	Beaconing behavior to a never-seen domain
Encrypted traffic analysis	Suspicious patterns in TLS sessions	High-volume outbound HTTPS with no SNI, fast beacon intervals
Threat intelligence matching	IOCs from external feeds	DNS requests to known malicious domains

Real-World Use Case Example

Scenario:

An attacker compromises an internal endpoint and uses it to exfiltrate data via HTTPS.

How NDR uses threat detection:

1. Detects:

• Abnormal data volume to an unfamiliar IP
• Unusual behavior from the endpoint at off hours
• Use of uncommon protocol combinations

2. Correlates:

• Matches external IP to a known malicious actor (via threat intel)
• Sees prior lateral movement (SMB traffic to other endpoints)

3. Responds:

• Alerts SOC team
• Sends data to SIEM
• Optionally triggers SOAR playbook to isolate device

Threat Detection + Other Systems

NDR threat detection is often enhanced through integration with:

• EDR (to confirm endpoint actions)
• SIEM (for broader context and compliance logging)
• SOAR (for automated responses)
• Firewall or NAC (for real-time blocking)

Summary

Network threat detection is the foundational pillar of NDR. It provides the visibility and intelligence needed to:

• Spot early indicators of compromise
• Identify threats that bypass signature-based tools
• Enable fast, informed responses

In short:

NDR is the engine — threat detection is the ignition.