Why Network Detection and Response (NDR) Is Now Essential for Critical Infrastructure Security
As cyber threats grow more advanced and evasive, industries that manage the backbone of our society—finance, energy, transportation, and government—are under increasing pressure to rethink their security posture. Sophisticated adversaries are bypassing traditional defenses, making visibility and accountability more critical than ever.
At Pavion, we recognize that today’s threats demand more than endpoint protection. Security teams need complete visibility across their networks to detect, investigate, and respond to threats that evade conventional tools. Network Detection and Response (NDR) is rapidly emerging as the missing layer in security stacks—and for good reason.
The Shift from Endpoint-Centric to Network-Centric Defense
For years, Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) has been a key component of cybersecurity strategies. But as threat actors become adept at living off the land, using encrypted channels, and abusing legitimate credentials, they’re avoiding detection by endpoint-based tools. Meanwhile, organizations still need to meet stringent compliance requirements and prove full mitigation post-incident.
That’s where NDR comes in. It delivers the ground truth—an unalterable record of all network activity—enabling security teams to identify suspicious behaviors early and respond with confidence. This level of insight is particularly critical in environments where endpoint agents can’t be deployed, such as legacy systems or operational technology (OT).
Industry Spotlights: How NDR Is Transforming Security
Financial Services: Protecting High-Value Data and Maintaining Compliance
Financial institutions are among the most targeted organizations globally. Attackers know that stealing customer data and gaining access to transactions can yield huge returns. Unlike disruptive attacks, these threats are often stealthy and persistent.
NDR gives financial security teams the tools to detect unauthorized data access, even within encrypted traffic. By flagging abnormal patterns—such as steady, low-volume data exfiltration during business hours—NDR can catch what SIEMs or EDRs might miss. For compliance teams, it also provides detailed forensic records to meet regulatory demands.
Energy and Utilities: Bridging the IT/OT Security Divide
In the energy sector, many OT systems can’t support endpoint agents and often lack fundamental cybersecurity controls. At the same time, attackers are increasingly targeting these systems to cause large-scale disruption.
NDR allows energy providers to monitor network traffic at convergence points between IT and OT environments. It can detect reconnaissance activity, brute-force attempts on weakly protected systems, and suspicious lateral movement—all critical in preventing attacks like those seen in the Volt Typhoon campaign.
With new regulations like FERC’s Order No. 887 requiring internal network monitoring, NDR isn’t just smart—it’s becoming mandatory.
Transportation: Securing the Digital Arteries of Mobility
Modern transportation systems rely on connected infrastructure—from fleet management platforms to navigation systems. This increased connectivity introduces risk, particularly as attackers look to manipulate or intercept critical data.
NDR helps transportation companies monitor communications between command centers and vehicles, detect anomalies like GPS spoofing, and protect against interference with safety-critical systems. It’s an essential tool for securing operations that span physical and digital domains.
Government: Combating Persistent Threats with Continuous Monitoring
Government agencies face persistent attacks from well-funded adversaries seeking long-term access to sensitive information. In these environments, visibility into subtle, long-term behaviors is vital.
NDR enables federal and local agencies to spot anomalies, even when attackers are using legitimate credentials and evasive tactics. It aligns with Zero Trust mandates by continuously validating traffic and detecting lateral movement, helping agencies meet compliance frameworks like NIST, CMMC, and FISMA.
What All Critical Sectors Have in Common
Despite varying priorities, the most security-conscious organizations across these industries share a few key insights:
- Network activity is the ultimate source of truth. Attackers can erase logs and disable agents, but they can’t fake network behavior.
- Layered defense is non-negotiable. NDR complements EDR, SIEM, and other tools by filling in critical blind spots.
- Encrypted traffic must be visible. NDR can analyze patterns in encrypted traffic to detect threats without needing decryption.
- Legacy and proprietary systems need protection too. Where endpoint agents can’t go, network monitoring steps in.
The Pavion Perspective
At Pavion, we help customers build integrated, future-ready security solutions. NDR plays a vital role in that mission. Whether you’re managing financial transactions, utility grids, transportation systems, or sensitive government operations, visibility across your network isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
Want to learn more about how Pavion can help you implement NDR and strengthen your security posture?
