See what features you can expect from Carbon Black and CrowdStrike to decide which endpoint detection and response solution is right for you.
As organizations grow, they will need to acquire endpoint detection and response tools to monitor activity and secure endpoint devices. Carbon Black and CrowdStrike are two top EDR products with features that can help improve the security health of an organization.
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What is Carbon Black?
VMware Carbon Black is a security platform that uses analytics and machine learning to detect, investigate, and respond to threats. The EDR tool uses streaming analytics to detect, predict, respond to, and mitigate endpoint data. In addition, the platform provides visibility into endpoint device activity and enables security teams to quickly identify suspicious behavior. Carbon Black also offers several incident response features, including rollback of changes made by malicious actors.
What is CrowdStrike?
Falcon Crowd Strike is an endpoint security platform that provides real-time protection, detection, and response. The platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) and behavioral analytics to identify new and unknown threats and stop attacks before they happen. CrowdStrike also offers a cloud-based management console that makes it easy to deploy and manage the system.
SEE: Mobile Device Security Policy (Tech Republic Premium)
Carbon Black vs CrowdStrike: Feature Comparison
| Function | carbon black | CrowdStrike |
|---|---|---|
| hunting threats | Yes | Yes |
| Design with one agent | New | Yes |
| behavioral learning | New | Yes |
| Feature parity across the OS | New | Yes |
| Cloud based | Yes | Yes |
| Firewall management | New | Yes |
| API integration | Yes | Yes |
Head-to-head comparison: Carbon Black vs. CrowdStrike.
Threat Hunting and Remediation
Both Carbon Black and CrowdStrike provide powerful threat detection and remediation capabilities. However, CrowdStrike is a more robust solution based on MITER Engenuity testing. The attunement to the MITER framework saw it named a Leader in Gartner’s 2021 Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platforms for the second consecutive year. The product also held the top position for completeness of vision.
In contrast, Carbon Black missed some threat detections when tested against the MITER framework of the past four years†
Design with one agent
Using a single agent to centrally manage multiple endpoint devices enables teams to quickly deploy and start addressing threats.
CrowdStrike uses a single universal agent design. The Falcon platform uses a single lightweight agent deployed on endpoint devices that collects data and sends it to the cloud for analysis.
On the other hand, Carbon Black is a complex security tool with a steep learning curve. It requires significant tuning and configuration. In addition, the threat detection queries are too complex and there are several manual processes to manage alerts and remediation.
behavioral learning
EDR software can be signature-based or signature-less. Signature-based EDR programs rely on a database of known threats, while signature-less EDR programs use machine learning and behavioral analytics to identify suspicious activity.
CrowdStrike offers advanced, signature-less protection through machine learning, behavioral analytics, and integrated threat intelligence, while Carbon Black includes a signature-based AV engine. As a result, CrowdStrike can better protect devices against new and unknown threats.
Stake
CrowdStrike is delivered as a single platform for all workloads. It provides comprehensive protection coverage that you can deploy to Windows, Linux, and macOS servers and endpoints. Plus, there’s no on-premises equipment that requires maintenance, management, scans, reboots, and complex integrations.
Carbon Black, on the other hand, comes as an on-premises or cloud solution. It may be necessary to reboot the device, including critical servers, as part of the sensor update process. In addition, there is a feature difference between on-premises and cloud versions.
Device and Firewall Management
Carbon Black’s EDR software enables device management (not firewall management), but is limited to Windows operating systems and USB flash drives. It also allows you to create your endpoint security policies, which are beneficial for businesses that need to meet specific regulations or performance standards.
In comparison, CrowdStrike’s Falcon Firewall Management enables customers to move from legacy endpoint platforms to the company’s next-generation EDR software, which includes robust protection, increased performance, and efficient management and enforcement of host firewall policies. In addition, Falcon Firewall Management provides easy cross-platform management of host/OS firewalls from the Falcon console, enabling security teams to effectively mitigate any risk exposure.
In addition, the Falcon Device Control enables users to securely use USB devices by providing complete end-to-end protection and detection and response (EDR) capabilities. The seamless integration with the Falcon agent and platform comes with device management features, complemented by full endpoint security. This gives security and IT operations teams insight into how devices are being used and the resources to regulate and manage that use.
API integration
API integration ensures you get the most out of your EDR software.
Carbon Black’s EDR solution offers more than 120 out-of-the-box integrations.
Likewise, CrowdStrike’s Falcon Platform was developed as an API First Platform. As new features are released, the corresponding API functionality is added to help automate and control newly added operations.
Choosing between Carbon Black and CrowdStrike
CrowdStrike is the better choice if you need comprehensive coverage and protection against new and unknown threats that you can deploy to Windows, Linux, and macOS servers and endpoints. However, if you’re looking for an on-premises solution to protect against known threats, Carbon Black may be better.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to your risk profile and specific needs and requirements.
