NEC XON MDR helps organisations pe-empt cyber attacks

By Thobani Njamela, Cybersecurity Lead: MDR (Manage Detection and Response)

Constant corporate adaptation to new business models and their technology requirements is a double-edged sword. While it’s an unavoidable business need, the process introduces a constant stream of new cyber threats and vulnerabilities. The critical question is: how do organisations proactively prepare for these cyber-attacks?

Different organisations take different approaches to cybersecurity, depending on their response teams and strategies. NEC XON’s Managed Detection & Response (MDR) Team adopts a unique, adversary-centric mindset—a proactive approach to threat anticipation. This approach ensures organisations stay ahead of potential breaches instead of merely reacting to them.

MDR: the proactive approach to cybersecurity
NEC XON’s MDR Team employs a range of processes to reduce the risk of a breach. These include:

Advanced Threat Hunting
Cybercriminals continuously refine their tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). The NEC XON MDR Team actively researches these evolving threats and proactively hunts for them in an organisation’s environment. Rather than relying solely on security solutions' detection mechanisms, the team seeks out hidden threats and neutralises them before they cause harm.

xCTEM – Extended Continuous Threat Exposure Management
NEC XON’s xCTEM platform assesses potential threats by analysing publicly available and dark web data. This includes:

• Leaked credentials
• Exposed systems
• Other security risks that could be exploited

Additionally, External Attack Surface Management (EASM) allows the MDR Team to assess potential entry points into an organisation. Once vulnerabilities are identified, the team provides guidance and implements necessary preventative actions to minimise risk. 
According to Gartner, by 2026, organisations prioritising their security investments based on a continuous threat exposure management programme will suffer two-thirds fewer breaches.

BAS Simulations – Testing security resilience
To ensure optimal security performance, the NEC XON MDR Team conducts Breach and Attack Simulations (BAS) to test the effectiveness of security controls like EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) and XDR (Extended Detection and Response).

Additionally, tabletop exercises assess how well an organisation’s stakeholders and the NEC XON MDR Team respond to simulated attacks. These exercises extend to training end-users on best practices, helping them become a second line of defense against cyber threats.

Continuous identity & endpoint security policy optimisation
With identities being a prime target for attackers, the NEC XON MDR Team constantly evaluates and strengthens identity security measures for both on-premises and cloud environments. This approach ensures:

• Comprehensive access security across platforms
• Swift response actions when necessary
• Optimised endpoint detection models tailored to each organisation's environment

These measures are further reinforced through collaboration with NEC XON's Cybersecurity Architects.

The importance of proactive security measures
Cybercriminals are increasingly clever about how they attack. Many attacks succeed simply because organisations don’t conduct the necessary assessments and proactively mitigate risks.

At NEC XON, the MDR Team focuses on securing high-value targets while also identifying potential blind spots—areas often overlooked but susceptible to attack. By taking a proactive stance, NEC XON MDR ensures organisations experience minimal disruption, even as they scale and grow.

The key to cybersecurity is preparation. Organisations must invest in security as if they have already been breached. By doing so, they build resilience against future attacks and ensure business continuity. The best time to strengthen your security was yesterday. The next best time is now.