CrowdStrike is a cybersecurity company that specialises in protecting computers, servers, cloud environments, and users against cyberattacks. The company is best known for its security platform, CrowdStrike Falcon, which is a cloud-native solution that uses artificial intelligence, behavioural analysis, and real-time data to detect, prevent, and investigate threats.
In simple terms, CrowdStrike is like a powerful digital security guard for businesses. It monitors devices and systems, detects suspicious behaviour, and helps to stop attacks before they cause damage.
What does CrowdStrike do?
CrowdStrike helps businesses defend against various types of cyber threats, for example:
- Viruses and malware
- Ransomware attacks
- Intrusion attempts
- Phishing-related attacks
- Abnormal behaviour on computers or servers
- Unauthorized access
- Attacks on cloud environments
- Identity attacks, where attempts are made to misuse user access
CrowdStrike collects information from devices, analyses behaviour, and uses threat intelligence to determine if something is dangerous.
CrowdStrike Falcon
CrowdStrike's main solution is called Falcon.
Falcon is a cloud-based security platform that can include multiple security modules, for example:
| Solution | What it does |
|---|---|
| Endpoint Protection | Protects computers and servers against viruses, ransomware, and attacks |
| EDR — Endpoint Detection and Response | Detects and investigates suspicious behaviour on devices |
| XDR — Extended Detection and Response | Connects data from multiple security systems for better visibility |
| Identity Protection | Protects user accounts and detects misuse of logins |
| Cloud Security | Helps protect your cloud environment |
| Threat Intelligence | Provides information about threat actors, attack methods, and vulnerabilities |
| Managed Detection and Response | CrowdStrike experts help with round-the-clock monitoring and response |
How does it work?
CrowdStrike installs a small piece of software, often called an agent or sensor, on the company's computers, servers, or other devices.
This sensor monitors the device's behaviour, for example:
- Which applications are running
- Whether unusual commands are being executed
- Whether files are suddenly being encrypted
- Whether a user is trying to access things they shouldn't be accessing
- Whether connections are being made to suspicious locations online
The data is then sent to the CrowdStrike cloud solution, where it is analysed in real-time. If something suspicious happens, the system can react automatically, for example by:
- Stopping malware
- Terminating a running process
- Isolating a computer from the network
- Alerting the security team
- Assisting in incident investigation
Why do companies use CrowdStrike?
Companies use CrowdStrike because traditional antivirus is often no longer sufficient. Cyberattacks have become more complex, faster, and better organised.
CrowdStrike offers:
- Better visibility into what is happening on devices
- Faster analysis of attacks
- Automated response to threats
- Reduced need for on-premises infrastructure
- A cloud solution that is easy to scale
- Protection against modern threats such as ransomware
- Information about who is attacking and how
Use cases
Let's say an employee opens a malicious attachment in an email.
Traditional antivirus might possibly stop the file if it recognises it beforehand. But if this is a new type of attack, it might get through.
CrowdStrike, however, would examine the behaviour:
- Is the program trying to encrypt many files?
- Is it trying to gain administrator privileges?
- Is it connecting to a suspicious server?
- Is it running PowerShell commands in an unusual way?
If the behaviour looks like an attack, CrowdStrike can stop it, even if this exact file has never been seen before.
CrowdStrike can replace traditional antivirus software, but it is much more than that.
I can show you the system and tell you more about it if you get in touch.