Time for Agentless Technologies - a CrowdStrike BSOD Case Study

Enterprises have been implementing Agentless Technologies for good reasons

With millions of computers down causing major failures in infrastructure, healthcare and many more critical services it is time to look at why large enterprises have been implementing agentless cyber security tools intensively. 

Agentless Cyber Security is a method that secures systems without installing software agents on each device. The major advantage is that is a proactive defense method, avoiding cyber attacks rather than responding and fighting malicious attacks after they have penetrated the organization. 

Enterprises cannot justify working in ‘respond to attack’ only mode. Proactive agentless technologies have been implemented widely to secure business continuity. Relying on endpoint installed anti virus technologies from the happy nineties is just not enough. 

The CrowdStrike Incident: A Case Study

Last week, a significant incident rocked the technological, and cybersecurity world. CrowdStrike, a prominent cybersecurity vendor known for its Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP), faced a severe crisis when an update to their agent malfunctioned. This glitch led to a worldwide IT outage, affecting millions of endpoints across various critical sectors, including ATM machines, flights, banks, and hospitals. The fallout from this incident underscores the inherent dangers of agent-based solutions and highlights the urgent need for a shift to agentless technologies.

CrowdStrike's EPP has been a trusted solution for many organizations, providing robust threat detection and mitigation through its deployed agents. However, the update push in early 2024 proved disastrous. The malfunctioning agent update caused widespread disruptions, bringing vital systems to a halt.

Banks faced outages that prevented transactions, leading to financial chaos and eroding customer trust. Hospitals encountered delays in accessing critical patient data, risking lives. Airlines had to cancel flights, causing significant logistical and financial setbacks. Even ATM machines stopped working, leaving people unable to access cash when they needed it most. This chain reaction of failures highlighted the interconnectedness of our digital world and the far-reaching consequences of a single point of failure in agent-based systems.

The Risks of Agent-Based Solutions

The CrowdStrike incident is a stark reminder of the risks associated with agent-based cybersecurity solutions.

Complexity and Deployment Challenges

Deploying agents across all endpoints and servers is inherently complex and resource-intensive. Each agent consumes system resources, potentially degrading performance. Ensuring compatibility across diverse systems and maintaining them with regular updates adds to the administrative burden.

Increased Attack Surface

Every agent deployed represents a potential vulnerability. If an agent has a flaw, it can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access. The necessity for agents to have elevated privileges further compounds the risk, as a compromised agent can cause extensive damage.

System Stability and Reliability Risks

As demonstrated by CrowdStrike, agent-based solutions are susceptible to stability issues. A faulty update can lead to widespread outages, disrupting operations and causing significant downtime. Recovery from such incidents can be prolonged and costly, diverting resources from strategic cybersecurity initiatives.

The Advantages of Agentless Technologies

In contrast to agent-based solutions, agentless technologies offer a range of benefits that can enhance security and operational stability.

Ease of Deployment

Agentless solutions eliminate the need for installing software on each device. This simplifies the deployment process, allowing organizations to implement security measures swiftly and without the complexity of managing multiple agents.

Reduced Attack Surface

Without agents, the potential entry points for attackers are minimized. This reduces the overall attack surface and eliminates the need for elevated privileges that agents require, thereby enhancing the security posture of the organization.

Enhanced System Stability

Agentless solutions do not consume system resources or introduce points of failure. This leads to greater system stability and reliability. Organizations can avoid the risk of widespread IT outages caused by faulty updates, ensuring consistent performance and minimizing unexpected disruptions.

Conclusion: Embrace Agentless Technologies

The cybersecurity landscape is fraught with evolving threats, and organizations need solutions that are not only effective but also reliable and secure. The incident with CrowdStrike's agent-based EPP underscores the significant risks associated with these technologies. By contrast, agentless solutions offer a streamlined, secure, and robust alternative. Adopting agentless technologies allows organizations to enhance their security posture, minimize risks, and ensure operational continuity.

About ULTRA-RED

At ULTRA-RED, we specialize in agentless cybersecurity solutions that help organizations detect their internet-facing attack surface, identify vulnerabilities, and remediate threats swiftly. Our solutions require zero setup, completely agentless - offering unparalleled ease of deployment and reliability.

Partner with us to safeguard your digital assets with confidence.

For more information, please contact: info@ultrared.ai

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