Why Endpoint Protection Platforms (EPP) Alone Can’t Stop Modern Attacks

The EPP Security Gap

EPP solutions are vital for stopping known malware and ransomware on managed devices, yet they weren’t built to spot attacker behavior once they evade endpoint defenses. To detect fileless techniques, credential abuse, and lateral movement across cloud and network layers, you need AI-driven detection that complements EPP’s signature-based controls.

How Attackers Evade EPP

1. Fileless & Living-off-the-Land (LotL) Techniques 

Attackers abuse trusted tools like PowerShell or PsExec without deploying malware that EPP can detect.

2. Compromised Credentials & Insider Threats 

EPP protects endpoints, but it does not detect stolen credentials or account takeovers.

3. Lateral Movement Beyond Managed Devices 

Once inside, attackers move through unmanaged, cloud, and identity layers where EPP has no visibility.

The Real-World Consequences of EPP Visibility Gaps

In the Scattered Spider scenario below, EPP stops known malware but misses fileless and credential-based techniques. Vectra AI’s network, cloud, and identity analytics would flag each stage as attackers traverse hybrid environments.

EPP Blocks Malware— Vectra AI Secures What Comes Next

EPP is essential for blocking malware on endpoints, but it doesn’t monitor what happens once attackers shift to fileless techniques or credential-based movement. To detect identity abuse, lateral movement, and cloud-native threats, you need continuous AI-driven visibility across your entire environment.

EPP applies signature and behavior-based detection for known threats, but:

• What if the attack uses legitimate tools? EPP misses living-off-the-land and fileless attacks.
• What if the attacker uses stolen credentials? EPP can’t detect identity-based lateral movement.
• What if the attack spreads to cloud and SaaS? EPP only sees managed endpoints, not hybrid environments.

How Vectra AI Fills the Gap

EPP stops known threats at the endpoint, but Vectra AI uncovers the full attack lifecycle, spotting malicious behavior in network traffic, cloud workloads, and identity systems with high confidence and low false-positive rates. 

• Detects Fileless & LotL Attacks: AI identifies attacker behavior that doesn’t rely on malware.
• Stops Credential Abuse & Insider Threats: Detects lateral movement and privilege escalation across hybrid environments.
• Works alongside EPP: Complements EPP by providing real-time detection beyond the endpoint.

With Vectra AI, you can stop attackers who bypass endpoint protection—before they escalate.

How Vectra AI Complements EPP

EPP protects endpoints, while Vectra AI detects active threats beyond managed devices. Here’s how they compare:

Vectra AI doesn’t replace EPP, it enhances it by detecting the threats that malware protection alone misses.