Sherlocked Security – Endpoint Hardening & EDR Tuning

Fortify Endpoints and Maximize EDR Efficiency with Precision Tuning and Control

1. Statement of Work (SOW)

Service Name: Endpoint Hardening & EDR Tuning
Client Type: Enterprises, Critical Infrastructure, Healthcare, Government, MSSPs
Service Model: Project-Based Hardening + Continuous EDR Optimization
Compliance Alignment: NIST 800-171, ISO/IEC 27001, CIS Benchmarks, HIPAA, MITRE ATT&CK

Service Scope Includes:

Endpoint security baseline assessment (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Implementation of OS and application hardening best practices
Policy tuning and alert suppression in EDR platforms
Behavioral and signature-based detection rule optimization
Tamper protection, isolation, and response configurations
MITRE ATT&CK alignment for detection coverage
Reduction of noise, false positives, and analyst fatigue

2. Our Approach

[Baseline Assessment] → [Hardening & Policy Review] → [EDR Configuration Tuning] → [Detection Gap Analysis] → [Validation & Testing] → [Reporting & Advisory]

3. Methodology

Endpoint Security Baseline Review
- Review current endpoint security configurations, patching status, and agent deployments.
Hardening Based on Industry Benchmarks
- Apply recommendations from CIS Benchmarks, DISA STIGs, and OS-specific best practices.
EDR Policy Review & Tuning
- Analyze existing policies for exploit prevention, malware detection, and threat hunting telemetry.
Noise Reduction & Alert Suppression
- Identify redundant or irrelevant alerts and apply logic-based suppression where appropriate.
Detection Rule Enhancement
- Refine behavioral detection logic to align with MITRE ATT&CK tactics and techniques.
Testing & Validation
- Simulate attacks using tools like Caldera, Atomic Red Team, or manual techniques to validate efficacy.
Deployment of Changes
- Assist in rollout of policy updates, hardening scripts, and endpoint configuration changes.

4. Deliverables to the Client

Endpoint Hardening Report: Recommendations and implementation status based on endpoint OS
EDR Tuning Summary: Applied policy changes, noise reduction rules, and custom detection logic
Detection Coverage Mapping: MITRE ATT&CK heatmap showing detection visibility
Validated Configurations: Documentation of tested and confirmed hardened profiles
False Positive Reduction Metrics: Before-and-after stats showing alert volume changes
Executive Summary: Overview of improvements in endpoint security posture and response effectiveness

5. What We Need from You (Client Requirements)

Endpoint Inventory: OS, version, and endpoint management tools (e.g., Intune, SCCM, JAMF)
Access to EDR Console: Administrative access to endpoint detection platform
Policy Documents: Any existing endpoint security and hardening policies
Detection Logs: Historical alert data and current tuning challenges
Stakeholder Access: Security engineering or endpoint management leads for change coordination

6. Tools & Technology Stack

EDR Platforms:
- CrowdStrike Falcon, SentinelOne, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Carbon Black, Sophos Intercept X
Hardening Tools:
- CIS-CAT Pro, Lynis, Microsoft Security Compliance Toolkit, Jamf, Intune, PowerShell DSC
Simulation & Testing:
- Atomic Red Team, Caldera, PurpleSharp, MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations
Visibility Mapping & Analytics:
- Sigma, Elastic Stack, Splunk, Velociraptor

7. Engagement Lifecycle

Kickoff & Scope Definition
Endpoint Security Baseline Review
Hardening Strategy Development
EDR Configuration Review & Alert Analysis
Policy & Rule Tuning
Simulated Attack Testing & Validation
Deployment Support & Documentation
Reporting, Metrics, and Knowledge Transfer

8. Why Sherlocked Security?

Feature	Sherlocked Advantage
CIS-Aligned Hardening	OS and application controls validated against industry benchmarks
Deep EDR Expertise	Skilled in fine-tuning top EDR platforms to balance visibility vs. noise
MITRE ATT&CK Mapped Detections	Coverage insights and detection gap closure using industry frameworks
False Positive Reduction	Smart alert suppression without sacrificing detection quality
Attack Simulation Validations	Validate detection and response in real-world threat emulation scenarios

9. Real-World Case Studies

Endpoint Hardening for Healthcare Org

Client: Large hospital network with 20,000+ endpoints
Challenge: Devices vulnerable to lateral movement and local privilege escalation
Solution: Applied CIS Benchmarks, reduced admin rights, disabled vulnerable services
Outcome: Reduced endpoint risk score by 40% across clinical zones

EDR Tuning for Financial Services SOC

Client: Regional bank with hybrid SOC
Challenge: SOC overwhelmed by low-fidelity EDR alerts
Solution: Customized EDR policies, tuned threat detection logic, suppressed irrelevant alerts
Outcome: 70% reduction in alert volume, improved MTTD by 50%

10. SOP – Standard Operating Procedure

Collect Baseline Data on Endpoints and EDR Agents
Map Existing Alert Volume and Policy Settings
Benchmark Against Hardening Standards (CIS, STIG, etc.)
Apply Hardening Changes via GPO, Scripts, or MDM
Tune EDR Detection Rules and Response Settings
Simulate Threats and Validate Detection Visibility
Roll Out Hardened Images and EDR Config Updates
Document Final State and Monitor Metrics Post-Deployment

11. Readiness Checklist for Engagement

1. Pre-Engagement

[ ] Inventory of endpoint devices and OS types
[ ] Access to EDR management platform
[ ] Alert logs or incident samples from past 30 days
[ ] Endpoint configuration management details (e.g., Intune, GPO)
[ ] Administrative contacts for security and IT operations

2. During Engagement

[ ] Validate endpoint patch levels and EDR agent health
[ ] Apply hardening policies and disable risky services
[ ] Tune alerting thresholds and test detection rules
[ ] Confirm visibility into key MITRE ATT&CK techniques
[ ] Document exceptions and justifications

3. Post-Engagement

[ ] Deliver all reports and hardening profiles
[ ] Review impact on alert volumes and detection accuracy
[ ] Provide documentation for ongoing tuning and monitoring
[ ] Schedule follow-up check-ins or quarterly reviews
[ ] Share dashboards and metrics for internal reporting

Endpoint Hardening & EDR Tuning