CrowdStrike Falcon

What is CrowdStrike Falcon?

CrowdStrike Falcon is a cloud-native endpoint protection platform developed by CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc., founded in 2011 by George Kurtz, Dmitri Alperovitch, and Gregg Marston. The platform revolutionized endpoint security by being the first to deliver next-generation antivirus, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and managed threat hunting through a single lightweight agent architecture powered by artificial intelligence.

CrowdStrike Falcon operates on a fundamentally different model than traditional security solutions. Instead of relying on signature databases and heavyweight software installations, Falcon uses a small sensor that streams security telemetry to CrowdStrike’s cloud infrastructure. This approach enables real-time threat detection, rapid deployment of new protections, and comprehensive visibility across all endpoints without impacting system performance.

The platform has gained widespread adoption among Fortune 500 companies and has been recognized by leading analyst firms including Gartner and Forrester as a leader in endpoint protection. CrowdStrike’s threat intelligence team, known for uncovering major nation-state attacks, provides invaluable insights that continuously enhance the platform’s detection capabilities.

Key Features

• Next-Generation Antivirus: AI-powered malware prevention using machine learning models trained on trillions of security events to detect known and unknown threats
• Endpoint Detection and Response: Real-time continuous monitoring and recording of endpoint activity enabling threat hunting and forensic investigation
• Threat Intelligence: Industry-leading threat intelligence from tracking over 180 adversary groups providing context and attribution for detected threats
• Managed Threat Hunting: Falcon OverWatch team provides 24/7 human-led threat hunting to identify stealthy attacks that evade automated detection
• IT Hygiene: Complete visibility into endpoint inventory, applications, and user accounts across the enterprise environment
• Vulnerability Management: Spotlight module identifies vulnerabilities and exposures across endpoints with prioritized remediation guidance
• Identity Protection: Detects and prevents identity-based attacks including lateral movement and credential theft
• Cloud Workload Protection: Extends protection to containers, Kubernetes, and cloud workloads across AWS, Azure, and GCP
• Zero Trust Assessment: Continuous assessment of device health and user behavior to enforce zero trust security policies
• Incident Response Services: On-demand access to CrowdStrike’s elite incident response team for breach remediation

What’s New in 2024

CrowdStrike continues to expand the Falcon platform with innovative capabilities addressing evolving security challenges.

• Charlotte AI: Generative AI assistant that enables natural language security queries and automated investigation workflows
• Falcon Data Protection: New data loss prevention capabilities integrated into the unified Falcon platform
• Cloud Security Posture Management: Enhanced CSPM features for multi-cloud environment security assessment
• Attack Surface Management: Extended visibility into external attack surfaces and shadow IT discovery
• XDR Capabilities: Enhanced cross-domain detection correlating endpoint, identity, cloud, and network telemetry
• Falcon Foundry: Platform for building custom security applications leveraging CrowdStrike’s infrastructure
• Enhanced Automation: Expanded Falcon Fusion SOAR capabilities for automated response workflows
• MacOS and Linux Improvements: Significant enhancements to non-Windows endpoint protection capabilities

System Requirements

Windows

• Operating System: Windows 7 SP1, 8.1, 10, 11; Windows Server 2008 R2+
• Processor: 1 GHz or faster
• RAM: 2 GB minimum
• Storage: 500 MB available space
• Kernel mode driver support required

macOS

• Operating System: macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later
• Processor: Intel or Apple Silicon
• RAM: 2 GB minimum
• Storage: 300 MB available space
• System Extension approval required

Linux

• Distribution: RHEL/CentOS 6+, Ubuntu 16.04+, Debian 9+, Amazon Linux, SUSE
• Kernel: 2.6.32 or later
• RAM: 512 MB minimum
• Storage: 200 MB available space

How to Install CrowdStrike Falcon

Windows Installation

1. Log into the Falcon Console at falcon.crowdstrike.com
2. Navigate to Hosts > Sensor Downloads
3. Download the Windows sensor installer
4. Copy your Customer ID (CID) from the console
5. Run the installer with your CID
6. Verify sensor connectivity in the Falcon Console

# Silent installation
WindowsSensor.exe /install /quiet /norestart CID=YOUR-CID-HERE

# Verify installation
sc query csagent

# Check sensor version
REG QUERY "HKLM\SYSTEM\CrowdStrike\{9b03c1d9-3138-44ed-9fae-d9f4c034b88d}" /v AG

macOS Installation

1. Download the macOS sensor from Falcon Console
2. Install the PKG file
3. Approve the System Extension in Security preferences
4. Grant Full Disk Access permission
5. License the sensor with your CID

# Install sensor
sudo installer -pkg FalconSensorMacOS.pkg -target /

# License the sensor
sudo /Applications/Falcon.app/Contents/Resources/falconctl license YOUR-CID

# Verify installation
sudo /Applications/Falcon.app/Contents/Resources/falconctl stats

Linux Installation

# RPM-based systems (RHEL/CentOS)
sudo yum install falcon-sensor-*.rpm
sudo /opt/CrowdStrike/falconctl -s --cid=YOUR-CID
sudo systemctl start falcon-sensor

# Debian-based systems
sudo dpkg -i falcon-sensor_*.deb
sudo /opt/CrowdStrike/falconctl -s --cid=YOUR-CID
sudo systemctl start falcon-sensor

# Verify installation
sudo /opt/CrowdStrike/falconctl -g --version

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Lightweight Agent: Minimal performance impact with single agent under 50MB memory footprint enabling protection without slowing systems
• Cloud-Native Architecture: No on-premises infrastructure required with instant deployment of protection updates across all endpoints
• World-Class Threat Intelligence: Unmatched visibility into adversary tactics from tracking nation-state and criminal threat actors
• Comprehensive Visibility: Complete endpoint telemetry enables effective threat hunting and rapid incident investigation capabilities
• Managed Hunting: OverWatch team provides expert human analysis catching sophisticated threats automated tools might miss
• Rapid Time to Value: Quick deployment with immediate protection and visibility without complex configuration requirements
• Strong API Ecosystem: Extensive APIs enable integration with existing security tools and custom automation workflows

Cons

• Premium Pricing: Enterprise-focused pricing makes it expensive for small businesses compared to traditional antivirus solutions
• Cloud Dependency: Requires internet connectivity for full functionality with reduced capabilities in offline scenarios
• Complex Licensing: Multiple modules and tiers can make it difficult to understand total cost of ownership
• Learning Curve: Advanced features require training to fully leverage the platform’s investigation and hunting capabilities
• Limited On-Premises Option: Organizations requiring fully on-premises deployment have limited options with cloud architecture

CrowdStrike Falcon vs Alternatives

Who Should Use CrowdStrike Falcon?

CrowdStrike Falcon is ideal for:

• Large Enterprises: Organizations with thousands of endpoints requiring comprehensive protection and deep visibility across complex environments
• Security-Mature Organizations: Teams with dedicated security operations looking for advanced threat hunting and investigation capabilities
• Regulated Industries: Companies in healthcare, finance, and government needing robust security with compliance reporting capabilities
• Cloud-First Organizations: Businesses with distributed workforces and cloud infrastructure requiring unified protection across environments
• Incident Response Teams: Organizations wanting world-class incident response capabilities and access to expert remediation services
• Threat Intelligence Consumers: Security teams requiring detailed adversary intelligence to understand and defend against specific threats

CrowdStrike Falcon may not be ideal for:

• Small Businesses: Organizations with limited budgets may find pricing prohibitive for basic endpoint protection needs
• Offline Environments: Air-gapped networks cannot leverage cloud-based detection and threat intelligence capabilities
• Simple Use Cases: Organizations only needing basic antivirus may find the platform’s capabilities excessive for requirements
• On-Premises Only: Companies with strict requirements against cloud services have limited deployment options available

Frequently Asked Questions

How effective is CrowdStrike against ransomware?

CrowdStrike Falcon provides exceptional ransomware protection through multiple layers of defense. The platform’s AI-powered prevention stops known and unknown ransomware variants before execution. Behavioral analysis detects ransomware techniques like mass file encryption and shadow copy deletion. The Falcon OverWatch team provides additional human monitoring to catch sophisticated attacks. CrowdStrike regularly demonstrates 100% ransomware prevention in independent testing and has successfully protected customers against major ransomware campaigns including REvil, Conti, and LockBit.

What is the Falcon OverWatch service?

Falcon OverWatch is CrowdStrike’s managed threat hunting service staffed by elite security experts who monitor customer environments 24/7. The team proactively hunts for threats using proprietary tools and tradecraft developed from responding to thousands of breaches. OverWatch analysts investigate suspicious activities, identify stealthy attackers that evade automated detection, and alert customers to active threats with detailed remediation guidance. This human-led hunting catches an average of one intrusion attempt per customer per month that would otherwise go undetected.

Does CrowdStrike work offline?

CrowdStrike Falcon maintains significant protection capabilities even when endpoints are offline. The sensor caches machine learning models locally enabling continued malware prevention without cloud connectivity. However, real-time threat intelligence updates, cloud-based behavioral analysis, and the full EDR telemetry collection require internet connectivity. Organizations with frequently offline endpoints should understand these limitations and consider supplementary controls for extended offline scenarios.

How does CrowdStrike pricing work?

CrowdStrike Falcon uses a modular subscription pricing model based on the number of endpoints and selected capabilities. The platform offers several bundles including Falcon Go for small businesses, Falcon Pro for comprehensive protection, and Falcon Enterprise for full EDR capabilities. Additional modules like OverWatch, Spotlight vulnerability management, and Identity Protection are priced separately. Annual subscriptions typically start around $8.99 per endpoint per month, with volume discounts available for larger deployments.

Can CrowdStrike replace traditional antivirus?

Yes, CrowdStrike Falcon is designed to completely replace traditional antivirus solutions with superior protection. The platform provides next-generation antivirus capabilities using AI and behavioral analysis that outperform signature-based detection. CrowdStrike is registered as an antivirus solution with Windows Security Center, meaning it satisfies compliance requirements for endpoint protection. Most organizations deploying CrowdStrike remove existing antivirus products to avoid conflicts and performance overhead from running multiple security agents.

Final Verdict

CrowdStrike Falcon represents the gold standard in modern endpoint protection, delivering comprehensive security through an elegant cloud-native architecture. The platform’s combination of AI-powered prevention, extensive EDR capabilities, and world-class threat intelligence provides unmatched protection against today’s sophisticated threats.

The lightweight agent and cloud-based approach solve many challenges that plagued traditional endpoint security, enabling rapid deployment, instant updates, and minimal performance impact. For organizations with security operations teams, Falcon’s deep visibility and investigation capabilities transform how analysts detect and respond to threats. The addition of OverWatch managed hunting provides an extra layer of expert protection.

While the premium pricing puts CrowdStrike out of reach for some organizations, enterprises and security-conscious businesses will find exceptional value in the platform’s comprehensive capabilities. For organizations serious about endpoint security and willing to invest in best-in-class protection, CrowdStrike Falcon is our top recommendation for endpoint protection platforms.