XDR Optimization: How We Reduced False Positives by 85%

When a large enterprise came to us with over 400 false positives per day, their SOC team was overwhelmed. Auto-response had been disabled because legitimate processes were being blocked. Sound familiar?

The Problem

Most XDR deployments fail not because of the technology, but because of poor hygiene. Default configurations generate massive alert volumes, leading to:

• Alert fatigue and missed real threats
• Disabled automation features
• Burned-out security teams
• Longer mean time to respond (MTTR)

Our [SOC Implementation services](/#features) can help you avoid these common pitfalls from the start.

Our Hygiene-First Approach

Instead of throwing more analysts at the problem, we took a systematic approach:

Step 1: Baseline Analysis

We spent two weeks analyzing every alert type, categorizing them by:

• True positive rate
• Business impact
• Root cause

Step 2: Source Control

The biggest win came from software source control. We worked with IT to:

• Inventory all legitimate software
• Create approved software lists
• Implement code signing enforcement

Step 3: Local Admin Cleanup

Over 60% of false positives came from users with unnecessary local admin rights. We partnered with IT to implement least-privilege access.

Step 4: Custom Detection Rules

We tuned detection rules based on the actual environment, not vendor defaults. This included:

• Whitelisting known-good processes
• Adjusting thresholds based on baseline behavior
• Creating custom rules for business-specific applications

The Results

After 90 days:

• 85% reduction in false positives
• 3x faster mean time to respond
• Auto-response re-enabled for critical threat types
• SOC team morale significantly improved

Key Takeaways

XDR optimization isn't a one-time project. It requires ongoing attention to:

• Software inventory management
• User privilege reviews
• Detection rule tuning
• Regular baseline updates

Need help optimizing your security operations? Check out our [vCISO services](/en/about) or [contact us](/#contact) for a free assessment.