EDR and SIEM alerts are often confused because they can reference related activity within the same environment. They surface different perspectives based on what each system observes and how it processes information.
What EDR Alerts Represent
EDR alerts are generated by systems that monitor individual endpoints, such as workstations and servers.
At a high level, EDR systems observe:
- Processes and process relationships
- File activity on the endpoint
- User and system interactions
- Behavioral changes over time on a single device
EDR alerts typically surface activity that is local to an endpoint. Because of this proximity, they are often behavior-focused. Alerts reflect how software, users, or the operating system behave on that specific system rather than how events relate across the broader environment.
What SIEM Alerts Represent
SIEM alerts are generated by platforms that aggregate and analyze events from many sources.
At a high level, SIEM platforms collect:
- Logs from endpoints, servers, and network devices
- Authentication and identity events
- Application and infrastructure logs
- Security and operational telemetry from multiple systems
SIEM alerts surface signals derived from aggregation and correlation. Rather than focusing on a single system, they highlight patterns, relationships, or conditions identified across multiple data sources or over time.
Differences in Detection Perspective
EDR and SIEM alerts differ primarily in perspective.
- EDR alerts are tied to individual endpoints and local behavior observed directly on those systems.
- SIEM alerts are tied to aggregated events and patterns identified across multiple systems or log sources.
These perspectives are complementary. Each reflects the scope and data visibility of the system generating the alert.
Why the Same Activity Can Trigger Both
A single action or sequence of events may generate:
- An EDR alert, based on behavior observed on an endpoint
- A SIEM alert, based on correlated logs or patterns involving the same activity
- Both, when endpoint activity also contributes to aggregated signals
This overlap is expected in monitored environments. Different systems may observe the same activity through different data sources and apply different detection logic to it.
Common Sources of Confusion
- Expecting EDR and SIEM alerts to use identical wording
- Assuming alerts represent confirmed incidents rather than detections
- Believing alerts must align one-to-one across tools
- Treating multiple alerts as duplication instead of separate observations
- Interpreting alert volume as a measure of importance
How This Site Approaches EDR and SIEM Alerts
This site treats EDR alerts and SIEM alerts as separate reference categories. Each alert is described as an indicator that reflects how a specific system detected activity.
Alerts are presented as documentation entries, not judgments. Context, scope, and detection perspective are emphasized to help readers understand what an alert represents without assuming intent or outcome.