/deploying-edr-agent-with-crowdstrike

name: deploying-edr-agent-with-crowdstrike
description: 'Deploys and configures CrowdStrike Falcon EDR agents across enterprise endpoints to enable real-time threat
  detection, behavioral analysis, and automated response. Use when onboarding endpoints to EDR coverage, configuring detection
  policies, or integrating Falcon telemetry with SIEM platforms. Activates for requests involving CrowdStrike deployment,
  Falcon sensor installation, EDR policy configuration, or endpoint detection and response.

  '
domain: cybersecurity
subdomain: endpoint-security
tags:
- endpoint
- edr
- CrowdStrike
- Falcon
- threat-detection
- sensor-deployment
version: 1.0.0
author: mahipal
license: Apache-2.0
nist_ai_rmf:
- GOVERN-1.1
- MEASURE-2.7
- MANAGE-3.1
- MAP-5.1
- MANAGE-2.4
atlas_techniques:
- AML.T0070
- AML.T0066
- AML.T0082
nist_csf:
- PR.PS-01
- PR.PS-02
- DE.CM-01
- PR.IR-01

Deploying EDR Agent with CrowdStrike

When to Use

Use this skill when:

• Deploying CrowdStrike Falcon sensors to Windows, macOS, or Linux endpoints
• Configuring Falcon prevention and detection policies for different endpoint groups
• Integrating CrowdStrike telemetry with SIEM (Splunk, Elastic, Sentinel) for correlated detection
• Troubleshooting sensor connectivity, performance, or detection issues

**Do not use** this skill for deploying other EDR solutions (Carbon Black, SentinelOne) or for Falcon cloud workload protection (use cloud-specific deployment guides).

Prerequisites

• CrowdStrike Falcon console access with Falcon Administrator role
• Customer ID (CID) and Falcon sensor installer package
• Administrative/root access on target endpoints
• Network access: endpoints must reach CrowdStrike cloud (ts01-b.cloudsink.net on port 443)
• Deployment tool: SCCM, Intune, GPO, Ansible, or manual installation

Workflow

Step 1: Obtain Falcon Sensor Installer and CID

1. Log into Falcon Console: https://falcon.crowdstrike.com
2. Navigate: Host setup and management → Sensor downloads
3. Download the appropriate installer:
   - Windows: WindowsSensor_<version>.exe
   - macOS: FalconSensorMacOS_<version>.pkg
   - Linux: falcon-sensor_<version>_amd64.deb / .rpm
4. Copy the Customer ID (CID) from the Sensor downloads page
   - CID format: <32-char-hex>-<2-char-checksum>

Step 2: Deploy Falcon Sensor - Windows

**Silent installation via command line**:

WindowsSensor_7.18.17106.exe /install /quiet /norestart CID=<YOUR_CID>

**SCCM deployment**:

1. Create an Application in SCCM
2. Deployment type: Script Installer
3. Install command: WindowsSensor_7.18.17106.exe /install /quiet /norestart CID=<CID>
4. Detection method: Registry key exists
   - HKLM\SYSTEM\CrowdStrike\{9b03c1d9-3138-44ed-9fae-d9f4c034b88d}\{16e0423f-7058-48c9-a204-725362b67639}\Default
5. Deploy to target collection
6. Deployment purpose: Required (for mandatory installation)

**Microsoft Intune deployment**:

1. Navigate: Devices → Windows → Configuration profiles
2. Create Win32 app deployment
3. Upload .intunewin package (wrapped sensor installer)
4. Install command: WindowsSensor_7.18.17106.exe /install /quiet /norestart CID=<CID>
5. Detection rule: File exists C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike\csagent.sys
6. Assign to device group

**GPO deployment**:

# Create startup script that checks for existing installation
$sensorPath = "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike\csagent.sys"
if (-not (Test-Path $sensorPath)) {
    Start-Process -FilePath "\\fileserver\CrowdStrike\WindowsSensor.exe" `
      -ArgumentList "/install /quiet /norestart CID=<CID>" -Wait
}

Step 3: Deploy Falcon Sensor - Linux

# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo dpkg -i falcon-sensor_7.18.0-17106_amd64.deb
sudo /opt/CrowdStrike/falconctl -s -f --cid=<YOUR_CID>
sudo systemctl start falcon-sensor
sudo systemctl enable falcon-sensor

# RHEL/CentOS
sudo yum install falcon-sensor-7.18.0-17106.el8.x86_64.rpm
sudo /opt/CrowdStrike/falconctl -s -f --cid=<YOUR_CID>
sudo systemctl start falcon-sensor
sudo systemctl enable falcon-sensor

# Verify sensor is running and connected
sudo /opt/CrowdStrike/falconctl -g --rfm-state
# Expected output: rfm-state=false (sensor is communicating with cloud)

Step 4: Deploy Falcon Sensor - macOS

# Install sensor package
sudo installer -pkg FalconSensorMacOS_7.18.pkg -target /

# Set CID
sudo /Applications/Falcon.app/Contents/Resources/falconctl license <YOUR_CID>

# Grant Full Disk Access and System Extension via MDM profile
# Required for macOS Ventura+ (manual approval or MDM PPPC profile)
# MDM payload: com.crowdstrike.falcon.Agent → SystemExtension + Full Disk Access

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

Step 5: Configure Prevention Policies

In Falcon Console, navigate to Configuration → Prevention Policies:

**Recommended prevention policy settings**:

Machine Learning:
  - Cloud ML: Aggressive (extra protection, may increase false positives)
  - Sensor ML: Moderate
  - Adware & PUP: Moderate

Behavioral Protection:
  - On Write: Enabled (detect malware on file creation)
  - On Sensor ML: Enabled
  - Interpreter-Only: Enabled (detect script-based attacks)

Exploit Mitigation:
  - Exploit behavior protection: Enabled
  - Memory scanning: Enabled (detects in-memory attacks)
  - Code injection: Enabled

Ransomware:
  - Ransomware protection: Enabled
  - Shadow copy protection: Enabled
  - MBR protection: Enabled

**Create separate policies for**:

• Workstations (aggressive settings)
• Servers (moderate settings to avoid false positives on server workloads)
• Critical infrastructure (maximum protection with exception lists)

Step 6: Configure Response Policies

Real-Time Response:
  - Enable RTR for all sensor groups
  - Configure RTR admin vs. RTR responder roles
  - Enable script execution (for IR teams)
  - Enable file extraction (for forensics)

Network Containment:
  - Pre-authorize containme