Crowdstrike
« Back to Glossary IndexCyber security is now one of the most important investments a modern Australian organisation can make. With cyber criminals deploying increasingly advanced tactics—ranging from phishing emails and credential theft to fileless attacks and zero day attacks—businesses must adopt strong, cloud-native security technologies that protect their computer systems, data, and people. CrowdStrike has become one of the world’s most recognised cybersecurity firms, leading the shift away from legacy technology toward intelligent, cloud-based cybersecurity platforms.
This comprehensive guide explains CrowdStrike Falcon, its evolution, capabilities, and relevance for Australian businesses with 20–250 staff. As the founder of Enabla Technology, I.T. specialists in Managed Services, cybersecurity software, and ongoing protection, my goal is to help you understand CrowdStrike—and to support you should you choose to strengthen your cyber defences with industry-leading tools.
What Is CrowdStrike?
CrowdStrike is a global cybersecurity firm founded in 2011 and led by CEO George Kurtz—now recognised internationally for stopping malicious activities, preventing data breaches, and transforming endpoint security. The company operates under the publicly listed entity CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc.
Its flagship cloud-based cybersecurity platform—CrowdStrike Falcon—delivers real-time threat detection, next-generation antivirus, endpoint protection, threat intelligence & hunting, and identity protection. Unlike traditional antivirus software, which relies on outdated signature-based detection, CrowdStrike uses AI technology, machine learning, behavioural analysis, and big data to identify and block threats instantly.
CrowdStrike protects millions of Microsoft Windows hosts, Mac and Linux hosts, Microsoft computers, and mobile threats globally. It is especially known for preventing sophisticated cyber attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in modern systems.
The History and Evolution of CrowdStrike
CrowdStrike’s rapid rise is tied to high-profile cyber attack investigations and landmark technological innovations.
Major Milestones
- 2011 – CrowdStrike is founded.
- 2012 – Launch of its Threat Intelligence module, focused on advanced cyber threat intelligence.
- 2013 – Release of the Falcon platform, marking the arrival of cloud-native security.
- 2014 – CrowdStrike’s investigation into the Sony Pictures breach and attribution of the attack to North Korea.
- 2016 – Analysis of the Democratic National Committee (DNC servers) breach, identifying Russian threat actors—significantly raising the company’s global profile.
- 2019 – IPO and rapid global expansion.
- Recent years – New modules including Falcon Identity Threat Protection, Falcon Complete, Falcon AI, Falcon Foundry, Falcon Discover, and modular capabilities available in the CrowdStrike Store.
Timeline of CrowdStrike’s Major Milestones
| Year | Milestone Description |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Company founded |
| 2012 | Threat intelligence module launched |
| 2013 | Falcon platform released |
| 2014 | Sony Pictures investigation and discovery of state-sponsored actors |
| 2016 | DNC breach investigation |
| 2019 | IPO and international expansion |
How Does CrowdStrike Work?
CrowdStrike operates using the CrowdStrike Falcon Sensor, a lightweight agent installed on endpoints (computers, servers, laptops, removable media devices, SD card access points, Thunderbolt devices, and mobile endpoints). The Falcon Sensor software collects behavioural data in User Mode, ensuring the system maintains stability while offering advanced detection.
The Falcon Sensor communicates with the cloud-based Falcon platform, powered by:
- Threat Graph big-data engine
- AI-powered automation
- Machine learning
- Behavioural analysis
- MITRE ATT&CK framework-aligned detection
Key Functions of CrowdStrike Falcon
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) / endpoint detection response
- Next-generation antivirus (Falcon Prevent)
- Threat Intelligence and global telemetry
- Managed Threat Hunting via Falcon OverWatch
- Identity protection via Falcon Identity Threat Protection
- Incident response & security services through CrowdStrike Services
This modern cloud-native architecture prevents cyber attacks, stops lateral movement, blocks phishing emails, and detects malicious activities faster than legacy solutions.
Key Features of CrowdStrike Falcon
CrowdStrike Falcon delivers modular capabilities for organisations that need a flexible security investment strategy.
Core Features
- Falcon Prevent (Next-generation antivirus)
- Falcon Insight (EDR)
- Falcon Discover (IT hygiene & visibility)
- Falcon Identity Threat Protection
- Falcon OverWatch (Managed threat hunting)
- Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR
- Falcon AI & AI-powered automation
- Firewall management & network security
- Real-time threat detection & response
Feature comparison
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Endpoint Security | Stops malware, ransomware, and advanced threats |
| Threat Intelligence | Global insights into threat actors |
| Falcon OverWatch | 24/7 managed threat hunting |
| Falcon Prevent | NGAV replacing traditional antivirus |
| Falcon Insight | Full EDR visibility and response |
| Real-time analytics & reporting | Live dashboards in the Falcon Console |
| Identity protection | Detects credential theft and identity-based attacks |
VI. Who Uses CrowdStrike?
CrowdStrike customers range from SMEs to major global brands, including:
- News organisations
- Financial institutions (via CrowdStrike Financial Services)
- Government agencies
- Technology companies
- Enterprises like Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team
CrowdStrike is widely used across industries due to its proven ability to stop zero day attacks, phishing emails, and large-scale data breaches.
CrowdStrike’s Role in Major Cybersecurity Incidents
CrowdStrike gained international recognition for its role in:
- Sony Pictures breach investigation (North Korea attribution)
- Democratic National Committee (DNC) breach investigation
- Large-scale incident response programs
CrowdStrike remains deeply involved in responding to global cyber attacks, providing forensic services, cyber threat intelligence, and post-breach recovery.
CrowdStrike Services is now one of the most sought-after incident response providers in the world.
Platform Benefits and Competitive Advantages
CrowdStrike offers several key advantages:
- Cloud-native security that scales automatically
- Minimal system impact compared to legacy technology or on-device antivirus software
- Automatic updates without rebooting computers (except where a security incident demands it)
- AI-driven detection across billions of events
- Recognition by trusted analysts such as Gartner and MITRE
CrowdStrike vs Traditional Antivirus
| Aspect | CrowdStrike | Traditional Antivirus |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Cloud-native, fast | On-premises, slower |
| System Impact | Low, User Mode | Often high |
| Threat Detection | AI + behavioural + big data | Signature-based |
| Scalability | Enterprise-grade | Limited |
| Zero Day Attacks | Strong protection | Often vulnerable |
Global Outage & BSOD Events – What Happened?
In 2024, a faulty code update to the CrowdStrike Falcon Sensor caused a rare global technology outage across Microsoft Windows hosts, resulting in:
- Blue Screen of Death (BSOD error)
- Temporary IT outage for some organisations
- Impacts on Microsoft services and Azure cloud services
CrowdStrike released an automatic fix and manual instructions, along with an Uninstall Tool for administrators, and later provided the ability to revert to an earlier version of the Falcon agent.
Despite this incident, CrowdStrike remains a market-leading platform due to its overwhelmingly strong security record and rapid recovery actions.
How to Get Started with CrowdStrike
- Assess your risks – Identify vulnerabilities, cloud exposure, lateral movement risks, and outdated security investments.
- Engage a Security Operations Center (SOC) partner – Enabla Technology provides deployment, Falcon Console configuration, and long-term management.
- Deploy the Falcon Sensor – Install on Windows 10, Microsoft Windows, Mac, and Linux environments.
- Enable key modules such as Falcon Prevent, Falcon Insight, Falcon Discover, Identity protection, and OverWatch.
- Monitor & respond – Use CrowdStrike Complete for fully managed protection.
Conclusion
CrowdStrike is one of the most powerful cyber security tools available today. With cloud-native architecture, machine learning, next-generation antivirus, managed threat hunting, and comprehensive endpoint security, it protects organisations from cyber criminals, data breaches, phishing campaigns, mobile threats, and advanced persistent threats.
For Australian businesses wanting industry-leading protection—without legacy limitations—CrowdStrike is a top-tier choice.
Enabla Technology can help you assess, implement, and manage CrowdStrike as part of your long-term cyber security strategy.
Resources
- CrowdStrike Falcon documentation
- MITRE ATT&CK evaluations
- CrowdStrike Store modules
- CrowdStrike cybersecurity update reports
