The need for antivirus protection is growing all the time. Threats are ever growing in both intelligence and frequency, and a business you need to protect yourself. The thing that many don’t realise is that corporate anti virus is very different to consumer anti virus. In a business you have more to risk and therefore the protection needs vary greatly. In this article we will consider the threats you need to be aware of and how you can choose the right antivirus software for your business.
Prewarned is Forearmed
Knowing the enemy is essential to being prepared for attacks when they come. When you are aware of the dangers out there, you can make changes and implement strategies to protect your business and your data.
Computer viruses are as dangerous to computers as cellular viruses are to the human body. Digital viruses can steal data, encrypt information, corrupt, and even delete valuable records. Computer viruses are not always limited to one device either, they can spread like cellular viruses. The data stored on hard drives may be damaged and the whole network system of the organization can be affected as a result. This is why antivirus software is so important in order to protect your systems.
What is Antivirus Software?
Antivirus software is quite self-explanatory. This software helps to detect and prevent infections from computer viruses. Today, this powerful software can detect and remove any kind of malware while also performing other services in the aid of safety and security. Antivirus software can scan your emails, check web traffic, and essentially become a sturdy shield to protect you against the many things that the Internet will attempt to throw you.
How is Antivirus Software Different for Businesses?
In a business, as opposed to a consumer product, there are multiple people using multiple devices in a complex network. There are many different options when it comes to antivirus solutions for businesses, and they all perform different tasks depending on the aspect of safety in which they specialise. The devices used by individuals within a network are called “endpoints”. Therefore, this is where endpoint security software comes into play as it designed to protect not only the endpoint hardware but also the whole network that it is connected to. This endpoint solution has three main advantages:
* The antivirus software for the business is stored on, or connected to, a single main server rather than being installed on each individual machine.
* From the central server, the antivirus software can connect with every individual endpoint that is on the network.
* As the software is on the server, the monitoring and maintenance of it is made much simpler. It’s a lot easier for IT teams to work on the central software rather than making changes on each endpoint when needed.
How to Choose the Right Antivirus Software for Your Business
Clearly, antivirus software is a necessity for business today. Almost everything you do as a business relies on computers and cloud services. With so much at stake, it is only logical to take every step you can to protect the valuable data you hold. Despite knowing the need to invest in an antivirus solution, the many options and different alternatives that are out there can make it feel like a long, complex, and overwhelming process when it comes to choosing one. What do you need to do in order to make the best choice? Consider a few suggestions.
* Evaluate what your needs are.
Consider what hardware you have that you need to protect and the size of the company you are currently. Think about the operating systems that your employees use and the kind of data you handle.
* Find a solution that covers the necessities.
In a business there are three levels of protection that you will need to look for in an antivirus software: files, networks, and applications. You want a solution that will identify threats and remove dangerous files as soon as they appear. You need software that will protect your network and stop any corrupting viruses from spreading. You also need to ensure that you applications and operating systems are safe and secure from unwanted access.
* Get some extra features too.
Besides the basics, think about any other features you would like or need to have depending on your business. For example, a lot of viruses now arrive on a device through an email, so see if you can find a protect that will detect this kind of attack. In the modern working environment, many businesses use Zoom or Microsoft Teams to hold virtual meetings – if that is the case for you, find antivirus products that offer protection for instant messaging and other communication tools. Furthermore, your resources may be limited, and you don’t want them being used up by an antivirus package. Find a product that won’t slow down your PCs and negatively affect the efficiency of your workers.
* Think about the practicalities.
A lot of decisions rest on the size of your business. If you don’t have a dedicated IT team, choose a product with multiple licenses that be individually installed and managed on each device. If you are a larger business, consider a centralised system that can be stored on a server or is cloud-based for easy management. Make sure to invest in a product that your team can confidently use too, not something so complicated it Is beyond their skillset.
* Calculate the costs.
Decide on a budget and stick to it as best you can. Look for, not the cheapest option, but the option that gives you the most value for money. Take into consideration the growth plans for your business and whether the antivirus system will be able to expand with you. If you find the perfect software, check if the provider can offer a discount when you sign up for an extended period of time.
