Seven steps that will help you pick the most effective Antivirus application for your company
In small businesses, I frequently hear people telling me that they are using the anti-virus program included on the PC' or "We purchased the anti-virus software through PC World, and we can apply it to 3 computers with a single license'. This is not the best method for your company.
The software you can download on your laptop is unavailable for business users. It is free for personal or home use. The laptop you bought may be a consumer laptop. This is why the software you download is free. Additionally, it does not include the latest technology needed to guard against the most recent cyber threats. Also, purchasing a single license covering three PCs is not allowed in a work setting. You violate license conditions and could be slapped with heavy fines if you get audited by Business Software Alliance.
If you have decided that safeguarding your company's data is crucial, you should invest in enterprise Antivirus (AV) software that can guard you from the most threats. What is the best way to choose the right software for your company's needs?
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Here are Seven steps before choosing the appropriate Antivirus program for your company.
1. Check first the systems you are using.
Have you got Microsoft Windows, Apple Macbooks, or both? The majority of Anti-Virus software works with Windows environment. If you are using Apple MacBooks and Linux Operating Systems, you must confirm with the vendor if they can support these.
Also, you must determine if the software is compatible with your server. A few software programs do not work with operating systems for servers. Check with the vendor of the software before you decide.
2. Do you have a system that is protected?
Do you have the security you need for your company? Nowadays, threats are more advanced and advanced. Signature-based Antivirus will not work anymore. Verify if the program includes application classification, blocking unidentified threats, USB Controls and Web filtering. Get our no-cost checklist to ensure that you can evaluate different antivirus options.
How does the vendor protect companies from the most recent threats? Does it offer allow listing of applications? USB controls? Web filtering? Can it stop executables that are not known?
3. How do you set up your IT?
Are all your devices located in one place or scattered across multiple locations? Do you require managing them all from a single area? What is the connection between the sites? These factors will determine the type of AV software that is the most effective for you.
Previously, AV software servers were installed locally in the office to distribute updates and control policies. In 2018, a majority of AV companies have switched to Cloud.
Utilizing cloud-based (Software As A Service, or SAAS) AV, you do not require a server on-site, and managing your endpoints will be much simpler. No matter where your systems are, they will receive software updates and updates to the policy, provided they are linked to the Internet. The SAAS antivirus software will be the most effective choice if your systems are located in one place or a few locations.
Here are a few suggestions for SAAS AV, in no order.
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Crowdstrike
SentinelOne
CarbonBlack
4. Examine the Performance of your PCs.
AV software can be heavy, making computers slow down and causing you to be anxious about updates that seem to take long to load, especially when you are hurrying to leave your office! They need many resources to operate or scan the PC. Be sure to test for the efficiency of your application. An excellent place to begin to read reviews is Gartner's Peer-Insights. Ask the vendor to provide a trial to check how it performs with your computer. The majority of vendors offer a free 30-day trial.
5. Does the package come with a bundle?
Some applications provide additional features such as USB controls and Web filtering, Email scanning patches management, remote login, Forensics and more. ...? If you use emails and PCs, you must ensure that your emails are clean and the PCs are up-to-date. You will need these features if your company's users are scattered over several locations. You may also use remote login software to aid them.
You might already use various other tools such as Mimecast, Everycloud, and WSUS, as well as the PDQ Deploy, Logmein and Teamviewer. It might be a good idea to group the tools. This will help you save time and money. Smaller businesses typically do not have a patch management system, so this could be an excellent idea. It is essential to have Patch management to keep your systems current with the most recent updates, hotfixes and patches. A reliable Patch management tool will allow administrators to view all patches available, select the patches to apply, and the patches that will be held.
6. Are after-sales assistance available?
Who is responsible for supporting the software after it has been deployed? Does the support come with the cost you paid? If you do not have an external or internal IT staff, you might be required to contact your vendor's support team to set up custom policies or to resolve any problems. There might be an issue with false positives as well. It is important to determine whether after-sales support is offered if it is included in the price and is accessible 24/7.
7. What is the cost?
For small-sized businesses, the majority of choices are influenced by price. When you are trying to find AV software for your company, consider these questions to be sure you are comparing similarly:
How much will it cost you? Are there annual subscription fees or additional charges you must pay to ensure you have the security you require?
Are the licenses required for servers different from those for PCs?
Are you able to benefit from the purchase of a multi-year contract?
Are you able to get an offer to buy back your current software?
Do you have a support or maintenance cost?
After going through these steps and asking these questions, you can make a better-informed choice about what AV software is best for your company. Once you have purchased and installed the software, you can rest easier as you know your business is protected.