How to choose antivirus software that suits your company

What is antivirus software? 

Common antivirus programs detect harmful files entering your network and removes them. Antivirus programs with Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) work differently. These monitor files within your system and record what happens to them. The program steps in if unknown software changes your files. Antivirus software not only protects your computer or network against viruses but also against various forms of malware.

Choosing antivirus software

Consider whether you work with sensitive information that is valuable to cybercriminals. As a self-employed professional without staff, do you mainly send emails and store invoices on your laptop? If so, a simple antivirus programme and regular backups will probably suffice. The Consumentenbond consumer association provides independent information about inexpensive or free security software.

Would your business come to a complete standstill if you lost access to your network or files? If so, invest in a more comprehensive security system. A more comprehensive programme is also necessary if you work with sensitive customer information (in Dutch) or confidential technical information. Your IT supplier or a cybersecurity company can help you make the right choice.

Choosing between antivirus techniques

There are 2 different techniques that antivirus software uses: standard and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR).

Standard

Standard antivirus software has a list of all known viruses in a file. Every time you update your antivirus programme, it updates this ‘blacklist’. As soon as the virus scanner on your system encounters a file that is on this list, the programme deletes it.

Endpoint Detection and Response

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is suitable for businesses that want extra security against the latest malware. This virus scanner does not have a list of known viruses, but tracks what files are doing. If a file unexpectedly modifies other files in your system, the EDR software performs a so-called ‘rollback’. The antivirus programme then restores everything to the way it was and removes the malicious file that has infiltrated your system.

Protect a device or network

Choose whether you want to secure one device with the antivirus programme or your entire network at once. This is possible with both the standard and EDR antivirus software. You can protect your entire network with a ‘managed’ version. In this more comprehensive version, you can keep track of notifications and scans for an entire business network in one central location via a ‘management dashboard’. You can use this dashboard to manage the software yourself or have an IT company do it for you.

What are the costs?

Antivirus software for basic protection of your network against malware costs around €5 per device per month. Protecting your network with EDR software costs around €7 per devicee. You can also have this done by an IT company, which will cost you around €2 extra per month.