Antivirus for Business: Why It’s Essential

Understanding antivirus for business

Small and midsized businesses (SMBs) are prime targets for cyberthreats. Antivirus software tailored for SMBs helps protect data, operations, and your businesses’ reputation with features like real-time scanning and multi-device coverage.

Key takeaways

Antivirus software for businesses protects your company, employees, and customers against malware, ransomware, phishing, and other cyberthreats.
Antivirus protection solutions can detect cyberattacks and avoid data breaches that can damage your business' reputation and revenues.
Making antivirus a part of your company's cybersecurity strategy and reviewing and updating that strategy to ensure your business remains well-protected against cyberthreats should be a top priority.

The importance of antivirus for business

Viruses can threaten businesses of all sizes. As a small business owner, it’s essential to equip your organization with protection against cyberattacks and prioritize cybersecurity education as a core part of your company's culture. This ensures your employees can identify these threats and understand the risks they pose.

Antivirus for business typically comes in the form of antivirus software. This software searches for unusual patterns within files and media on your computers and mobile devices, identify and block bad actors, and determine if a cyberattack is underway. They use the following techniques to detect cyberattacks:

Signature detection: Looks for signatures within code that contain viruses and removes them from systems.
Heuristic detection: Uses file analysis, multi-criteria analysis, and other tools to identify suspicious behavior and architecture in code.
Cloud and sandbox analysis: Involves the creation of a secure and isolated environment where you can test a program to determine if it's dangerous and remove it from a system if necessary.

Antivirus protection comes in many forms. There are free and paid versions that can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud. To choose the best option for your business, consider factors like the sensitivity of your data, your budget, and the level of protection required. Cloud-based solutions are often preferred by businesses prioritizing scalability and automatic updates, while on-premises solutions provide greater control and compliance for highly regulated industries.

Why small and midsized businesses need antivirus

Antivirus solutions for businesses have major benefits, such as:

Effectiveness against many common threats:  Antivirus solutions protect against ransomware, phishing, malware, and other advanced cyberthreats.
Automated and intuitive cybersecurity:  A simple interface allows you to address cyberthreats before they infiltrate your operations.
Protection against the ramifications of a cyberattack:  Antivirus protection guards against data breaches that can harm your employees and customers, damage your brand reputation, lead to compliance penalties, and hurt your revenues and sales.

Recent cybersecurity trends highlight the value of antivirus software for SMBs. In one study, researchers found that:

One in three SMBs have experienced a cyberattack.
The average cost of a cyberattack totals over $250,000 for an SMB.

With ninety-four percent of SMBs reporting that cybersecurity is critical to their business, protecting your business from online threats isn’t an option—it’s a necessity. Prioritizing cybersecurity measures today can protect your company’s future.

Small and midsized businesses, big security

Small and midsized businesses are disproportionately more likely to be hit by cyberattacks than large ones. Threat actors and cybercriminals want sensitive data, and small businesses often lack the time, money, and resources of their larger counterparts, making them an easier target.

To stay ahead, focus on the preparations cybercriminals expect SMBs to neglect. Begin by researching the importance of cybersecurity essentials, such as endpoint security—which safeguards devices like computers, laptops, and servers from potential threats. With a clear understanding of the available protections, you can choose an antivirus solution that best fits your business’ needs and resources.

If you aren't sure how to defend against cyberthreats, seek out experts. A managed service provider (MSP) can evaluate your company's security needs and identify antivirus software you can use to safeguard against threats. Treat it as an ongoing partnership—an MSP, for example, can monitor your business and offer ongoing security tips and recommendations.

Key features to look for in antivirus for businesses

There are several factors that can set SMB antivirus solutions apart, such as:

Centralized management and simplified onboarding that is easy to follow.
A more proactive approach to security that protects both individual devices and broader business operations, including email protection, endpoint security, and antivirus solutions.
Cost-effectiveness through customization, allowing small businesses to choose what protections are necessary for their business operations.

When searching for antivirus software, there's no tool more effective than knowledge. Know what you need to look for to fit your needs, such as:

Real-time scanning allows users to keep pace with cyberthreats as they happen, instead of waiting for a routine update.
Automatic updates  keep your system in the know as cybercriminals develop and launch new attacks.
Multi-device protection defends all endpoints across your computers and mobile devices.
Firewall integration allows an antivirus solution to be implemented alongside whatever firewall you already have.
Email and web protection scan to help ensure emails and browsers  aren't sources of cyberattacks.
A user-friendly interface  makes it easier for admins to set up and use the solution.
A password manager  helps users create strong passwords and prompt them to update them on a regular basis to minimize the risk of compromise due to password reuse.

When in doubt about how antivirus features work, partner with an  MSP that can help you decide on and integrate a solution that's tailored to your business.

Choosing antivirus software

Before you can set up your antivirus software, you have to choose which one you'll use. Keep these tips in mind:

Consider software that fits your business. Examine software features, compatibility, and other factors to find one that aligns with your company's security needs and budget.
Understand what you're getting. Ask questions, learn about various security vendors, and weigh the pros and cons of various options.
Ask for help. Allow an MSP to conduct a security audit and provide you with custom cybersecurity recommendations.
Take your time. Resist the urge to make a quick decision, as doing so could lead to a data breach that costs your company a significant amount of time and money.

Maintenance

Getting the most from your antivirus protection

Steps for setup and implementation will vary by product, but after you've installed and configured your antivirus software, you need to maintain it. Follow these best practices:

Keep your software up to date

Establish a schedule for updating your software and automate those updates if possible. Up-to-date software is better equipped to recognize current threats and know how to guard against them.

Back up your data

Regularly update and store copies of your data on external storage devices or in the cloud.

Perform real-time data and system scanning

Use your software to identify and address cyberthreats as they occur. The first step in halting a cyberattack is to identify it, and even a few minutes can make a huge difference.

Integrating antivirus software with other business tools

Take advantage of the full scope of what your antivirus protection can do. Many can integrate with systems you already have in place, such as endpoint protection and web filtering. For example, combining antivirus software with endpoint protection can help detect and contain malware before it spreads across devices, while integrating with web filtering can block access to malicious sites that may deliver phishing attacks or malware. A unified security approach through data connectivity magnifies the benefits each individual tool has by sharing information, maximizing your protection and response effectiveness.

To ensure you're integrating your systems in the most effective way, work with your providers or MSP. Communicate your goals and what other solutions you have, and they can help you. Once they're all integrated, be sure to test them and verify it works as expected.

Additional areas for SMBs to consider

While antivirus software is an invaluable tool for SMBs, it isn't infallible. Develop a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that focuses on protection from start to finish. Account for data protection and backups, compliance, and operational resilience. Other security solutions and features you may benefit from include:

Access control
Application security
Data backup and protection
Email security
Encryption
Firewall
Endpoint security
Incident response
Risk assessment
Cybersecurity awareness
Threat detection and response
Virtual private networks (VPNs)

Cybersecurity, and technology in general, is always advancing. It's vital to audit your cybersecurity strategy and update it on a regular basis because what worked yesterday may not be the best solution today. Work with an MSP that can provide security data and insights and help you monitor and optimize your strategy's effectiveness.

As you update your cybersecurity strategy, consider the following nonnegotiable security elements:

2FA and MFA
Centralized security event logging
Dark web monitoring
Email threat detection and validation
Immutable backups
Managed detection and response (MDR)
Online content filtering
Security awareness training

Emerging risks in cybersecurity

When you evaluate antivirus software, account for evolving cyberthreats across many areas of technology, including:

Phishing and social engineering: These tactics are evolving with more convincing and personalized messages, making it easier for cybercriminals to steal sensitive information.
Ransomware: A type of malicious software that encrypts a victim's data, locking them out of critical files or systems. Bad actors use ransomware to target businesses of all sizes, often disrupting operations and demanding payment in exchange for decryption keys.

Consider AI and machine learning (ML) and how cybercriminals may use these technologies to launch cyberattacks. Both technologies empower cybercriminals to initiate attacks that can devastate SMBs. To combat this, security vendors are integrating AI and ML into antivirus solutions. Look for antivirus software equipped with these technologies so you can use them to plan ahead for possible cyberattacks and reduce the risk of data breaches.

Why you need an antivirus solution

Cyberthreats continue to evolve. Implementing antivirus solutions not only protects your business but also establishes a secure foundation for future risks. By leveraging antivirus software and other solutions, small businesses can remain alert and well-protected against cyberattacks, bad actors, and other cybersecurity threats.

To keep your business safe from cybercrime, consider partnering with an MSP to enhance your strategy. An MSP can help implement and manage cybersecurity solutions, such as Microsoft Defender for Business.

Microsoft Defender for Business offers tailored protection for SMBs, helping you elevate your security and go beyond traditional antivirus with enterprise-grade protection. Learn how Microsoft Defender for Business can help protect your business.

Resources

Learn more how Microsoft Security products help provide antivirus protection

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Microsoft Defender for Business

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Solution

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Run your business securely with AI-powered, enterprise-grade cybersecurity and productivity tools designed for small businesses.

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The best antivirus for a small business depends on the company's security needs and budget. Businesses with a low budget may benefit most from a free solution, while a business with more custom needs may require a paid approach.
Small businesses experience cyberattacks more than you may expect. Antivirus helps small businesses defend against ransomware, malware, and other cyberthreats, limiting the risk of a data breach that causes significant damage to your business and impacts your relationships with your employees and customers.
The cost of antivirus software for a business varies based on the solution, its features, whether it's on-premises or cloud-based, and other factors. Evaluate multiple antivirus solutions and their respective costs to find one that corresponds with your company's budget.
Some small businesses run virus scans every day. Others may opt for weekly scans. Consider your company's user activity and risk levels to determine how often your small business should run virus scans.