In this digital age, everyone has encountered damage done by the virus to our systems. A virus is a program that attaches itself to the computer system and may get into the system through multiple sources. While the effect of these viruses is shocking, the damage they can do to businesses is the worst. 

With businesses transferring every piece of data, including financial reports, customers’ information, and budget, they are becoming more vulnerable to cyber thefts. So, is there any way to get your business protected? 

Well, yes, you can protect your business with the best business antivirus tools. Through this article, we will get into the details of antivirus software, its benefits, and the best tools. 

What is Antivirus Software?

An antivirus can be installed in the system to protect the system from computer viruses. Nowadays, automatic antivirus or firewall is there in their own systems, but other-party antivirus software is of great use. Antivirus software can detect the virus in the system. They can be used to prevent any malware attack and remove any existing system virus. 

It ensures complete network security and keeps away any threats of data loss, sensitive information distortion, etc. hackers tend to develop different ways of infecting the system; they can spy on the user and can make illegal use of the user’s personal information. Hence, powerful antivirus software is a must for users for complete system security. 

Antivirus software continuously keeps working in the background. It checks the system’s files and searches for any virus matching the base code. Also, it removes any if found. Antivirus can detect the known as well as unknown patterns of different malware. Antivirus software is available for subscription as well as for free also. 

Following are some other reasons for using antivirus:

• Whenever we visit any website, some advertisements keep on popping up. Sometimes these pop-ups become so annoying and hinder the workflow. With antivirus software installed, we can avoid these ads, which can be a way for the virus to attack the system. Antivirus software does not allow these malicious websites to feed into the system. 
• Antivirus provides complete protection from all kinds of viruses and also prevents them from spreading to the whole system. 
• Antivirus also monitors if any hacking activity is taking place anywhere. It checks for any virus while connecting and disconnecting. It runs a proper scan before transferring any data onto the computer. 
• All the apps and website-related passwords are well-protected.

One must consider the following points before setting up: 

• Before installing an antivirus, the system’s RAM and hard drive have good storage capacity; otherwise, using an antivirus will slow the system. 
• The free antivirus will not be able to make your system advertisement free.
• Regular updating is a must while using antivirus software. 

Before choosing any antivirus software, one must keep all these important points in mind. 

Why is Antivirus for Business so Important?

Because of its advantages, antivirus has been of great use by various individuals as well as organizations. It has proved of great importance for businesses. Nowadays, many companies are turning themselves in for work from home. 

Moreover, the threat to the system also increases with that. Antivirus helps users protect the system files and passwords while working over any network. 

Following are the reasons why antivirus is important for any business:

• Protect delicate and sensitive information: While working in an organization, the personal information of customers as well as employees needs protection from unauthorized usage. It is very important to protect sensitive information from hackers. And antivirus is the best option to do this. Businesses prefer antivirus to prevent any future loss. 
• Protection from modern computer viruses: Today, hackers are continuously involved in making it very hard to detect and prevent viruses. These kinds of viruses are difficult to get rid of. Sometimes complete formatting is required to get rid of these tough viruses, resulting in complete data loss. 

The default antivirus, as well as free antivirus, become inactive for such threats. Hence, a strong antivirus has to be used by businesses. 

• Protection of emails: Computer viruses can easily travel and spread from emails. Emails are the very common carriers of these viruses. They look like normal attachments and images in the mail. 

Users access these infected attachments in emails, and this can harm and infect the system with viruses attached to the emails. Antivirus runs a scan of all the attachments and emails and warns the user before accessing them.  

• Improvement of internet security: Businesses operating online with all their products and services offered online need virus protection the most. Ecommerce websites and applications need to have antivirus software to provide users with a safe and secure environment for dealing. 
• Management and support: It becomes easy for businesses to manage all their activities with the help of business packs provided by antivirus. Even large organizations can manage easily with the help of antivirus. The antivirus providers give technical support to users and organizations with paid subscriptions to antivirus. 

How to Choose the Right Antivirus Software?

With the increase in virus threats, it is very important to select the right antivirus software for business. There are various factors that a business must consider before going for any antivirus software. Some factors are mentioned below:

• Understanding the needs of the business: Before selecting any antivirus service, businesses should analyze their needs and demands. This will ensure the business knows exactly what it wants for its activities. Suppose the business offers laptops to its employees. In that case, a high-priority end-to-end package antivirus will be required. 
• Protection of files: A good antivirus will protect the files as well as the network. It should be updated from time to time. Enterprises that need regular scans can go for regular updates of the antivirus. Hence, the antivirus will be able to fulfill the intensive requirements of businesses. This will enable it to scan any threat to the network. 
• Need for advanced features: Businesses should also focus on the extra features that are provided by the antivirus providers. Antivirus software also provides other add-on features that are very useful for businesses.  

The Best Business Antivirus Tools

Today, multiple business antivirus tools are there for system protection. Considering the above factors, a business house can choose between all the options available in the market. Antivirus software will protect the system from any possible threats, data leakage, and loss of information. Following are a few antivirus tools available with different features. 

1. Crowdstrike

One of the newcomers in the field of antivirus protection tools, Crowdstrike is an excellent alternative for users looking for a cumbersome IT security approach. Founded in 2011, the company soon gained several users due to the Falcon platform. The platform has stacked a few rewards due to its endpoint software security approach. 

Key Features

• It can detect known as well as unknown malware in the system.
• It offers an endpoint detection and response technique.
• Apart from this, it unites all the essential features of a very lightweight sensor. 

The Falcon platform from CrowdStrike is a cloud-based security program. This saves clients money on hardware and upkeep while preventing hackers from accessing the security technology, which is possible with conventional on-premise antivirus systems.

Give Crowdstrike a try for free. 

2. McAfee Total Protection

 

McAfee is undoubtedly one of the best antivirus software on the market. The users have always given good reviews about McAfee antivirus. It secures a good ranking on all the tests. 

Key Features

• With a real-time virus protection system, it offers a complete solution to security needs.
• There is a network analyzer, also.
• In only one platform, all features like a firewall, a VPN, and management of passwords are available. 

With 10-device protection coverage, it tends to provide overall protection to the system and network. It has been there since 1987 and has continually improved its services. 

3. TotalAV

The products of TotalAV have improved over the past years. Previously the user had to create an account with TotalAV before downloading it. But now, it allows the user to download the software without signing up. It takes a few minutes to completely install on the device. 

Key Features

• It provides protection from ransomware, which is very hard to detect and trace. 
• The package includes a VPN and also provides management of passwords.
• It has a free plan for everyone. Apart from this, businesses can opt for different subscription options available depending on their needs.
• It tends to alert the users of any malicious websites before visiting that website. 

It takes up very less space on the RAM with a low profile. TotalAV is easy to work with as its user interface is very easy to use and understand. All the essential features of virus protection are there in TotalAV. 

Try TotalAV for free.

4. Norton

 

Norton is one of the most famous antivirus software available and is used by many businesses. It offers a wide range of features, starting from the simplest ones to the most complex ones. Users can find a huge range of security products with Norton. 

Key Features

• Norton offers a dashboard for tracking everything on the system. 
• Activities can be monitored in a single place with Norton.
• It continuously shows notifications and alerts of any threats or spam.
• It offers a cloud storage space of up to 75 GB.
• Norton offers a complete security solution to businesses and provides all the comprehensive security tools. 

Businesses can select from the Norton 360 plans that offer almost every security feature. Norton also offers a free trial to its users for any of the plans they select. It was developed in 1990 by NortonLifeLock. It has a unique style of scanning viruses from the system. It does a proper scan of the system and does away with every single malware.

5. Intego antivirus

The main point of focus of Intego antivirus is Mac computers. It was created in 1997. It offers one of the best antivirus tools for macOS. It has started making antivirus for Windows also recently in 2021. 

Key Features

• It offers well-scheduled virus scans as well as scans on user demand. 
• It offers multiple plans containing different features and add-ons. 
• The safe browsing option scans anti-phishing activities. 
• It provides a wide range of features for the Apple operating system. 
• Moreover, Intego provides comparatively less expensive virus protection. 

For macOS, Intego is the most preferred platform as it offers light features with high-speed working. The user interface is well-optimized. The scanner of Intego antivirus is known as VirusBarrier and is very easy to work with. 

6. Bitdefender Internet Security

Emerging in the market in the Millennial generation, Bitdefender Internet Security has evolved over the years, considering the increased security risk and keeping up with the user’s expectations. 

Key Features

• A firewall, a secure online bank management tool, a password manager, and even a VPN are all features of Bitdefender Internet Security.
• The primary dashboard displays a banner with recommendations from the AutoPilot feature and reports on the security situation.
• The dashboard’s look can be readily changed, allowing each user to personalize it as they see fit by pinning their preferred tools for quick access.
• You may access pages for Protection, Privacy, and Utilities by using the left-rail menu.
• The Protection tab features panels for Ransomware Remediation, Vulnerability, Advanced Threat Defense, and Online Threat Protection. A firewall and Antispam are added by this suite.

The platform has managed to retain over 500 million users to date. Their recent upgrade with the multilayer ransomware protection has got them the spotlight even today. The application seamlessly combines and safeguards email clients like Outlook and Thunderbird, browsers like Firefox and Chrome, and messaging services like Skype.

7. Avira Antivirus

 

Avira is unquestionably among the safest antivirus software on the market. Avira has received numerous honors since it gained prominence in the early 2000s for its exceptional anti-malware detection rates. Some of its rewards include the 1st position in AV-Comparatives’ “Real-World Protection Test” that they received in 2014. Before that, Avira Antivirus also got rewarded the gold status” from the Anti-Malware Test Lab and “AV Product of the Year” in 2008. 

Key Features:

• Passwords for all of your accounts can be saved using the Avira password manager, which will sync them across all of your devices for simple and convenient access.
• Avira offers some level of active antivirus defense against potential dangers both online and offline, including ransomware shields and fake site protection.
• Its sophisticated antivirus has won numerous awards for its ability to find and get rid of different malware threats.
• The Avira software allows you to do a smart scan to check for any out-of-date drivers.

You will be surprised to know that Avira Antivirus prevented 99.3% of the most recent malware and viruses in AV-Comparatives’ most recent antivirus software testing session. That said, the percentage is quite high compared to an average of 97%. 

Try Avira for free.

8. Avast

Avast is a popular choice used by over 435 million active users worldwide to protect their smartphones and computers from malware and other threats online. Avast Free Antivirus gives you more than many competing commercial products. 

Key Features:

• All the popular operating systems, including macOS, iOS, and Android, support Free Antivirus.
• The free version can assist with network security, browser cleanup, and password management.
• Users can scan the behavior of certain applications using the Behavior Shield functionality to look for any suspicious activity.
• Pop-ups are disabled in the free version’s Do Not Disturb mode while a user is enjoying a game or binge-watching Netflix.
• Avast Premium Security offers a powerful Firewall feature that is not available in the free version.
• Premium subscriptions enable users to have total control over all incoming and outgoing online traffic.

On top of excellent antivirus protection, it adds a network security scanner, browser protection, and more. This product is only free for personal use. If you want to use Avast in a business setting, you must upgrade to Avast Premium Security. With free and premium options, it delivers a complete security solution. Avast offers a wide range of tools beyond basic antivirus protection, including password protection, data shredder, webcam shield, sandbox, and more.

Conclusion

With numerous antivirus software flooding the market, it can be extremely overwhelming to pick one that best fits your business. Do remember that the extremely pricey one doesn’t necessarily mean the best for you. You need to analyze your budget and requirements before buying software. If you are a small business, you need not go for extremely expensive packages with lots of features. You can simply settle for an affordable one with basic features.