The best antivirus for business in 2022

Some hackers create ransomware to attack individual users. But the benefit here is small. An ordinary user is more likely to donate personal files on a computer and simply demolish the system.

Much more dangerous and more difficult is the situation in corporate networks. Especially if part of the business infrastructure is networked and is directly related to the company’s profit. Here the damage is higher and there are more vulnerabilities. After all, a company can have 5 or 555 users. A computer, cloud, and indeed almost any employee gadget is a potential point of data leakage.

But antivirus developers have provided solutions for business. There are dozens of such proposals for 2022. The fashion here is set by , Eastern European, Japanese and American companies that offer solutions for both small businesses and multinational corporations.

One of the features of antiviruses for business in 2022 is a highly branched network of products, each developer has several such programs in the catalog. And it seems that each offers the same thing: protection against cyber threats. But in fact, the functionality of each program is special, and the price for each product is different. And if the information security (IS) department of your company consists of one employee who already works part-time, then making decisions is difficult.

For members of our ranking of the best antivirus for business, we provide a link to AV-Comparatives research. This is a reputable independent laboratory that simulates a variety of virus attack scenarios on devices and sees how different solutions perform.

Before we move on to a review and comparison of the best, quite a bit of theory. Most antivirus companies today profess technology XDR (Extended Detection and Response). From English, the abbreviation translates as “Advanced Detection and Response”.

Previously, antiviruses neutralized threats at endpoints, i.e. on computers, laptops, etc. (technology EDR — Endpoint Detection & Response – Endpoint Detection and Response). That was enough. But now there are cloud solutions, corporate telecommunications, and in general there are more ways for viruses to penetrate – different accounts, email clients, instant messengers. The essence of XDR is an integrated approach to vulnerability analysis and more flexible protection settings on the part of the company’s information security.

Among the products that offer business antiviruses are “sandboxes” (sandbox). Having found a suspicious object, the program creates a virtual operating system and runs the “stranger” in it. If he is caught in malicious actions, he is blocked. At the same time, the object never manages to penetrate the existing infrastructure of the company.

Editor’s Choice

Trend Micro

A Japanese IT giant that offers its products for the market. They do not have their own representative office in Our Country, which somewhat complicates communications. Although managers communicate in with clients. A huge package of developer products is aimed at the security of cloud environments (Cloud One and Hybrid Cloud Security lines). Relevant for companies that use cloud-infrastructure in their business. 

To protect networks from intruders, there is a set of Network One. Ordinary users – employees of the company – will be protected from reckless steps and attacks by the Smart Protection package. There is protection using XDR technology, products for the Internet of things¹. The company allows you to buy all of its lines in parts and thus assemble the antivirus package that your business needs. Has been tested by AV-Comparatives since 2004².

Official site: trendmicro.com

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Top 10 best antivirus for business in 2022 according to KP

1. Bitdefender GravityZone 

The product of Romanian developers, which performed best in tests from AV-Comparatives³. Romanian antivirus for business has many solutions. The most advanced is called GravityZone and includes more niche products. For example, Business Security is suitable for small businesses, while Enterprise is suitable for large organizations with data centers and virtualization. Or the top product Ultra for enhanced protection against targeted attacks. A sandbox is available in different versions, absolutely all business products work on machine learning technology and anti-exploit – blocking a threat at the very beginning of an attack.

Official site: bitdefender.ru

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CASE 2 NOD32

A regular participant in the AV-Comparatives rating and even the winner of prizes in the rating⁴. Antivirus can serve companies of any size. When buying, you specify how many devices you need to secure, depending on this, the price is added up. Basically, the company is ready to cover up to 200 devices, but upon request, protection is also provided for more devices. 

The initial product is called Antivirus Business Edition. It provides protection for file servers, centralized management and control of mobile devices and workstations. Smart Security Business Edition in fact differs only in more serious protection of workstations – Internet access control, enhanced firewall and anti-spam. 

The Secure Business version is needed to protect mail servers. Optionally, you can add a sandbox, EDR and full disk encryption to any package to protect confidential data.

Official site: esetnod32.ru

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3. Avast Business

The brainchild of Czech developers, which became famous thanks to the free distribution model for personal PCs. Allows independent lab AV-Comparatives to test the product and in recent years has consistently received two or three stars – the highest rating score⁵. In the corporate segment, antivirus has been developing for a little over ten years, making a serious bet on small and medium-sized businesses. Although the giants, in whose network there are under 1000 devices, the company is ready to provide protection. 

The company’s proprietary development is Business Hub, a cloud-based platform for security control. Monitors threats online, generates reports and has a friendly design. The most comprehensively assembled products for companies that need to service up to 100 devices. 

For larger companies that use VPN, need backup, control incoming traffic, it is suggested to purchase separate company solutions.

Official site: avast.com

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4. Dr. Web Enterprise Security Suite

One of the main advantages of this product from a company is its presence in the register of domestic software manufacturers. This immediately removes legal issues when purchasing this antivirus for government agencies and state corporations. 

The antivirus is compatible with the vast majority of more or less large domestic operating systems – Murom, Aurora, Elbrus, Baikal, etc. The company offers economical kits for small businesses (up to 5 users) and medium-sized businesses (up to 50 users). 

The base program is called Desktop Security Suite. She can automatically scan and respond to incidents for any type of workstation. For administrators, there are advanced tools for monitoring applications, processes and Internet traffic, flexible distribution of resource consumption on protected systems, monitoring of network and mail traffic, and spam protection. If necessary, you can buy more niche solutions in the package: protection of file servers, mobile platforms, Internet traffic filter.

The company also offers special conditions for those who are ready to “migrate” to their product – in other words, favorable conditions for those who refuse another software vendor and buy Dr. Web.

Official site: products.drweb.ru

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5. Kaspersky Security

Kaspersky Lab produces a line of anti-virus products for businesses with a very flexible structure. The basic version is called “Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business Standard” and essentially provides protection against malware, control over users’ devices and programs on your network, and access to a single management console. 

The most advanced version is called “Kaspersky Total Security Plus for Business”. It has application launch control on servers, adaptive anomaly control, sysadmin tools, built-in encryption, patch management (update control), EDR tools, mail server protection, Internet gateways, sandbox. 

And if you do not need such a complete set, then choose one of the intermediate versions, which is cheaper and includes a certain set of protective components. Solutions from Kaspersky are optimal for small and medium-sized businesses. Compared to competitors from Our Country, it has the most impressive set of positive ratings from AV-Comparatives⁶.

Official site: kaspersky.ru

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6. AVG AntiVirus Business Edition 

Another Czech developer that has antiviruses for business in its portfolio. In 2022, it offers two main products – Business Edition and Internet Security Business Edition. The second differs from the first only in the presence of protection of Exchange servers, password protection, as well as scanning emails for suspicious attachments, spam or links. 

The cost of two packages includes a remote console, a standard set of multi-level protection (user behavior analysis, file analysis), and a firewall. Separately, you can buy server protection and Patch Management for Windows. AV-Comparatives is also supportive⁷ to the products of this best antivirus for business.

Official site: avg.com

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7. McAfee Enterprise

In Our Country, Macafi distributors officially supply only antiviruses for individual and family users. The business version in 2022 can only be purchased through the US sales team. The company did not announce the suspension of work with users. However, due to the jump in the exchange rate, the price has increased significantly. There is no -language support, and our state-owned companies cannot use this product.

But if you have an independent enterprise and you are looking for one of the best products for 2022, recognized by world experts in the field of information security, then take a closer look at Western software. The company’s portfolio includes fifty products: network traffic inspection, protection of cloud systems, managers of all devices for administrators, various consoles for analyzing reports and operational management, a secure web gateway, and others. You can pre-request demo access for most solutions. Voted “Product of the Year” in 2021 by AV-Comparatives testers⁸.

Official site: mcafee.com

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8. K7

A popular antivirus developer from India. The company claims that its products are used by more than 25 million users worldwide. And on independent test sites, its business antivirus solutions perform very well according to AV-Comparatives.⁹. For example, quality marks based on the test results of the AV laboratory.

There are two base products in the catalog: EDR (endpoint protection in the cloud and on-premises) and in the field of network security – VPN, a secure gateway. The product is ready to protect workstations and other gadgets from ransomware viruses, phishing, and give the enterprise administrator control over the browser and network connections of employees. There is a proprietary two-way firewall. The company offers two tariff plans – EPS “Standard” and “Advanced”. The second added device control and management, category-based web access, employee application management.

The Small Office product stands apart – at an adequate price for small businesses, they have developed a kind of mix of home antivirus, but with the functions of protectors for business.

The company does not have a representative office, the purchase is possible through the head office in the Indian city of Chennai. All communication is in English.

Official site: k7computing.com

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9. Sophos Intercept X Advanced

An English antivirus that concentrates on protecting the business segment. They also have a product for the home, but the main focus of the company is on the security of enterprises. British products are used by half a million companies around the world. A wide range of developments is available for purchase: XDR, EDR, protection of servers and cloud infrastructure, mail gateways. 

The most complete product is called Sophos Intercept X Advanced, a cloud-based console through which you can control endpoint protection, block attacks, and examine reports. It is praised by cybersecurity experts for its ability to operate from an infrastructure with thousands of jobs to small offices. Checked by AV-Comparatives, but without much success¹⁰.

Official site: sophos.com

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10. Cisco Secure Endpoint Essentials

The American company Cisco is a leader in the field of information technology. They also offer their products for business security, both small and corporate, to users from Our Country. However, in the spring of 2022, the company imposed an embargo on the sale of its software to our country. Previously purchased products are still working and maintained by technical support.

The most popular product is Secure Endpoint Essentials. This is a cloud-based console through which you can control the protection of end devices and manage the software. Lots of tools to analyze and block security threats. You can automate, set scenarios for reactions to attacks, which is primarily relevant in 2022 for large companies. It happens on AV-Comparatives reviews, but did not take prizes and awards¹¹.

Official site: cisco.com

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How to choose an antivirus for business

When choosing an antivirus for business in 2022, you should remember that the company’s protection system has other functions than blocking threats to the files of an ordinary user.

— For example, protection of payments on the Internet is not relevant for business. But if the company has a cloud infrastructure, it may be required, – says Director of SkySoft Dmitry Nor. 

Decide what needs to be protected

Workstations, cloud infrastructure, company servers, etc. Depending on your set, study whether this or that product suits your business.

– You just need to look at what exactly is planned to be protected and, based on this, buy the necessary antivirus. For example, you need to protect your email, so you need to buy an antivirus with such a function, explains Dmitry Nor. – If this is a small business, then there is nothing special to protect. And large companies can organize information security. 

Product test capability

What if you buy software to protect corporate infrastructure, but it does not solve your “defensive” tasks? Will the functionality be inconvenient or will integration with your infrastructure cause conflicts in the system? 

“Are you interested in having a trial subscription period for a good quality paid antivirus in order to evaluate its functions,” recommends Dmitry Nor. 

Price issue

Antivirus for business cannot be bought once and for all. Companies regularly release fresh updates and supplement the virus signature database, for which they want to receive rewards. If in the consumer segment of antiviruses it is still possible to purchase a license for two or three years, then in the corporate segment they prefer to pay for each month (subscription) or annually. The average cost of protection for one corporate user is about $ 10 per year, and there are “discounts” for wholesale.

Willingness to train the information security department

Some business antivirus vendors agree to work closely with your company’s security guys. They teach the deployment of protective systems, give free advice on the point setting of various solutions. This is an important nuance to consider when choosing the best antivirus for your business. Because collecting different opinions and working closely with the specialists who developed this product strengthens the overall security of the company.

Popular questions and answers

Answers questions Director of the Competence Center for Information Security “T1 Integration” Igor Kirillov.

Sources of

1. IoT – internet of things, the so-called “smart devices”, household appliances with Internet access
2. https://www.av-comparatives.org/awards/trend-micro/
3. https://www.av-comparatives.org/vendors/bitdefender/
4. https://www.av-comparatives.org/awards/eset/
5. https://www.av-comparatives.org/awards/avast/
6. https://www.av-comparatives.org/awards/kaspersky-lab/
7. https://www.av-comparatives.org/awards/avg/
8. https://www.av-comparatives.org/awards/mcafee/
9. https://www.av-comparatives.org/awards/k7-2/
10. https://www.av-comparatives.org/awards/sophos/
11. https://www.av-comparatives.org/awards/cisco/