It’s essential for all Windows systems to have protection against malicious software such as viruses, adware, worms, and automated programs through the use of antivirus applications. However, malware is just one of the numerous cybersecurity risks that organizations must address. Attackers also infiltrate company networks using methods like social engineering, harmful websites, and compromised cloud platforms.
Antivirus providers for businesses frequently offer advanced endpoint protection features to help organizations defend against more sophisticated threats. This article presents a comparison of the top six antivirus solutions for Windows 10 and 11 based on their key functionalities, pricing, and security capabilities.
Top Windows antivirus solutions comparison
Each antivirus software mentioned here not only offers malware defense for endpoints like laptops and desktops but also provides additional functionalities such as intrusion prevention and security from unauthorized peripheral devices such as USB flash drives. The pricing information used in this comparison is based on the annual fee for securing 10 endpoint devices.
Bitdefender GravityZone: Top Pick
Bitdefender has gained popularity for its no-cost antivirus software, but its corporate solutions also offer outstanding value. The GravityZone platform delivers advanced endpoint security against ransomware, malicious scripts, phishing websites, and real-time vulnerabilities in common applications like web browsers, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Reader.
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Upgraded packages come with additional features such as web filtering and control, attack analysis and visual representations, and a sandbox for secure testing of suspicious scripts or files.
Reasons for Choosing Bitdefender GravityZone
Bitdefender provides a comprehensive array of security features at competitive prices suitable for most enterprises. It has earned a positive reputation within the IT industry for safeguarding user data privacy, even with its free products. Overall, it strikes a fine balance between cost-effectiveness, capabilities, and defense.
Pricing Options
- GravityZone Small Business Security: Offers anti-phishing, ransomware protection, and web security for $199.49 per year for 10 devices (discounts for 2- or 3-year subscriptions).
- GravityZone Business Security: Includes defense against network attacks, web access management, external device security, and analytics for $258.99 annually for 10 devices (discounts for 2- or 3-year subscriptions).
- GravityZone Business Security Premium: Provides machine learning detection, sandboxing, defense against script and memory-based attacks, and Microsoft Exchange anti-spam and anti-malware for $570.49 per year for 10 devices (discounts for 2- or 3-year subscriptions).
Key Features
- Prevention, containment, and decryption of ransomware.
- Protection against fileless attacks.
- Antiphishing and anti-fraud capabilities.
- Advanced identification of real-time vulnerabilities.
- Intrusion prevention for networks.
- Management of security posture risks.
- Control and filtering of web content.
- Analysis and graphical representation of attacks.
- Sandbox analysis functionality.
Advantages and Disadvantages
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ESET PROTECT: Ideal for Multi-Layer Protection
ESET PROTECT stands out as a comprehensive antivirus platform for Windows 10 and 11 endpoints, Windows servers, mobile devices, Exchange and IBM email servers, and Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace cloud services.
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While the pricing of ESET is slightly higher in this category, I was impressed by the multi-layered security controls of the PROTECT platform, including encryption solutions for system disks, partitions, and devices, as well as innovative threat detection and endpoint patch management.
For an additional cost, businesses can also opt for services that provide additional protection towards ensuring a comprehensive security approach.
can also avail managed identification and response amenities from threat tracking professionals or extended identification and response using state-of-the-art AI and ML technology.
Reasons for opting ESET SAFEGUARD
ESET SAFEGUARD offers multi-tiered safeguarding that potentially encompasses an enterprise’s complete IT surroundings, from terminals to infrastructure and cloud applications. Its advanced functionalities and supervised amenities make it an excellent selection for enterprises with intricate security requirements and efficient IT units.
Costs
- Protect Entry: Defense against network assaults, device oversight, anti-fraud, and server safeguarding for $422 annually for 10 gadgets (discounts for 2- or 3-year commitments).
- Protect Advanced: Includes mobile danger defense, comprehensive disk encoding, and advanced danger shielding for $550 annually for 10 gadgets (discounts for 2- or 3-year commitments).
- Protect Complete: Incorporates vulnerability and update management, mail server safeguarding, and cloud app safety for $575.45 annually for 10 gadgets (discounts for 2- or 3-year commitments).
Characteristics
- Network breach prevention.
- Unauthorized device oversight.
- Mobile danger defense.
- Comprehensive disk encoding.
- Ransomware and innovative danger defense with programmed rectification.
- Vulnerability and update management to automatically repair vulnerabilities.
- Email server safeguarding for Exchange and IBM servers.
- Protection for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace clouds.
Advantages and disadvantages
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Malwarebytes ThreatDown: Prime managed identification and response
Malwarebytes is famed in the IT realm for furnishing a complimentary, on-call scanning utility that’s tailored to capture specialized malware that eludes other utilities.
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It also presents an endpoint safeguarding setup for enterprises dubbed ThreatDown that offers advanced capabilities like automated incident response, ransomware rollback, and DNS filtering.
The advanced ThreatDown bundle integrates supervised threat tracking from human security experts, while the Elite bundle furnishes a comprehensive managed identification and response solution.
Reasons for selecting Malwarebytes ThreatDown
Despite the higher price points of ThreatDown bundles compared to the remaining options in this roster, Malwarebytes holds an exceptional reputation for accuracy in identification and consumer confidentiality. Its sturdy supervised amenities grant enterprises access to leading security know-how at a lower expense than hiring an on-site unit.
Pricing
- Core: Incident response, device oversight, application prohibition, and vulnerability appraisal for $690 annually for 10 gadgets.
- Advanced: Enhances ransomware rollback, endpoint identification and response, update management, and supervised threat tracking for $790 annually for 10 gadgets.
- Elite: Adds managed identification and response involving threat tracking for $990 annually for 10 gadgets.
- Ultimate: Includes DNS filtering for $1,190 annually for 10 gadgets.
Characteristics
- Incident rectification and response.
- Device oversight for peripherals.
- Application prohibition using blacklists.
- Vulnerability appraisal.
- Ransomware rollback to reverse file and configuration changes.
- Endpoint identification and response.
- Update management.
- Managed identification and response with threat tracking.
- DNS web content filtering.
Advantages and disadvantages
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Avast: Optimal for small companies
Avast offers tailored endpoint safeguarding functionalities specifically designed for small enterprises. Beyond detecting ransomware, phishing attacks, malevolent websites, and unauthorized USB gadgets, Avast also presents data leakage prevention to thwart sensitive data extraction and a VPN provision for confidential browsing.
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Despite being impressed with Avast’s features and security provisions, the corporation was recently penalized by the FTC for trading user data, which affected my assessment.
Reasons for Choosing Avast
Avast furnishes a comprehensive set of security and confidentiality characteristics to offer small businesses all-encompassing protection. Its pricing falls on the lower end of the average spectrum, making it a realistic investment for firms on a restricted budget.
Pricing Details
- Avast Small Office Protection (up to 10 devices): Contains data loss prevention, 24×5 support, phishing and counterfeit website safeguarding, and ransomware defense for $139.99 annually (discounts for 2- or 3-year commitments).
- Avast Essential Business Security: Incorporates an online management portal for $296.72 annually for 10 gadgets (discounts for 2- or 3-year engagements).
- Avast Premium Business Security: Includes VPN, web regulation, and USB safeguarding for $374 annually for 10 devices (discounts for 2- or 3-year pacts).
- Avast Ultimate Business Security: Introduces patch management for $454.16 annually for 10 devices (discounts for 2- or 3-year contracts).
Characteristics
- Ransomware defense.
- Data leakage prevention.
- Intrusion prevention.
- Phishing defense.
- Web regulation.
- VPN.
- USB prevention to block unauthorized storage peripherals.
- Patch management.
Advantages and disadvantages
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Top Choice for Personalized Security Bundles: Trend Vision One by Trend Micro
The Trend Vision One option from Trend Micro presents a range of mix-and-match security items that businesses can combine to acquire tailored protection.
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Instead of the usual licensing model, Trend Micro customers buy credits that can unlock any of the numerous individual security services available on the Trend Vision One platform. These services include endpoint behavioral analysis using machine learning, secure access without trust for remote workers, and management of attack surface risks.
Regrettably, Trend Micro does not disclose the number of credits needed for each service or the individual credit cost. However, AWS Marketplace lists them at $1.05 each.
Reasons for Selecting Trend Vision One
The Trend Vision One solution empowers companies to establish a fully customized XDR platform to achieve comprehensive protection tailored to their distinct environment and risk profile. It caters to larger businesses with intricate security requirements and can assist in reducing licensing expenses by enabling organizations to pay solely for what they require.
Pricing Structure
Trend Micro adopts a credit-based pricing model for its extensive range of Vision One security products; hence, I recommend reaching out to their sales team for precise cost details.
Attributes
- Endpoint behavioral analysis.
- Management of web reputation.
- Prevention of data loss.
- Control over applications.
- Prevention of intrusion.
- In-depth log inspection.
- Security for email, mobile, and cloud.
- Secure access without trust.
- Managed detection and response.
- Management of attack surface risks.
Advantages and Disadvantages
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Top Pick for Novices: McAfee
McAfee presents an array of budget-friendly antivirus solutions targeted for families or small enterprises.
Although the McAfee+ plans cater to only six individual users, the endpoint protection agents can be deployed on an unlimited number of devices. Many of McAfee’s features focus on safeguarding personal privacy and lessening the financial impacts of a breach, including managing social media privacy, monitoring bank account transactions, and automatically freezing credit.
While the company previously had a negative reputation for its intrusive software and tendency to include unwanted add-ons, modern McAfee products are quieter and more secure.
Reasons for Opting for McAfee
I must confess that I’ve encountered challenges with McAfee in the past, but I was amazed by its latest product offerings. Its affordability, lightweight software agent, and advanced privacy safeguards make it an ideal option for small startups and family businesses on constrained budgets.
Pricing Information
- McAfee+ Premium: Includes scam detection for texts, parental controls, social privacy management, VPN, password manager, and identity monitoring and alerts for $69.99 annually for unlimited devices (excluding specific features).
- McAfee+ Advanced: Adds security freeze, credit monitoring, and identity theft coverage for $119.99 annually for unlimited devices (excluding certain features).
- McAfee+ Ultimate: Incorporates live setup support, bank account monitoring, ransomware coverage, and credit locking for $249.99 annually for unlimited devices (excluding specific features).
Characteristics
- Scam detection for texts.
- Web protection with color-coded links.
- Parental control features.
- Management of social media privacy (up to 6 users).
- VPN services.
- Cleanup of personal data and online accounts (up to 2 users).
- Monitoring and alerts for identity protection.
- Password manager.
- Insurance against identity theft and ransomware (up to 2 users).
- Monitoring of bank, credit card, investment, and loan transactions (up to 2 users).
- Freeze security for credit, bank, or utility accounts.
- Setup session for McAfee Assist protection.
Advantages and disadvantages
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What criteria should I follow to pick the top Windows antivirus for my company?
When considering any Windows 10 and Windows 11 antivirus solutions, you’ll have to balance between cost and security, where higher-priced options generally provide more extensive endpoint security.
It’s crucial to thoroughly and candidly assess your security position and current IT assets to find the right equilibrium for your firm.
Major corporations in heavily regulated sectors such as healthcare or finance will necessitate investing in more thorough solutions like the Malwarebytes ThreatDown platform, particularly if they have a small IT team or lack specialized security experts.
Conversely, small businesses on a tight budget with relatively low risk profiles might manage with a more affordable choice such as McAfee or Avast.
Overall, Bitdefender offers the finest mix of essential features, reasonable costs, and customer protection, rendering it an excellent option for nearly every enterprise.
Approach
I picked the products in this list due to their distinct array of enterprise-oriented features and exceptional user feedback. I extensively examined their publicly accessible product information and data sheets and, whenever possible, experimented with trial versions to evaluate individual capabilities. In some instances, I have personal experience with these products in real-world scenarios, which I supplemented by consulting industry forums and publications to gauge their security and user-friendliness.
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