Security

Antivirus Software is Changing. What You Need to Know

Dale Shulmistra

Published

November 21, 2024
7 min read

Introduction

As cyber threats continue to evolve, traditional antivirus software doesn’t cut it anymore. Today’s businesses must deploy advanced cybersecurity software to thwart hard-to-detect threats and prevent cyberattacks from derailing their operations.

But with so many IT security tools out there, choosing the right solution can be overwhelming for businesses and their IT decision makers. In this guide, we provide an overview of today’s antivirus software solutions, what to look for and which solutions we recommend to our clients here at Invenio IT.

What is Antivirus Software?

Antivirus software is a program designed to detect, prevent and remove malicious software. This includes viruses, worms, trojans and other types of malware. Some cybersecurity software can also block a user’s connection to known malicious websites and applications before the malware is detected.

Initially developed in the late 1980s, antivirus software has evolved significantly, incorporating advanced features like real-time threat detection and automated response. Modern antivirus software not only scans and removes malware but also continuously monitors systems for unusual activity to catch emerging threats before they cause harm. These advanced solutions are referred to as next-generation antivirus software, which we define in greater detail below.

Key Features of Antivirus Software

Antivirus software has several key features that are critical for comprehensive cybersecurity. If you’re evaluating different security software for your organization, these are some of the most basic features you should be looking for, as a start:

Malware Protection: Identifies and removes malicious software.
Threat Detection and Response: Continuously monitors for suspicious activities.
Virus Removal: Capable of cleaning infected files and systems.
Real-Time and Scheduled Scanning: Ensures continuous protection.
User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies management and operation.
Ransomware Defense: Detects common strains of ransomware and early signs of an infection.

More Advanced Antivirus Features to Look For

To protect against more sophisticated threats, your antivirus software will need to have more advanced threat detection capabilities. This is critical for detecting and stopping threats that do not have known “signatures.” In other words, the malware is not yet recognized. But it can be stopped by the antivirus software if it has more advanced detection features, such as:

Heuristic Analysis: Examines the behavior of a file or program, rather than relying on a database of known malware signatures.
Machine Learning: Continuously learns and adapts to new threats by analyzing vast amounts of data and identifying patterns in malicious behavior.
AI: Uses artificial intelligence to predict potential threats and proactively block them before they can execute.

Types of Threats Addressed by Antivirus Software

More advanced antivirus software protects against various types of cyber threats, including both known and unrecognized malware, as well as some social engineering tactics, such as phishing attacks. Some examples of threats blocked by antivirus solutions include:

Viruses: Malicious code that replicates itself and spreads to other files.
Malware: General term for malicious software designed to harm or exploit systems.
Ransomware: Encrypts files and demands payment for their release.
Spyware: Secretly monitors and collects user information.
Phishing Attacks: Tricks users into providing sensitive information.
Fileless Attacks: Uses legitimate software to execute malicious activities.

We can’t stress this enough: not all antivirus software can detect more advanced threats like fileless attacks and zero-day threats. This is why businesses must deploy the more robust protection of next-generation antivirus software, as we illustrate below.

Benefits of Using Antivirus Software

The most critical reason to use antivirus software is to protect your computer systems from being compromised by malware or cyberattacks. But in turn, this protection translates into several other important benefits for an organization:

Protect Against Viruses and Malware: Ensures your devices remain secure.
Secure Your Devices: Safeguards sensitive data and personal information.
Enhance Online Safety and Privacy: Prevents unauthorized access and data breaches.
Prevent Data Breaches and Identity Theft: Blocks attempts to steal personal or business data.
Improve System Performance: Keeps systems running smoothly by removing harmful software.
Prevents Operational Downtime: Ensures business continuity by preventing operational disruptions caused by cyberattacks.
Reduces Financial Risk: Prevents the high costs of cyberattacks, remediation, disaster recovery, revenue loss and reputational damage.

Traditional vs. Next-Generation Antivirus Software

One of the biggest differences between yesterday’s antivirus software and today’s next-generation antivirus solutions lies in their ability to detect more advanced threats.

Traditional antivirus software uses a signature-based model, which limits its detection to known threats. Next-gen antivirus software uses not only signature-based detection but also heuristic analysis and machine learning to detect unrecognized threats based on their activity.

Traditional antivirus: Detects known threats.
Next-generation antivirus: Detects known and unknown threats, such as zero-day attacks.

Why Does It Matter?

Emerging threats like ransomware and zero-day attacks can compromise devices without using known malware. This allows them to go undetected by traditional virus removal tools. Next-generation antivirus solutions thwart these attacks by detecting the underlying techniques used in the attack, even if the threat has never been seen before.

More sophisticated threats like fileless attacks are on the rise. This means that organizations that rely on outdated endpoint protection face an increased risk of devastating breaches.

Our Top Recommendation for Antivirus: Datto AV

At Invenio IT, we’ve evaluated numerous antivirus solutions to identify the best protection for today’s businesses in every industry. We recommend Datto AV because it’s a robust, next-generation antivirus solution with advanced capabilities to detect sophisticated threats.

Here’s what we like about Datto AV:

Advanced Threat Detection: Uses machine learning, AI, heuristic analysis and signature-based detection to stop known malware and emerging threats.

Global Threat Intelligence: Leverages continuously updated global data to inform its threat detection.
Real-Time Monitoring: Continuously watches for threats.
Automated Threat Response: Takes immediate action against detected threats.
Integration with Existing Systems: Seamlessly works with your current IT infrastructure and integrates with additional endpoint protection solutions like Datto EDR.
Superior Performance: Datto AV is rated highly for its effectiveness and user-friendly interface.
Scalability: Suitable for businesses of all sizes, offering flexible deployment options.

Datto AV Reviews and Pricing

Datto AV has a 98% customer satisfaction rating. It outperforms many competitors by providing comprehensive protection and ease of use. Additionally, Datto AV pricing is affordable for all organizations, as it starts as low as $20 per month. This is especially beneficial for smaller organizations, because it enables them to get enterprise-level protection without the high costs of enterprise security software.

For more advanced endpoint protection, we recommend integrating Datto AV with Datto EDR. In an independent efficacy report by Miercom, Datto AV was found to stop 99.62% of all malware when combined with Datto EDR – compared to the industry average of only 73% for competing security software. (See Datto EDR pricing here.)

Choosing the Right Antivirus Software

Above, we highlighted some of the most important features to look for when selecting antivirus software, such as advanced detection capabilities. But beyond these capabilities, it’s also important to determine which solution is the right fit for your company’s existing infrastructure, security framework, budget and objectives.

Some factors to consider include:

Compatibility: Ensure the antivirus supports your operating system(s).
Pricing: Evaluate subscription models to fit your budget.
Additional Features: Some security software may offer extras like firewalls and VPNs.
Customer Support: Reliable support is crucial for resolving issues promptly, either through your managed-service provider (MSP) or directly from the security vendor.

Antivirus Software vs. Cybersecurity Software

While antivirus software primarily focuses on detecting and removing threats, more comprehensive cybersecurity solutions offer broader protection. These may include firewalls, intrusion detection systems and data encryption. Businesses should evaluate their specific needs to decide between standalone antivirus software and full cybersecurity suites.

For small businesses, here is an additional guide from the U.S. Small Business Administration on strategies to strengthen your cybersecurity beyond antivirus.

The Future of Antivirus Software

Antivirus software continues to evolve along with the threats that it defends against. In the years ahead, we anticipate that newer solutions will continue to enhance their threat detection and response capabilities. AI and machine learning are becoming integral, allowing for predictive analysis and proactive threat mitigation. As cyber threats evolve, antivirus software will continue to adapt, providing even more robust protection.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is antivirus software and how does it work?

Antivirus software scans and monitors systems for malicious activities. Depending on the type of threat, the software will respond by quarantining or deleting the infected files and alerting the user. It can also block user actions that are deemed dangerous, such as attempts to visit a compromised website.

2. How does antivirus software differ from cybersecurity software?

Antivirus software typically targets malware specifically, while the term “cybersecurity software” often refers to a broader suite of protection that can include network firewalls, intrusion detection, managed detection and response (MDR) and other capabilities beyond mere virus removal.

3. What are the benefits of using antivirus software?

The main benefit of using antivirus software is that it prevents your computer systems from being infected with viruses and malware that can lead to more destructive cyberattack and data breaches. This prevents costly operational disruptions and equally costly recoveries.

4. How does Datto AV compare to other antivirus solutions?

As a next-generation antivirus solution, Datto AV offers more advanced protection than traditional antivirus software. It uses a combination of heuristic analysis, AI and machine learning to detect more sophisticated threats, while also offering real-time monitoring and automated threat response.

5. Why is malware protection important for businesses?

Malware protection is important for businesses because it prevents costly operational disruptions stemming from malware and cyberattacks. It prevents data breaches, protects sensitive information and ensures business continuity.

6. Can antivirus software protect against ransomware?

Yes, advanced antivirus solutions can detect and block ransomware attacks. Next-generation antivirus like Datto AV does this by detecting the underlying footprint of a ransomware attack, such as unusual file activity, even if the malware’s signature is not yet detectable by any antivirus solutions.

7. What factors should be considered when choosing antivirus software?

The main factors to consider when choosing antivirus software are its threat-detection capabilities, ability to stop today’s advanced threats, compatibility with existing systems, pricing and customer support.

8. Which software is best for antivirus?

Datto AV is widely considered one of the best antivirus solutions for businesses today. That’s due to the software’s advanced threat detection capabilities, which are powered in part by machine learning, AI and heuristic analysis. Datto AV pricing is also affordable, making it ideal for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs).

Conclusion

Antivirus software is essential for maintaining cybersecurity in today’s digital landscape. With advanced features and comprehensive protection, solutions like Datto AV ensure your data and infrastructure remain secure. As cyber threats continue to evolve, investing in robust antivirus software is crucial for safeguarding your business.

Don’t Let Today’s Threats Go Undetected. Learn More about Datto AV

Discover how Datto AV can protect your business from advanced threats like fileless attacks and zero-day exploits. Request Datto AV pricing for your organization or schedule a meeting with our cybersecurity experts at Invenio IT. Call us at (646) 395-1170 or email success@invenioIT.com.