Is An Antivirus Solution Enough To Protect My Business?
An antivirus is software designed to detect, prevent, and remove malicious software from computers. The protection expected is against threats like viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware, adware and phishing attacks.
Antivirus Basic Functions
Scanning and detection
Regularly scan files, applications, emails, and external devices to identify malware.
Real-time protection
Monitors the system and incoming data in real-time to prevent malware from entering or infecting the system.
Quarantine and Removal
Isolate and remove detected malware to prevent further infection or damage to the system.
Firewall
Integrated firewall to manage network traffic and block unauthorized access or threats.
End-Point Focus Explained
All of these antivirus core functions are “end-point” focused, meaning the protection occurs directly on the devices where the software is installed.
Having an antivirus solution is unavoidable, but the big question is, is only having an antivirus solution enough? or, Is more protection required?
The short answer is: an antivirus solution is not enough nowadays, and more protection is required. Threats are constantly evolving and hackers find different ways to breach antivirus systems. Relying solely on an antivirus solution does not provide complete cybersecurity. While an antivirus program helps detect and remove malware, modern threats have become more complex and can exploit various vulnerabilities beyond what an antivirus can handle alone. Traditional antivirus solutions focus on known threats. They may not catch sophisticated attacks, zero-day exploits, or fileless malware that doesn’t leave a detectable signature.
Small and midsize businesses are being targeted by cybercriminals due to their lack of resources and insufficient investment in cybersecurity measures. Small business owners often assume they’re too small to be a target, making them an easy objective. Cybercriminals residing outside of the United States may be making $15,000 a year in a typical job. As a result, they might seriously consider targeting a small business and demanding a ransom of $150,000, an amount that some companies are willing to pay. For these individuals, the prospect of obtaining 10 years’ worth of income from a successful ransomware attack is quite appealing.
Safeguarding your information, reputation, and trust is critical. A malware attack could lead to a data breach, resulting in financial losses, legal repercussions, and damage your business reputation, eroding customer trust. Clients may be less willing to work with a company known for having security vulnerabilities.
Having a robust antivirus solution in place provides peace of mind, however, additional security measures are required. Several tools and solutions are now available and effective when used in combination with the traditional antivirus software. The most common and affordable solutions for small and midsize businesses are:
EDR
Endpoint Detection and Response systems, which focus on endpoint software and endpoint suspicious behavior, combining real-time continuous monitoring and data analytics with automated response actions.
XDR
Extended Detection and Response systems, which is the evolution of traditional cybersecurity systems like EDR, integrates data analytics from multiple security sources to detect and promptly respond to more sophisticated cyberattacks, by using Artificial Intelligence and automation to process high volumes of information in order to drive quick incident response and remediation.
Other Alternatives like SIEM and SOAR
SIEM (which stands for Security Information and Event Management) and SOAR (which stands for Security Orchestration, Automation and Response) are also available. However, cost is and important consideration, as these solutions tend to be more expensive and require higher budgets. A phased approach may make them affordable for small business owners considering the potential costs of a data breach versus investing in these alternatives.
Conclusion
Review your current security measures and prepare a plan for responding to cybersecurity incidents. Be ready to protect your business and recover quickly in the event of a breach. It is a reality that investment budgets must be evaluated and probably increased to allocate adequate resources for protecting your data, systems, and operations.
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