An Impartial Guide to the Best Malware Protection for Businesses
Contents
What is Malware?
Malware never takes a day off, and neither should your protection. It’s a catch-all term for nasty software – ransomware, spyware, bots, worms – that damages systems or gives criminals access. With over 450,000 new threats appearing daily, effective malware protection is non-negotiable, especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) where an attack can be a knockout blow.
This guide will help you understand anti-malware and choose the right solution to work and click with confidence.
What is Anti-malware? Your Shield Against Cyber Threats
Think of anti-malware as your frontline defence against the latest, most sophisticated cyber threats. While basic antivirus (like Windows Defender) handles older, known viruses, dedicated antimalware tackles the new and evolving stuff that standard antivirus might miss.
Antivirus vs. Anti-malware: What's the Difference?
It's a common mix-up, but there are differences between anti-virus and anti-malware tools:
- Antivirus: Deals with older, well-known computer viruses – malicious code that replicates and damages devices. These are generally easier to spot.
- Anti-malware: Protects against a broader range of new, advanced, and constantly changing threats, including ransomware, phishing scams, and zero-day attacks. These are harder to detect.
For the best protection, you'll want both. Premium antivirus often includes antimalware features, and vice versa, but a combined approach is strongest.
How does anti-malware work? Three Steps to a Secure System
1. Detection
The software scans your system for harmful software. Good solutions also monitor the internet, blocking access to suspicious websites to prevent infection in the first place.
Signature-based detection: Uses a database of known malware "signatures" (like digital fingerprints) to identify threats.
Heuristic analysis: Looks for the tell tale signs of an attack, such as suspicious behaviour and characteristics, even in new, undiscovered malware.
Sandboxing: Isolates suspect software in a safe virtual environment to observe its behaviour before deciding to block or allow it.
2. Removal
The anti-malware removes the identified threat. If the malware is programmed to cause more damage upon removal attempts, it will be quarantined so you can safely delete it later (usually after about two weeks to avoid deleting legitimate software by mistake).
3. Repair
The software works to fix any damage, which might include restoring system files, cleaning up registries, fixing settings, or flagging vulnerabilities.
Top anti-malware solutions for your business
Free options exist, but for businesses needing to support multiple users and meet security standards, paid solutions are the way to go. Here are some top picks based on professional and user reviews, designed for businesses of all sizes:
Avast Business
Good for: SMEs (up to 100 users), budget-conscious
Tiers: Essential, Premium, Ultimate. Essential offers solid endpoint, ransomware, and phishing protection
Pros: Award-winning protection, intuitive online management, web control (Premium/Ultimate).
Cons: Installation can be complex, full scans can slow PCs, some features not on macOS.
Price: Starts around £30 per device/year.
Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security
Good for: Budget-conscious SMEs needing strong protection (up to 100 users).
Features: Next-gen cybersecurity against ransomware, spyware, phishing, and zero-day attacks. Machine learning and behavioural analysis support.
Pros: Top-ranking in independent tests, comprehensive security (prevention, detection, response), cloud or on-premise hosting.
Cons: Cloud dashboards can be tricky, limited reporting, and occasional slow support.
Price: Quotes available on request.
Kaspersky Medium Business Security
Good for: Medium-sized businesses needing comprehensive security and managed network security.
Tiers: Multiple tiers for different needs and budgets.
Pros: Simple cloud console, comprehensive suite (EDR, patch management, ransomware protection), scalable.
Cons: Can be resource-intensive, some OS compatibility issues, and support can be slow.
Price: Basic protection from £180/year (min. 5 users).
Malwarebytes for Teams
Good for: Sole traders and small teams (up to 20 users) needing straightforward, effective protection.
Features: Behaviour-based tech for real-time threat detection (brute force, spyware, ransomware). Compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and Chromebook.
Pros: Proactive scanning, award-winning remediation, fast install, 60-day money-back guarantee.
Cons: More focused on detection/removal (less comprehensive than others), resource-intensive, limited users.
Price: Quotes available on request.
Sophos Intercept X
Good for: Businesses needing enterprise-level endpoint security with flexible licensing.
Features: AI-powered anti-malware and exploit protection. Premium options add 24/7 extended threat detection and response.
Pros: Effective endpoint protection, industry-leading detection, intuitive interface.
Cons: Can be less affordable, costs add up with advanced features, resource-intensive.
Price: Quotes available on request.
Layering Your Protection: Defence in Depth
No single solution offers 100% protection. The UK government's National Cyber Security Centre recommends a "defence in depth" strategy – essentially multiple security layers. If one layer is breached, others are there to catch the threat.
Our advice? Combine your chosen anti-malware with reliable antivirus software and proven cybersecurity controls, like those in the government-backed Cyber Essentials scheme. This gives your business the best shot at staying safe.
Secure Your Business with CyberSmart
Gain Complete Cyber Confidence
CyberSmart offers an all-in-one cybersecurity solution: monitoring, optimisation, training, and insurance. We stop threats and provide peace of mind with continuous compliance and 24/7 protection. As the UK's largest provider of cybersecurity accreditations, we can help your business achieve complete cyber confidence.
