In this article, the second in our technology spotlight series, we explore endpoint anti-virus protection solutions.
As an IT MSP with clients worldwide ranging from 100 to 3000 IT users, we have selected various solutions that each have a strength and target specific needs. We hope in this article, and our ongoing technology spotlight series, you gain insights and a better understanding of the technologies in each area to guide you to the solution and vendors best suited to your needs.
We welcome your feedback, and if you need more guidance, please contact us.
Key Technologies Driving Anti-Virus Protection
Signature-based Definition Technology Signature-based definition Anti-virus is a traditional technology which relies on a database of known malware signatures and heuristics to identify and block malicious files and programs. It requires frequent updates to keep up with new threats, but it can detect and prevent the most common malware attacks. This technology was the industry norm, but it's no longer enough to stop advanced cyber threats such as zero-day attacks. Cybercriminals have evolved, and so must your endpoint protection.
AI (Artificial Intelligence) based Technology AI technology is seen as an industry-standard in the contemporary world of digital technology, where businesses need to protect themselves. There are variations of AI in this space, which typically use machine learning and AI to examine the attributes and behaviour of files and programs to spot unusual and risky activities. It can find and block unknown and zero-day malware that would typically escape traditional signature-based definition anti-virus technologies, but it may also produce false positives or negatives – which is why the industry standard is to utilise a solution or solutions which provide blanket protection across signature-based definition and AI technologies.
Self-learning AI Technology Self-learning AI is an innovative technology which enables businesses to monitor and respond to cyber threats across the entire digital environment, including endpoints, networks, cloud, and email. It is not reliant on a human to take action, instead, it can adapt and evolve to changing attack vectors and scenarios, and autonomously detect and neutralise advanced and targeted attacks.
Rollback Technology This technology allows anti-virus solutions to restore systems to a previous state in real-time, of a malware infection. It can help recover from ransomware attacks or other severe damage caused by malware, without losing important data or settings. Rollback technology enables you to recover from successful infection or encryption by cybercriminals.
The Industry Norms
As IT MSP, we are the technology partner for our client, and we have a passion and skill to help our clients understand IT Technologies that align us in making a strategic roadmap that fits their IT and Operational needs.
The question often arises, what is the standard practice in this space? The answer depends on your business, IT setup and your brand profile, but we can make some generalisations. As a general rule, standalone solutions that rely only on signature-based definition protection are outdated - they are not designed to protect you from sophisticated threats like zero-day attacks that are common.
Usually, we see businesses choosing a single solution that covers all areas of security: anti-virus, SASE, ZTNA, CASB, IAM, and more. Or we see businesses choosing a single endpoint solution that offers a minimum of strong signature-based definition and AI protection.
At CMS Group, we think it's important to stay ahead, so we would strongly recommend businesses to consider self-learning AI and rollback technology, on top of the above technologies, but this comes at a cost.
Businesses have to balance cost and protection, while this comprehensive approach provides complete protection, it comes with a high price tag. Organisations have to consider the extra cost and the potential savings that could come from avoiding a breach. It's a crucial decision - one that requires careful consideration. Remember, investing in solid security is an investment in securing sensitive data, maintaining trust, and protecting your business from expensive breaches.
Top-Rated Vendors
As the trusted technology partner for our client, we evaluate all vendors annually to make sure we stay ahead and provide the best protection and technologies to our client base which ranges from 100 to 3000 IT users. Below I have detailed four of the key vendors we have in our carefully selected portfolio:
Microsoft Defender
Sentinel One
Check Point / Perimeter81
DarkTrace
Why isn't Anti-Virus Protection Enough?
Anti-virus solutions are essential for endpoint protection, but they are not enough to secure your organisation from the evolving cyber threat landscape. Today's attackers use sophisticated techniques to bypass traditional security measures and target your data, devices, and users. To defend against these threats, you need a comprehensive solution that covers key areas such as SASE, ZTNA, CASB, IAM, and more.
These are some of the key areas that complement endpoint protection and provide a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity. We are seeing a trend where businesses are opting for a single solution that encompasses all these areas to avoid overlapping or conflicting solutions, achieve better overall cost-effectiveness, and improve the management and integration of your security infrastructure.
We hope you took insights from this article, if you would like an initial consultation to review the technology utilised within your business please contact us.
