5 Best Antiviruses for Small & Large Businesses in 2023

Kate Davidson

I tested all of the top antiviruses on the market — I wanted to find the best solution for small businesses, medium sized companies, and large enterprises.

During my tests, I was pretty disappointed with the majority of business suites I tried. Many providers were either too limited in their offerings or far too complex to set up for most small-to-medium-sized companies.

But I did find a few antivirus programs that offer a great range of security features for a reasonable price. Whether you’re looking for a simple antivirus solution for your one-person start up, or you want to upgrade your company’s enterprise network security system, you’ll find an option suitable for your business and your employees on this list.

TRY BITDEFENDER NOW

🥇 1. Bitdefender — Best Overall Antivirus for Businesses of All Sizes in 2023

Bitdefender is my favorite antivirus for both small businesses and medium-to-large businesses in 2023 — it provides advanced security for computers, mobiles, and networks, is easy to use, and doesn’t negatively impact the performance of a device.

Bitdefender combines cloud-based technology, traditional signature-based malware scanning, and machine learning technology, so it can detect both known and emerging malware. The scanner is very effective and lightweight, using minimal amounts of CPU and disk space during scans. During my tests, Bitdefender’s scanner caught every single malware sample, including trojans, keyloggers, rootkits, and more.

Bitdefender provides a wide range of basic and advanced features suitable for small, medium, and large businesses. Some key features that Bitdefender offers include:

• Firewall.
• Network security.
• Web and exploit protection.
• Endpoint risk analytics, detection, and response.
• Application and device control.
• Sandbox analyzer.
• MITRE event tagging and anomaly defense.
• Root cause analysis.

I particularly like the sandbox analyzer, which allows IT administrators to perform extensive testing. If a threat is uncovered via sandboxing, the IT admins can make use of visualization graphs and comprehensive reports to get a full picture of the root cause and how the malware behaves. I also like the addition of MITRE techniques — MITRE is a knowledge base of adversary tactics and attack techniques based on real-life observations, helping to detect unique cyber attacks.

It’s easy to assess any issues with your security configurations and modify them accordingly, because Bitdefender provides you with a prioritized list. I found the list really simple to understand and use, and it was great to get a clear picture of what needed fixing and how urgent or otherwise each fix was.

Bitdefender offers a number of plans, including Bitdefender Small Office Security, which is great for small businesses. Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security Premium is a fantastic option for medium and large businesses with a dedicated IT department/administrator that require more advanced protections, including endpoint security.

All of Bitdefender’s plans are very reasonably priced, starting from $89.99 / year. Pricing may vary for businesses looking for custom solutions. There are annual plans available for 1, 2, or 3 years, and businesses can select the number of devices and servers that require protection. All of Bitdefender’s business plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Try Bitdefender Now

Read our full Bitdefender Review

🥈 2. Norton — Best Antivirus for Small Businesses With Easy Setup

Norton offers an excellent small business solution (Norton Small Business) that is highly effective and easy to set up. Getting started with Norton Small Business is incredibly simple, with lots of guidance during the entire installation. It’s also super simple to upgrade from a personal Norton account to Norton Small Business, which is handy if you’re already a Norton user.

Like Bitdefender, Norton’s malware scanner uses a large malware directory, heuristic analysis, and machine learning to detect malware and other cyber attacks. During testing, Norton caught a huge range of malware files, including trojans, keyloggers, rootkits, spyware, PUPs, and ransomware. What’s more, while I was setting up and testing out Norton Small Business, I didn’t notice any adverse impact to my devices’ performance speeds — even with Norton’s real-time scanning technology switched on.

In addition to the malware scanner, Norton Small Business offers the following features:

• Real-time protection against spam and social networking scams.
• Wi-Fi security for employees connecting to off-site Wi-Fi networks during meetings or working remotely.
• Download Insight that warns employees against downloading files from potentially risky websites.
• Identity Safe to securely save employee login credentials.
• Norton LifeLock identity monitoring and protection.

Norton also includes device management oversight via an online hub, which is easy to use and particularly helpful when onboarding and offboarding employees and team members. All you have to do to cover a new device is send an email from the hub to the employee using that device — the email has simple instructions on adding the device to the Norton plan.

For larger companies, Symantec (Norton’s parent company) offers a good endpoint solution — it’s a more advanced product than Norton Small Business, plus it’s effective and it includes a lot of great features, like advanced threat remediation and SaaS and corporate assets protection.

Norton also has great customer support, which is available 24/7 to help resolve malware-related issues. Customer support can even freeze access to lost or stolen devices at any time.

Norton Small Business offers annual subscriptions for 5, 10, or 20 devices at a very reasonable price, starting at $99.99 / year. Norton also offers businesses the option to add new features as they’re required, which is great because it means you don’t have to pay for any protection that you won’t use. All Norton annual subscription purchases include a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Try Norton Now

Read our full Norton Review

🥉 3. Kaspersky — Best Antivirus for Small-to-Medium-Sized Businesses

Kaspersky has a great anti-malware scanner, combining a malware database and cloud-based machine learning to detect the most recent threats. Similar to Bitdefender, Kaspersky has an excellent malware detection rate, catching a large number of the malware samples I hid throughout my PC, including rootkits, keyloggers, trojans, ransomware, and others.

Kaspersky has a range of antivirus products available for small-to-medium-sized businesses. Some notable features include:

• Centralized access.
• Company-wide policies regarding website and application management.
• Firewall.
• Network protection.
• Encryption and patch management.

Kaspersky also offers enterprise solutions for large companies (over 1,000 employees), which include the following features:

• Sophisticated threat analysis and reporting.
• Cloud sandbox.
• Penetration testing and application security assessment.
• In-house security training for incident response, malware analysis, and threat detection.

The shadow IT discovery tool Kaspersky offers means IT admins can keep an eye on employees’ use of untrustworthy applications. This can be of particular benefit if your business has a lot of remote workers, who may not always draw a clear line between their work and personal online use. With Kaspersky’s discovery feature, admins can get a clear picture of the apps that employees are using and ensure that only trusted services are used on work devices. They can also set different profiles and access settings for individual users and teams.

Kaspersky’s key business plans are Small Office Security, Endpoint Security Cloud, and Endpoint Security Cloud Plus. All plans support Windows, macOS, and Android (Endpoint Security Cloud and Endpoint Security Cloud Plus support iOS too). In addition, the enterprise solutions, Endpoint Security for Business Select and Endpoint Security for Business Advanced, support Linux systems. Kaspersky’s pricing starts at $105.00 / year. All plans include a 30-day trial and are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Try Kaspersky Now

Read our full Kaspersky Review

4. Malwarebytes — Includes A Dedicated Server Protection Suite Offering

Malwarebytes is a good antivirus solution that uses a signature-based approach as well as heuristics to detect malware. Malwarebytes also provides plans specifically designed for servers as well as endpoint protection for both Windows and Linux servers using a cloud-based platform.

Malwarebytes has a range of simple, basic antivirus options for small businesses, as well as advanced endpoint detection and response suites for large enterprises. Some core features Malwarebytes offers to businesses include:

• Real-time protection.
• Ransomware, zero-day exploits, and phishing protection.
• Threat remediation.
• Windows ransomware rollback.

An additional feature Malwarebytes offers on its highest-tier business plan is Flight Recorder. This is a useful tool that lets you search event data over the last 7 days for all endpoints, meaning you can hunt down or analyze any security issues that might occur. Flight Recorder lets you search files, registry, networking, and processes (and these different types of events are color-coded to help you interpret the report easily).

Malwarebytes is exceptionally lightweight and user-friendly, and it doesn’t require a dedicated IT team to manage. However, it is missing features that competitors like Bitdefender and Norton have, such as device and application management and Wi-Fi protection.

All of Malwarebytes’s plans are reasonably priced. The small business plan, Malwarebytes For Teams, starts at $37.49 / year and covers up to 9 devices. There are also a couple of more advanced endpoint protection plans — Endpoint Protection starts at $69.99 / year, while Endpoint Detection & Response starts at $84.99 / year and adds Windows ransomware recovery, Flight Recorder, suspicious activity monitoring, and more. Malwarebytes’s endpoint protection can cover anywhere from 10 devices right up to 1,000+ devices for large enterprises.

Try Malwarebytes Now

Read our full Malwarebytes Review

5. Intego — Best Antivirus for Mac-Based Businesses

Intego is my favorite business antivirus solution that is specifically tailor-made for macOS. Its business offerings include VirusBarrier X9 (the antivirus protection suite) and NetBarrier X9 (the network security suite).

VirusBarrier X9 features include:

• Real-time and anti-phishing protection.
• Automatic external drive scans.
• Windows-based threat identification.

During testing, Intego detected and removed the malware samples I hid throughout my Mac, including ransomware, trojans, adware, rootkits, and others. The malware scanner is lightweight and very quick, especially with file caching technology that skips previously scanned files to save scan time. It also detects PC-based malware, so you don’t need to worry about your employees inadvertently spreading malware to colleagues and clients who use Windows.

I really like the automatic scanning of external drives — it’s helpful for client meetings where a third-party USB drive is connected to your company’s network and may be unknowingly storing malicious threats.

NetBarrier X9 features include:

• Smart firewall.
• Solid anti-spyware measures.
• Website blocking.

NetBarrier X9 is a great option if your company allows remote working, or you have employees who are required to travel and use public Wi-Fi networks. The smart firewall monitors both incoming and outgoing network connections, stopping bad actors from accessing a company laptop connected to unsecure networks. It also automatically switches to the most appropriate firewall setting, depending on the kind of Wi-Fi networks your employees are using. I really appreciate how easy the firewall is to use too — adjusting settings was really simple and intuitive.

Intego does not offer sandboxing tools and there isn’t a central hub to manage devices. If you’re looking for more remote management controls, it’s worth considering Bitdefender or Kaspersky. However, you can request to customize your Intego package to include additional features, like Intego’s Mac optimization tools.

Both VirusBarrier X9 and NetBarrier X9 offer coverage for 5 or 10 devices, but you can get a custom quote if you need coverage for more than 10 devices. There is also an option to add protection for Windows-based PCs. Intego’s plans start at $1.67 / month and come with a 30-day refund policy.

Try Intego Now

Read our full Intego for Mac Review

Bonus. McAfee — Comprehensive Protection for Small Business

McAfee’s Small Business Security plan offers a wide range of features, including industry-standard malware protection and web protection tools.

McAfee’s malware scanner is among the best on the market in 2023 — it uses a vast virus database along with heuristic analysis to detect and remove even the newest and most advanced malware threats.

The Small Business Security plan includes:

• Antivirus protection.
• Web protection.
• Firewall.
• Identity monitoring.
• Password manager.
• File shredder.

I really like McAfee’s firewall — it’s very customizable so you can adjust the settings to suit your business. The web protection is also excellent, providing features like color coding on web search results so your employees can easily see which sites are safe to visit and which should be avoided.

I’m also a fan of tools like identity monitoring that tracks your team’s email addresses for breaches. And the email protection McAfee offers ensures that employees’ inboxes are protected from annoying spam and malicious email scams. I also really like the file shredder, which completely deletes sensitive files so bad actors can’t use file-recovery software to steal your private business data.

McAfee’s password manager is useful and easy to operate. However, it lacks features like password vault auditing and breach monitoring, so it can’t compete with the top password managers in 2023.

McAfee’s Small Business Security plan starts at $99.99 / year, which is reasonable considering the number of features offered. Businesses can scale their plan to cover more devices as their team grows, and McAfee also offers unlimited support for Android and iOS devices (McAfee has one of the best antivirus apps for Android and iOS devices). McAfee also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Try McAfee Now

Read our full McAfee Review

Comparison of the Best Antiviruses for Businesses in 2023

TRY BITDEFENDER NOW

How to Choose the Best Antivirus for Business in 2023

• Make sure it has strong malware protection. Look for antivirus programs with proven protection against advanced malware threats including ransomware, spyware, rootkits, and cyber attacks. I also recommend finding business solutions that include endpoint protection (securing the points of entry of devices on a network or in the cloud), necessary for large enterprise businesses with multiple devices connected to their network.
• Pick an intuitive product. You need antivirus software that’s easy to use for both your IT department and the rest of your team. Some solutions are more complex, as they’re designed for larger businesses with advanced IT professionals, but there are many options available for both technical and non-technical users.
• Look for business-focused features. Consider antivirus programs with proficient administrator tools, which allow for sandboxing, have a strong firewall to protect business networks, and are able to identify and protect against unsecured Wi-Fi connections and networks — especially important with the increase in remote working.
• Check for multiple device coverage. It’s important that a business antivirus can protect multiple devices, including PCs, Macs, tablets, and smartphones.
• Look for good overall value. You want to get good value for your money, and there are plenty of options with flexible and scalable plans on this list that offer a wide range of features for the price. All of my top choices also have risk-free money-back guarantees (Norton has a 60-day money-back guarantee).

TRY BITDEFENDER NOW

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best antivirus for businesses?

Bitdefender is my #1 pick for businesses looking for an antivirus. Depending on the business suite your business chooses, the following features are available:

• Endpoint detection and response.
• Application and device management.
• Network security.
• Mobile device protection.
• Sandbox analyzer.
• MITRE event tagging.

Bitdefender GravityZone’s dedicated business solutions are incredibly wide-reaching, including plans for small businesses as well as plans with more advanced tools for medium-to-large enterprises.

What is the best antivirus for businesses using Mac computers?

Intego is my preferred provider for businesses that primarily (or exclusively) use Mac computers. All of Intego’s products are developed specifically for Mac users and so businesses using Mac computers can be assured that the anti-malware scanner is able to protect against the most up-to-date Mac-based threats.

If your company uses a mix of Mac and PCs, Intego is still a good option as it also offers protection for Windows devices. It’s able to identify Windows-based threats as well as Mac-based ones, so your business will be protected against all vulnerabilities.

Intego doesn’t offer as many advanced features as Bitdefender, like a sandbox or a central hub, but its reputation as a Mac-specific security suite is well-earned, and it will provide Mac-dominant companies with the best all-round protection.

How do I choose the best antivirus for my business?

Here are some things you should consider when choosing the best antivirus for your business:

• What features your business requires. Consider whether your employees travel often, how many employees work remotely, and if confidential information is handled. Depending on factors like these, certain features like protection against unsecured Wi-Fi connections and file encryption should be prioritized. Bitdefender is a great option for businesses that require a lot of features like these and more.
• Who will be managing the antivirus program. Whether your company has an IT administrator, department, or a non-technical person managing the system, you will want to choose a solution that they can use efficiently. Norton Small Business is a great user-friendly antivirus option for businesses without a dedicated IT team.
• Number and type of devices requiring protection. Determine the number of devices that need protection — if you’re a growing company, you’ll want to find a company with scalable license options, like Kaspersky. If you want to protect PCs, Macs, tablets, and smartphones, be sure to choose an antivirus program that is compatible with all of your devices.
• Pricing and money-back guarantees. You should choose an antivirus solution that offers a good value and that suits your business’s budget. It is difficult to know if a solution works well with your business’s needs and workflow without actually testing it out. Most solutions on my list include a money-back guarantee.

Do you need an antivirus for your business?

Yes! While some devices have built-in security features, it is far from sufficient to protect your business and client data.

Many jurisdictions require businesses to comply with strict data protection laws, so it’s important to have high-level security solutions in place, including antivirus protection.

Hackers and cybercriminals are constantly looking for vulnerabilities to exploit with things like advanced ransomware attacks. By choosing an antivirus program specifically designed for business use, you are able to protect your business from the inconvenience and huge cost of cyberattacks by keeping up to date with the latest emerging threats.

Bitdefender is my top choice as it has plans for small businesses and plans for larger businesses that can be tailored to provide optimal protection for all types of companies.

Can I use a personal antivirus plan for my small business?

It’s not a great idea. Small businesses face specific threats — in fact, because they don’t have the huge security budget of large enterprises, cybercriminals can see them as an easy target.

With an antivirus like Norton, it’s very easy to take the step from personal protection to small business protection, and it means you can get oversight of your employees’ devices in a way that you would never be able to with a personal plan.

How concerned should I be about cyber attacks on my small business?

While cyber attacks on large enterprises are more high-profile, small-to-medium size businesses are absolutely at risk from cyber attacks too. What’s more, the US National Cybersecurity Alliance reports that nearly two thirds of small businesses go out of business within 6 months of a successful cyber attack. The damage can be devastating.

So it’s really important to invest in a comprehensive cybersecurity package like Bitdefender Small Office Security. It offers flawless protection against all kinds of malware, webcam and microphone protection to secure your online meetings, and a secure browser for financial transactions. It’s super intuitive and easy to use too, making it a good option for small businesses that don’t have tech expertise on hand.

The Best Antiviruses for Businesses in 2023 — Final Score:

Rank

Provider

Overall Score

Best Deal

1

9.6

save 62%

Visit Website

2

9.6

save 77%

Visit Website

3

8.6

save 70%

Visit Website

4

8.0

save 25%

Visit Website

5

9.4

save 60%

Visit Website