Antivirus vs EDR: Which Cybersecurity Solution Is Right for Your SME?

Traditional antivirus software has long played an important role in cybersecurity, but it may struggle to protect businesses against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

Conventional antivirus solutions rely heavily on signature-based detection, comparing files and programs against a database of known malware. While this approach remains effective against many established threats, it can be less effective against new or previously unidentified attacks.

This includes zero-day threats, which exploit vulnerabilities before a security patch is available, and new forms of malware that have not yet been added to antivirus databases.

Traditional antivirus software may also offer limited capabilities when it comes to investigating and responding to an attack. Although it can detect, block or quarantine malicious files, it may not provide the detailed analysis needed to understand how an attack occurred, identify affected systems or prevent further compromise.

This is particularly important when dealing with ransomware, which can encrypt business-critical files, disrupt operations and cause significant financial and reputational damage.

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), these challenges can be especially difficult to manage. Many smaller businesses do not have dedicated cybersecurity teams to investigate suspicious activity or respond to complex attacks.

While antivirus software remains an important part of endpoint protection, relying on it alone may leave businesses exposed to more advanced threats. This is why organisations should consider a broader cybersecurity approach, including solutions that offer enhanced threat detection, monitoring and response capabilities.

Modern Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions, such as SentinelOne, provide a more advanced approach to cybersecurity by combining continuous monitoring, threat detection and incident response.

While traditional antivirus software primarily focuses on identifying and blocking known malware, EDR monitors activity across endpoints, including computers, laptops and servers, to identify suspicious behaviour that could indicate a cyberattack.

For example, if a file begins interacting with system processes in an unusual way, an EDR solution can detect the activity, investigate the potential threat and take action to prevent further damage.

One of the key advantages of EDR is its ability to identify previously unknown threats. Using behavioural analysis and machine learning, EDR solutions can recognise suspicious activity even when a threat does not match an existing malware signature.

This is particularly valuable in protecting against ransomware, zero-day exploits and other sophisticated cyber threats that may bypass conventional antivirus protection.

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), another important benefit is the ability to automate aspects of incident response.

Depending on the solution and its configuration, EDR can automatically:

• Detect and investigate suspicious activity across endpoints.
• Isolate compromised devices to help prevent threats from spreading across the network.
• Block malicious processes and quarantine or remove harmful files.
• Provide detailed incident information to help identify the source and potential impact of an attack.

These capabilities can significantly reduce the time between detecting a threat and taking action, helping businesses minimise disruption and potential damage.

For SMEs with limited internal IT resources, EDR provides an additional layer of protection, combining advanced threat detection with automated response capabilities. However, ongoing monitoring and appropriate security expertise remain important to ensure threats are investigated and managed effectively.

Investing in managed Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) may seem like an additional expense for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but it can provide valuable protection against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

Cyberattacks are not limited to large organisations. Smaller businesses are also attractive targets, particularly where limited IT resources and security measures make it easier for attackers to exploit vulnerabilities.

A managed EDR service allows businesses to outsource endpoint security monitoring and incident response to cybersecurity specialists. With 24/7 monitoring, suspicious activity can be identified and investigated quickly, helping to contain threats before they cause significant disruption.

In the event of a cyberattack, security professionals can assess the incident, isolate affected devices and take appropriate action to minimise potential damage, downtime and financial losses.

For SMEs without a dedicated cybersecurity team, managed EDR also provides access to advanced security technology and specialist expertise without the cost of recruiting and maintaining an in-house team.

Another important advantage is improved visibility of potential security threats. Managed EDR solutions can provide detailed reporting, continuous monitoring and insights into suspicious activity across business devices, helping organisations identify weaknesses and strengthen their overall security.

By combining advanced threat detection, automated response and professional security monitoring, managed EDR offers SMEs a practical way to improve their cybersecurity resilience while allowing internal teams to focus on day-to-day business operations.

Cyber By Scutum offers a managed Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution powered by SentinelOne, a leading cybersecurity platform recognised in Gartner's endpoint protection market evaluations.

Combining advanced threat detection with 24/7 monitoring by cybersecurity specialists, the service helps businesses identify, investigate and respond to cyber threats before they cause significant disruption.

Designed with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in mind, the solution is straightforward to deploy and supports a range of operating systems, including Windows, macOS and Linux.

Cyber By Scutum's Security Operations Centre (SOC), based in France, provides continuous security monitoring and incident response. When suspicious activity is detected, cybersecurity specialists can investigate the threat and take appropriate action, including isolating affected devices and containing malicious activity.

Businesses also benefit from regular security reports, providing greater visibility of threats, incidents and the overall security of their IT systems.

With pricing tailored to the size and requirements of each organisation, Cyber By Scutum's managed EDR service offers a cost-effective alternative to building an in-house cybersecurity team.

Whether protecting five devices or 500, Cyber By Scutum's managed EDR solution helps businesses strengthen their cybersecurity, reduce the risk of data loss and minimise disruption caused by cyberattacks.

Traditional antivirus software remains an important part of business cybersecurity, but it may not provide sufficient protection against today's increasingly sophisticated threats.

A managed Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution, such as that offered by Cyber By Scutum, provides an additional layer of security through advanced threat detection, continuous monitoring and rapid incident response.

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), managed EDR offers a practical way to strengthen cybersecurity without the need for a dedicated in-house security team, helping to protect business-critical systems, reduce disruption and minimise the impact of cyberattacks.