Best Antivirus For Windows Server [Top 7 Ranked In 2024]
Some of the picks below have free trials
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Key notes
- Windows Defender is the default protection for a Windows Server antivirus, but you definitely need a more advanced option.
- A server antivirus must ensure perfect endpoint protection and has to provide optimal tools for the IT managers.
- The web advisor and access control features will help you monitor the entire network for suspicious activity.
- Another solution from our top offers network-level security monitoring and remote commands for excellent management.
Antivirus usage for home personal computers is as important as you would assume, but some users don’t fear viruses or malware at such a rate they would spend money on protection.
Now, we can understand that. You can always use Windows Defender as a go-to antimalware solution. It’s built-in and modestly reliable. However, things change in the business category.
When it comes to business and server protection from malicious software, you’ll probably need a more advanced tool for the job. Just look at the recent ransomware crises and you should have a clear idea of the dangers that roam within the Internet of Things.
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Does Windows Server need antivirus?
Back in the day, we would worry about worms or viruses, which, in comparison with malicious software nowadays, appear as a pesky gag. Neo-hackers are not joking, as the era of a hoax is behind us.
They’re up to no good, and that means that they want your money or your data in order to get your money. And with outdated systems or a lack of proper protection, everything is up for grabs.
For that purpose, if you’re any kind of professional who relies on servers and business networks, you’ll need to tie up loose ends.
Antivirus for Windows Servers protects data on Microsoft Windows servers against all types of harmful activities. This idea was designed specifically for high-performance business servers that are exposed to excessive loads. Here are some amazing picks:
- Panda Small Business Protection – focused on online footprint
- Bitdefender GravityZone – has the most features
- ESET PROTECT Complete – best overall security
- Vipre Endpoint Protection – covers a large number of threats
- Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud – has an incredible database
- Malwarebytes for Teams – tailored for collaboration
- Windows Defender – basic features
Meaning, get an anti-virus that can protect your intellectual and material property. We’re up to help you with a list of best-suited software solutions. Check them out below.
What is the best antivirus for Windows Server?
Panda Small Business Protection – focused on online footprint
Panda Small Business Protection is a professional antivirus for Windows Servers that protects against Internet-borne threats.
Because fraudsters’ goals are expanding beyond private users and major organizations, a solution to keep your online company safe is critical.
Freelancers and micro e-businesses are targeted on a regular basis since they are easy targets for the bad guys and account for approximately 80% of the business sector in the United States.
As a result, Panda Security has created a solution for tiny and medium-sized businesses: Small Business Protection. An antivirus that is tailored to your company’s requirements: low-cost, speedy, and compatible with any Windows PC.
These are some of the features offered by Panda Small Business Protection:
- Technical Support
- Personalized auto-configuration
- Cloud Antivirus
- Lightweight
- Automatic updates
Panda Small Business Security
For freelancers and micro-businesses, a security solution that meets basic requirements, to safeguard your small business while focusing on its development.Bitdefender GravityZone – has the most features
Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security is one of the most popular antivirus solutions for business practice and server security management.
It’s so feature-rich that you’ll easily get lost in the bundle of different security features which include:
- Antimalware
- Firewall
- Web Advisor and Access control
- Detailed Policy Editor
- Encryption
- Anti-phishing protection
- Smartphone protection (Advanced version)
- Application control
Everything is governed by a management console (Dashboard) which is designed with professionals in mind.
Nonetheless, once you’ve got the hold on basics, you’ll have an easy time organizing protection and other segments in a seamless manner.
Bitdefender GravityZone uses machine learning to stay on top of the most current developments in malware and new technologies that might put your business at risk.
The most distinctive features of Bitdefender are overwhelming customization, good reporting, and high-end augmented anti-malware functionality.
Drawbacks are the lack of support for handheld devices and the overcomplicated setup.
Bitdefender GravityZone has your back with its fantastic deal, which gives you a 50% discount regardless of the type of plan you choose.
Bitdefender GravityZone
Bitdefender Gravity Zone is what Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is for the common PC: The best antivirus solution!ESET PROTECT Complete – best overall security
Though probably best known for the home user solution, ESET offers extremely reliable and complete business software as well.
ESET PROTECTION Complete is, as the name suggests, an all-inclusive tool, that covers all the security needs of your business, whether small, medium, or large.
Using ESET’s complete business antivirus, you’ll secure your network against zero-day threats, malware, phishing, and spam managed from an easy‑to‑use cloud-based console.
Specifically for Windows Server, this solution offers file and mail server protection; additionally, you get cloud app protection, full disk encryption options, and modern endpoint protection
ESET offers discounts for two-year and three-year subscriptions based on the package you need. If you’re already a customer, you may take advantage of the ESET group discount, which gives you a discount on every package you’ve already purchased.
ESET PROTECT Complete
Powerful and scalable security solution for your business network running on Windows Server, plus useful protection components.Vipre Endpoint Protection – covers a large number of threats
Protecting an entire network or a server is nowhere near the same as protecting a single PC, so using a might not be the best course of action.
On the other hand, If you use a dedicated business solution like Vipre Endpoint Protection, then you are indeed talking about total security.
This software is also great for the new work dynamics, offering Vipre Encrypt.team specially designed for protecting your business while working with remote teams around the world.
Vipre offers powerful endpoint security delivering protection against today’s most sophisticated online threats, and this includes threats via email, threats from the latest types of malware, and more.
Besides, your servers will receive protection from threats that haven’t been even established enough on the market, Zero-Day, ransomware, and more.
Vipre Endpoint Protection
Not even the newest cyber-threats will stand a chance against the protection that you will get from Vipre Endpoint Protection!Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud – has an incredible database
Not so many security software companies can compete with the legacy and innovative nature of Kaspersky. Over 250 thousands of corporate clients rely upon the protection that Kaspersky offers.
And most of them are satisfied with what they get. Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud is mostly oriented toward small businesses, but you can expand its reach.
These are some features you can expect from Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud:
- Covers Windows-powered systems and servers
- Antimalware protection
- Firewall
- Data loss protection
- Browsing protection
- Remote administrative management
- Mobile devices support both Android and iOS
- Application management
Everything is controlled from the web-based console which is well-designed and uncluttered. This decreases resource usage, which is an issue for some other anti-virus solutions.
Additionally, it’s a well-known fact that the Kaspersky virus database is, without precedent, the largest database there is.
Because of that and other advanced technologies this tool utilizes, virus recognition is at the top of the class. Plus, it offers specially designed security for Microsoft Office 365.
Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud tool’s best point, in our modest opinion, is advanced support for mobile devices.
Besides the protection, Kaspersky has made huge improvements in sensitive data discovery and monitoring cloud services with its Cloud Discovery feature.
One distinctive drawback is price, but if you’re up to sophisticated and user-friendly security software, you’ll need to spend some money.
If you’re interested, you can inform in detail about the offerings and pricing, by navigating to the official website.
Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud
This tool for businesses even offers advanced support for mobile devices, the most vulnerable network devices.Malwarebytes for Teams – tailored for collaboration
Malwarebytes for Teams is intended to safeguard small enterprises’ data and devices on Windows Servers. It provides real-time threat detection and response, as well as priority phone and email assistance.
You don’t need any cybersecurity or IT experience to manage security for your team with Malwarebytes for Teams; it’s simple to use and has straightforward features.
This software keeps your devices running smoothly, it uses the system’s idle resources to scan for threats ahead of time so you won’t have any downtime. Plus, it offers monthly reports on the threats removed.
Malwarebytes works well on servers, especially if you use their corporate server platform, which is optimized for use with server file systems.
With flexible licensing, you may cover up to 20 devices, with support for additional devices as needed. Each device is given its own unique protection, ensuring that your team is working behind a secure fence.
These are some of the features offered by Malwarebytes for Teams:
- Monthly Reports
- Device Alerts
- Priority Support
- Mobile Admin app
- Advanced anti-virus, anti-malware, anti-spyware
- Brute Force Protection
- Tamper Prevention
- Slack and MS Teams integration
Malwarebytes for Teams is not yet available for free download and evaluation. If you’re unfamiliar with Malwarebytes features and want to give it a go, you may sign up for a subscription and if you are not satisfied, you have a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Malwarebytes for Teams
Protect your small business and essential data in minutes, with no costly IT infrastructure, and you’ll be up and running right away.Windows Defender – basic features
It used to be that Windows was affected by security flaws and malware threats that could only be mitigated by third-party antivirus software.
However, Microsoft has made a deliberate effort to strengthen Windows security over the years, not least with the addition of Windows Defender as a default feature in Windows.
This is no longer the case because Windows Defender now competes with any reliable standard antivirus solution even for Windows Servers.
The AV-Test, an independent antivirus testing lab, gives Microsoft’s solution a good grade, but AV-Comparatives is less enthused, awarding Windows Defender a standard rating for malware protection in its most recent tests.
These are some of the features offered by Windows Defender:
- Windows Hello provides secure sign-in.
- OneDrive backups are done automatically.
- Microsoft Defender Endpoint SecurityÂ
- Blocking of potentially unwanted applications
That’s still proper security, and Windows Defender has the extra benefit of being a hassle-free solution that comes pre-installed with Windows, as well as being free. Windows Defender is all you need if you only want basic protection that works.
This brings us to the end of the list. We recommend that you test these solutions before selecting which one to buy.
To avoid program conflicts and boxing, do not download them at the same time, but test them individually and safely uninstall them whenever you want to make a new installation.
Why use Server malware protection?
The intelligent analyzer detects any malicious character in programs with a high degree of certainty, even if the code of the malware is not contained in the antivirus database.
When a breakdown or forced shutdown occurs, these applications normally restart to provide steady system safety while the diagnostics system determines the cause of the breakdown.
Anti-Virus Protection for Windows Servers records what is accessed, utilized, altered data is examined, and any corrupted files are eradicated.
Furthermore, suspicious files or records are quarantined before being subjected to further investigation. The request scans a certain section of the system based on a plan or an instruction.
If you have a server, you should utilize antivirus for Windows Servers. Because your company’s or even your clients’ sensitive data might be on your server, you should constantly keep your Windows Server safe and up to date with security patches.
If you’re looking for antivirus solutions for older versions of Windows Server, you can take a look at our list of best antiviruses for Windows Server 2012 and 2016.
Most of these tools will do a good job, but for better insight, it’s recommended to inform yourself before you pay for something. Don’t forget that security is paramount and choose wisely.
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