5 best antivirus software for Windows Server [2012 & 2016]
- If you are worried about Windows Server safety, let us tell you from the start that there are several dedicated antivirus solutions to pick from.
- Bitdefender Gravity Zone is a powerful enterprise security solution against global threats.
- Take a closer look at our Windows Server 2016 section for more comprehensive guides.
- Lastly, bookmark this Antivirus Software Hub for quick tips on how to protect your hard work.
Your company must be storing sensitive, valuable, and confidential data or information on a Windows file server.
To what extent are they strong enough to protect your information from unauthorized access?
Whether you have security software or antivirus running, you still need a strong yet suitable business or enterprise antivirus for Windows Server.
The need for high-level security is one of the priority concerns for IT experts and professionals today as emerging new threats coupled with successful and high profile security breaches continue to hit the headlines.
Such security exposures can be costly in terms of fixing the damages, and disastrous to your company and clients, so knowing that any technology is at risk of being compromised means you need to find ways to combat it before it strikes.
Common Windows Server security exposures include weak passwords, neglecting malware protection and security patches, and share permissions, among others.
Getting strong protection to harden and lock down your servers will do your business and clients more good, so here you can find the best antivirus for Windows Server you can get.
Bitdefender Gravity Zone is an incredibly powerful enterprise security solution for both medium-sized and large companies.
As a top pick antivirus for Windows Server, it offers layered protection for your endpoints. Bitdefender’s Process Inspector constantly monitors running processes for signs of malware.
All laptops, desktops, and servers benefit from advanced memory protection, quarantine/rollback features, and automatic updates.
That’s how all your sensitive data is safe from all known and emerging threats and no cybercriminals could end up exploiting network vulnerabilities.
These are just a few Bitdefender Gravity Zone key features you’re about to enjoy:
- Adaptive-layered architecture that includes prevention, detection, and remediation
- Network-based security against threats like Network Exploits
- All security features are centralized into a single console
- Accurate results based on machine learning and event correlation
- Intuitive remote deployment
- Customized reports and alerts
Bitdefender Gravity Zone
Get a new level of protection for your company’s desktops and servers with Bitdefender Gravity Zone!
Kaspersky’s security offers the best antivirus for Windows Server in today’s complex corporate IT networks, which need the highest and top levels of protection.
A single piece of malware can spread across all nodes, disrupting business processes and destroying your IT infrastructure.
File servers need dedicated storage security solutions that protect critical data against emerging new threats while performing continuously under the heaviest load conditions with minimal impact on resources.
Kaspersky Security for Windows Server is designed to protect complex networks and help ensure your most valuable corporate resources are secured effectively and efficiently.
You’ll benefit from a highly stable Windows server solution with superior security and wide-ranging compatibility to protect heterogeneous environments.
You’ll clearly save time and money with centralized management, and advanced protection with its Powerful Application Startup Control combined with Global Security Intelligence and Anti-Cryptor.
Features include cloud-assisted server protection, blocking access from hosts with suspicious activity, multi-layered storage protection, critical area scanning, and protection for terminal servers.
You also get support for virtualized environments, scalable antimalware solution, with scan scheduling and control over admin privileges, among others.
- 3
Eset
Eset file security for Microsoft Windows Server protects all your sensitive files running on Windows operating system.
This cross-platform antimalware protection safeguards against shared-file and host-system infection, with the Eset NOD32 Technology working with Exploit Blocker and Advanced Memory Scanner to neutralize sophisticated threats.
Some benefits you can enjoy with this best antivirus for Windows server include low system demands, and remote management fully manageable via Eset Remote Administrator web console.
You also get data protection with specialized cleaners, optimization for virtual environments, storage scans, log collection, simple licensing, and customizable GUI visibility.
- 4
Sophos
Sophos Server Protection is your best antivirus for Windows Server whether you want to manage on-premise or in the cloud.
It is simple to set up and easy to manage and maintain, while providing advanced, powerful server-specific protection for your apps and data, whether it’s on virtual or physical servers.
Features include anti-ransomware, app whitelisting, advanced anti-malware, and HIPS, with easy, centralized management of security for all servers.
It also comes with CryptoGuard to stop ransomware from encrypting critical business data, one-click Server Lockdown for whitelisting trusted apps and associated files, malicious traffic detection, and Synchronized Security for accelerated threat discovery.
Trend Micro promises worry-free services and is the only security fully integrated with Microsoft’s small business servers so you’re sure it is the best antivirus for Windows Server.
It is easy to manage, especially since Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Essentials is the ideal first server for most small businesses, as it has up to 25 users and provides a cost-effective solution to store, organize, and access information from virtually anywhere.
If you want to start enjoying the benefits of the cloud, this is your best bet. Microsoft actually partners with Trend Micro for its Small Business Server and Windows Server 2012 Essentials offerings.
Trend Micro’s Worry-Free Business Security is the only security software integrated into Microsoft server dashboards for SBS and Microsoft Server Essentials.
⇒ Get Trend Micro Windows Server 2012 Protection
Which of these best antivirus solutions for Windows Server are you ready to try out? Let us know your top pick by leaving a comment in the section below.
FAQ: Learn more about the most inspired antivirus choices
- Does Windows Server need antivirus?
Microsoft Defender is indeed installed on the latest Windows Server versions. However, these antivirus software tools for Windows Server qualify as more inspired choices.
- Should I turn off Windows Defender?
If you intend to install one of the best antivirus solutions with a free trial version, then don’t hesitate to disable Windows Defender.
- Is free antivirus enough?
Even if you’re short on cash, it may not be a wise idea to rely on a free antivirus. If you’re determined to do so, choose one of these trustworthy free antivirus software solutions.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in December 2017 and has been since revamped and updated in June 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
