Are you worried about viruses, but confused by antivirus software? We've been chatting to one of our IT support engineers Dan Morrison, about why it's important, and what options there are for businesses.
What does antivirus software do?
The point of antivirus software is to keep an eye on malicious and suspicious files on your machine. Think of it as an immune system for your PC or Mac.
Do you really need it?
Absolutely. It's vital if you want to stay protected online, particularly for businesses where you're dealing with sensitive information or data. Most machines come with something basic installed already, like Windows Defender - but we'd always recommend you install something more comprehensive.
And Macs (or Apple machines) need antivirus software too! There's a big myth out there that they don't need antivirus software, but without it they are vulnerable to attacks, malware and viruses - just as PCs are.
What antivirus software do Transcendit recommend? Do you need a different product for PCs and Macs?
We recommend F-Secure - it's cloud based, it works well on both PCs and Macs and it's easy to manage. We tested a lot of products - some offered too little protection, and some were overprotective. We just want it to block the dangerous stuff without it affecting usability, which is exactly what F-Secure does. It's low performance impact, but with the best degree of protection.
So is cloud-based antivirus software preferable?
It's not necessarily preferable. It's about finding the solution that works best for that customer. But if there isn't a physical central system that needs maintaining it takes the pressure off their work environment, so they can worry about their business. We take care of the rest!
And finally, what if something malicious gets downloaded by a user?
Report it to us. If something doesn't look quite right to you, give us a call and we'll check it out! It's always better to be safe than sorry.
Still worried about viruses? Call us on 0191 482 0444, or tweet us @TranscenditUK