7 things to consider when choosing a server antivirus program

There aren’t many businesses out there today that don’t rely on at least some form of digitisation to survive. Whether it’s as simple as needing a dedicated email server or running a complex LAN that requires a dedicated IT department, cyber security for servers has become crucial in today’s business world. Thankfully, there are specialized server antivirus solutions that cater to this exact need.  

According to technology writer Ilijia Miljkovac, servers become highly susceptible to cyber threats—making the need to protect them from common threats a crucial business need. This protection is vital since it protects both the server itself and other critical network components such as business emails, remote-access servers, and cloud servers (source: https://www.techopedia.com/antivirus/best-server-antivirus). 

Given the complexity and diversity of modern cyber threats, ensuring your server antivirus can withstand this challenge is paramount. With this in mind, here are seven things to consider when choosing a server antivirus solution. 

1. Detection Capabilities

Since the core function of an antivirus solution is to detect and eliminate threats before they can ever harm your network, choosing the right one is crucial. A key part of this is to choose a solution that has robust detection capabilities. This can help to identify a wide range of malware threats like viruses, worms, Trojans, and ransomware. 

To adequately cater to this element, users should look for a solution that can provide real-time scanning. As the wording suggests, having this capability allows a solution to detect and fully neutralize threats as they occur. This core feature is usually complemented by heuristic analysis, an advanced form of protection that helps identify new or modified threats that do not yet have a known signature.

Another good metric for a comprehensive server antivirus solution is its ability to perform thorough system scans on a schedule or on demand. By doing this, any forms of malware that may have gotten past initial scans can still be detected and removed. 

This is also why automatic system updates are so important as these utilize the latest definitions and algorithms that are crucial for warding off modern cyber threats. Simply put, antivirus solutions that can’t adapt to new threats can be virtually ineffective against the range of threats around today,   

2. Performance Impact

Servers are crucial for a company’s day-to-day operations and anything that can disrupt a server can have potentially disastrous effects on a business activities. This includes the server’s antivirus software too. To combat this issue, it’s important to also consider the impact certain antivirus solutions could have on the performance of your server. 

A good antivirus program should protect your server without having any negative effects on performance at all. However, heavy antivirus programs also tend to consume considerable system resources. If your system can’t handle this, it can lead to a more laggy performance and longer response. Of course, in a business environment, time is often money so this can severely hamper crucial business functions depending on the context.  

High-end antivirus software uses optimized scanning capabilities that have a negligible effect on resource usage. They sometimes use processes like idle scanning which only performs scans when it detects that the system is idle. This can be very useful to minimize performance reductions during peak usage times.  

3. System Compatibility

It’s also essential to ensure the solution you choose is compatible with the server’s operating system. If there are any incompatibilities with the operating system, or even the hardware configurations for that matter, this can cause system instability or reduced productivity. However, in worst-case scenarios, it can even create security vulnerabilities.      

Aside from needing at least basic compatibility, a software’s integration capability with your system’s existing tools should also be a priority. This integration can enhance your overall security output by harmonizing both your standard system security with the advanced features of your chosen antivirus solution. 

For instance, integrating your antivirus with intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS) or security information and event management (SIEM) systems can provide deeper insights into security threats and improve response times to potential breaches.

4. Update Frequency

System updates are a crucial part of server security maintenance and not something that should ever be compromised on as far as possible. The update frequency of an antivirus program is a critical factor when it comes to assessing how good it is at doing its job. 

Antivirus databases require regular updates so they can cater to the most up-to-date threats available. This should include the latest malware signatures and detection algorithms. If an antivirus program doesn’t update frequently enough, it’s a sign that it probably won’t protect against newer types of malware—leaving your server vulnerable to more contemporary attacks.

It’s therefore crucial to take note of how often an antivirus program updates and factor this into your choice. Automatic updates that run in the background are ideal as they don’t disturb normal server functions while ensuring your defenses are always up-to-date. However, you should check how often updates are released; daily or even multiple times a day is ideal.

5. Usability

Next up, the usability component of good antivirus software is also a significant factor that must be considered. In environments where there may be limited resources for IT staff or infrastructure, it becomes crucial to have software that is user-friendly and easy to install, run, and maintain without any specialized personnel needed. 

Additionally, smaller businesses should also consider the reporting capabilities of the antivirus. Comprehensive reports provide important information on the security threats your network faces and can also be used to assess the performance of your antivirus. These reports should be easy to read and provide useful information that can aid in decision-making.

6. Support Services 

Having good customer support and after-sales services are a huge green flag when choosing a server antivirus software solution. These include services like support that is available on a 24/7 basis, together with access to technical services like remote assistance if needed, and well-trained staff to help with these issues.   

Whether you’re dealing with a configuration issue or a complex malware attack, having access to expert help can be crucial to limit damage or save crucial information before they are lost to hackers. It’s also beneficial to look at the service level agreements (SLAs) provided by the antivirus vendor to assess such services. 

7. Cost

As it is with any business service, cost does play a factor. While cybersecurity, and especially server antivirus software isn’t the kind of thing you want to be cheap with. However, cost-effectiveness is always important in a business setting. Value in this sense should entail the best service for the most competitive cost. 

It can take some market research to ascertain this but it is ultimately an investment to do it as it can save you time and money, or in a worst-case scenario, save your business from a catastrophic attack if it results in your choosing the best solution for your needs even if it means forking out a little more for it.   

Conclusion

Choosing the right server antivirus program involves a careful evaluation of several factors, each critical to ensuring the security and performance of your network. By considering these seven key aspects, you can select an antivirus solution that offers comprehensive protection, minimal performance impact, and good value for your investment. Remember, the goal is to protect your network infrastructure efficiently without disrupting business operations.