Best Antivirus Software & Cybersecurity Solutions for Small Businesses

In today’s digital world, small businesses are one of the main targets for cyberthreats, like ransomware or phishing. Successful attacks can disrupt operations, and also put customer data and other valuable data at risk, influence the impression of customers negatively, and create additional costs.

Recent studies showed that 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses, with cyberattacks rising by an alarming 28 percent since 2022. In contrast, only 14 percent of small businesses have strong cybersecurity solutions in place that help protect against the growing danger of cybersecurity attacks against business infrastructure and sometimes the core of the business. For businesses, investing in the best antivirus software for small businesses is non-negotiable in 2025.

As a cybersecurity expert, journalist, and book author with more than 20 years of experience, I’m here to guide you through the best antivirus software for businesses that is best suited to protect sensitive data and infrastructure. Data protection is especially important for small businesses, as it helps safeguard customer data, prevent data loss, and ensure the confidentiality of valuable data against growing threats.

Essential Features of a Good Business Antivirus

Small businesses have plenty of options when it comes to protecting their operations with antivirus software. But what is the best antivirus software?

Here is a list of critical factors that businesses may consider when selecting a cybersecurity software:

• Comprehensive threat protection: The antivirus software needs to defend against a wide range of threats, including viruses and malware, ransomware, phishing, and zero-day attacks. Look for solutions that provide multiple layers of security, including web protection, to safeguard against threats at different levels. The antivirus needs to support all operating systems that your small business uses. Some small businesses may have additional requirements, e.g., protection of remote workers or special-use cases that require additional protections.
• Ease of use: The solution needs to be manageable, as most small businesses lack dedicated IT staff. The antivirus should offer an intuitive interface and support centralized management for multiple devices. A good antivirus can also help save time for small business owners by simplifying security management.
• Affordable: The software needs to be affordable to fit the budget of the small business. It needs to balance cost with the protections it offers. Flexible subscription plans allow businesses to choose the right level of coverage for their needs.
• Efficient software: The antivirus solution should not impact the performance of devices significantly or even disrupt operations.
• Customer support: Reliable 24/7 customer support is often crucial as time is of the essence when issues are experienced.
• Growth Potential: A scalable issue grows along with the business. It should offer seamless scaling to accommodate more users or devices, and robust endpoint security to support business scalability.
• Additional features: Look for additional features that may improve the value of the cybersecurity solution, such as firewalls, VPN access, or backup functionality.

Why trust this list? I tested the business antivirus software across existing SMB setups, reviewed third-party test scores (including AV-Test and AV-Comparatives), and collected user feedback from IT pros and business owners.

The Best Business Antivirus Software: Quick Comparison

Bitdefender Gravityzone

Bitdefender Gravityzone is a cloud-based cybersecurity platform for businesses of all sizes. It offers advanced endpoint protection, threat protection, and centralized management.

Gravityzone uses AI-driven machine learning and behavioral analysis to protect user devices and data against malware, ransomware, zero-day threats, phishing, and other threats, as well as providing robust protection against malicious software and other malware.

However, some protections are only available in higher tiers. Bitdefender also features root cause analysis capabilities, allowing for in-depth investigation of security incidents and identification of the origin of threats.

Bitdefender Gravityzone Features

• HyperDetect – Pre-emptive detection of suspicious activities with machine learning designed to block advanced threats before they can do any harm.
• Ransomware Mitigation – Aims to restore files after ransomware attacks automatically.
• Sandbox Analyzer – Cloud-based analysis of suspicious files in an isolated environment.
• Business Assets Monitoring – Protects social media accounts and against data breaches through continuous monitoring.
• Patch Management and App Vulnerabilities – Detects and automatically fixes app vulnerabilities, addressing software weaknesses to enhance overall cybersecurity.

Bitdefender Gravityzone Plans

The three main plans, GravityZone Small Business Security, GravityZone Business Security, and GravityZone Small Business Security Premium share core protections and support extensions via add-ons.

The core differences between the three Bitdefender Gravityzone plans for small businesses are the following ones:

• GravityZone Small Business Security – protection against phishing, ransomware, web-based attacks, security overview of all endpoints, visibility of detected threats.
• GravityZone Business Security – everything in Small Business Security, plus network attack defense, web access control, device control, and endpoint risk analytics.
• GravityZone Business Security Premium – everything in Business Security, plus tunable machine learning, sandbox analyzer, fileless attack defense, Microsoft Exchange coverage.

Some security features are only available as add-ons. This includes patch management, full disk encryption, security for mobile and email, or integrity monitoring.

Bitdefender GravityZone Pricing

Bitdefender Gravityzone plans are based on the number of devices that your business wants to protect. Prices start at $170 per year for a five-device plan, with costs ranging between $170 and $410 per year, but discounts may be provided that may reduce the price of a subscription significantly. If you subscribe for three years, you pay between $350 and $972 for protecting the five devices for the period. Additional discounts may be offered on the website and when you select a larger number of devices.

GravityZone is praised for its high detection rate and low false-positives rate, excellent compliance, ease of use, and scalability.

Alternative: Bitdefender Antivirus Business

This is our second option from Bitdefender, a security product for small businesses. Bitdefender Ultimate Small Business is designed for very small businesses (supports up to 25 members) with little IT expertise. It covers business and personal devices and may also protect Windows servers. It is ideal for businesses that require a streamlined solution that offers comprehensive protection without complex management.

While free antivirus can provide basic protection for individual users, Bitdefender Ultimate Small Business offers advanced features and enhanced security specifically tailored for business needs, such as centralized management and server protection.

Norton Small Business

Norton Small Business is a security solution by Norton that is designed specifically for small businesses with up to 20 devices. The cybersecurity solution protects devices against malware, ransomware, phishing attacks, and other cyber threats. It requires no advanced IT expertise and is an all-in-one package that combines real-time antivirus with a firewall, cloud backup, and identity monitoring.

Norton Small Business Antivirus offers excellent protection and excellent support for small businesses, including 24/7 support, a centralized administrative dashboard, and additional features, including a secure VPN.

Norton Antivirus Key Features

• Real-time antivirus protection with AI-driven threat detection
• Integrated firewall
• Cloud backup (Windows only)
• Identity monitoring with features designed to protect your online privacy
• Password management
• Multi-platform support
• Software and driver updater (Windows)
• Centralized management

Norton Antivirus Pros and Cons

Norton Antivirus Pricing

Norton offers 2 different plans aimed to offer business antivirus solutions to small businesses. These are:

• Norton Small Business for 5 employees and 10 devices for $180, 10 employees and 20 devices for $250.
• Norton Small Business Premium from $300.

Avast Business

Avast Business Antivirus is a cloud-based cybersecurity solution for small to medium-sized businesses that offers protection against malware, ransomware, phishing, and other forms of attacks.

All Avast business plans support a base set of features. This includes centralized management via a web-based console for admins to manage all devices and security.

The online management platform, known as the Avast Business Hub, provides centralized control, remote device management, reporting, and security policy enforcement to help streamline security as your business grows. Endpoint protection (PC, Mac and Windows Server), ransomware, data and phishing protection are also included.

However, some features are limited to the Premium or Ultimate tiers. Web Control, which is a web filter to block certain content, the personal VPN, and USB protection are only supported in Premium and Ultimate plans.

Furthermore, patch management is only available in the pricier Avast Ultimate Business Security. Other services, such as cloud backup and additional security solutions, can also be managed through the online platform as your business grows.

Avast Business includes several nice-to-have features, such as Cloud Sandbox to run files in a safe environment or file shredder, which deletes files securely to prevent restoration.

Avast Business Key Features

• Real-time protection against threats
• Centralized management
• Behavior monitoring
• Vloud sandbox
• Web Control for web protection, including blocking infected links and filtering malicious URLs
• Integrated firewall and VPN (Premium+ only)
• Patch management (Ultimate only).

Avast Business Pros and Cons

Avast Business Pricing

Avast Antivirus Business is offered in three editions, starting at about $40 for a single device and a year for Avast Essential Business. A five devices subscription of the same edition costs $430 for three years. Avast Premium Business Security starts at $50 per device and the premium security edition Avast Ultimate Business Security at about $60 per device. Price goes down when you increase the number of devices or years of subscription.

Trend Vision One

Trend Micro Vision One is an advanced XDR (Extended Detection and Response) platform that offers cybersecurity protections for businesses of all sizes, including SMBs. Vision One promises protection across multiple vectors, including endpoints, email, servers, cloud workloads, or networks with centralized administration and visibility, and delivers robust endpoint security to safeguard all network-connected devices.

It is part of Trend Micro Cybersecurity Solutions that combines AI-driven threat intelligence with real-time monitoring and automated responses to mitigate common risk types, such as malware, ransomware, or phishing. The platform is designed to defend against a wide range of online threats, including malicious links that may appear in emails or on social media, providing comprehensive protection for users and their devices.

Trend Vision One offers several interesting features. Attack Path Prediction, for example, uses AI to map potential threat pathways. There is also dark web monitoring, container security, and more.

Trend Vision One Key Features

• Extended detection and response combines data for enhanced threat detection
• AI-powered threat intelligence
• Centralized management
• Endpoint protection and response (EDR)
• Network detection and response (NDR)
• Attack surface management (ASM)
• Mobile device security.

Trend Vision One Pros and Cons

Trend Micro Vision One Pricing

Tren Micro Vision One's prices are not made public on its website, quote-based only or via third-party resellers. We recommend you to first try its free trial version to check the features of the security platform first-hand and then, contact the sales team to get a budget. If you prefer, Trend Vision One can also be purchased through AWS.

ESET Protect

ESET Protection is a cloud-based security solution for small to medium sized businesses. It offers endpoint protection with enterprise-grade security. It is known for its low system impact and strong detection capabilities that is also found in the consumer product ESET Antivirus Software.

ESET offers four protection tiers for small to medium-sized businesses that share core protections but differ significantly in price and features.

All tiers offer a centralized management console and endpoint protection. This includes anti-phishing, protection against online scams, ransomware remediation, device control and server security.

ESET Protect supports several interesting features. AI Advisor, for example, is a chatbot that offers conversational support for security queries. ESET uses an in-house machine learning engine for threat detection.

ESET Protect Pricing

Here's a detailed overview on ESET Protect's plans and prices:

• ESET Protect Entry ($211 for 5 devices and 1 year): Console, Endpoint Protection, Server Security.
• ESET Protect Advanced ($275 for 5 devices and 1 year): Mobile Threat Defense, Full Disk Encryption, Advanced Threat Defense.
• ESET Protect Complete ($338 for 5 devices and 1 year): Vulnerability & Patch Management, Mail Server Security, Cloud App Protection.
• ESET Protect MDR (price on request only): Extended Detection and Response, MDR Service, Multi-factor authentication, Premium support.

As you can see, most of the advanced cybersecurity features are limited to higher tiers while some can be purchased as add-ons.

Final Thoughts

All five security suites and services are praised for strong security features for small to medium-sized businesses, but which one is right for your business?

• If you are looking for a budget-friendly cybersecurity solution for small businesses, then you might want to check out Bitdefender Gravityzone first. The entry-level subscription costs about $470 for ten devices and a three-year subscription period. Remember that the cost of a subscription varies depending on the number of devices and period, and that you may save a lot of money when you subscribe for longer periods.
• If you want the best protection, then it is again Bitdefender Gravityzone that you want to check out. It achieved a 100% detection rate in the 2025 AV-Test test and offers unique features such as HyperDetect or ransomware mitigation. 
• If you want a security solution that is easy to setup and ideal for smaller teams, then Norton Small Business may be your first pick. It offers easy setup, great detection rates, and a comprehensive feature set. The one caveat is that it is limited to a maximum of 20 devices.
• If you require business antivirus that excels in cloud and mobile protection, then you may want to check out Trend Micro Vision One with its support for hybrid setups and support for EDR/XDR and attack surface risk management. It has a lower detection rate though and opaque pricing.
• If you require a solution that is best for performance and supports a diverse set of devices, then you may want to take a closer look at ESET Protect.
• And if you need a security solution for Windows server products, then Avast Business may be the right solution, as it supports server products even in its smallest tier.

I highly recommend that you use free trial options to test the cybersecurity solutions that you are interested in before making a commitment.