I know friends that run a business but never bother installing an anti-spyware or anti-malware solution. They are depending on a single antivirus solution in detecting malicious activity in their network and server by using anti-virus. No one is allowed to install other security solution without their IT’s knowledge which we understand since you don’t want to screw anything up especially if there are customized applications for their network. No one can install anything if there’s implemented policy. When there’s undetected spyware or some type of malware infection (we all know that not all anti-virus will detect spyware or malware and it has
been proven many times to cause loss of data or stolen passwords and accounts) the first step by SMBs is to shutdown the affected client computer. The next steps are checking the source of malware, cleaning it up, ensuring other client computers including the server are not infected and checking whether their customer’s information are not lost or stolen before bringing the affected system online again).
A lot of anti-virus products now detect spyware and other types of malware. However, the fact that no single scanner will detect and remove them all is something that IT managers need to think about.
Published testing results by researchers and testers on malware and rootkit detection and cleaning by anti-virus proves that this solution is not enough:
It will cost some dollars to add a layer of defense for SMBs but it is worth to have one if a business do not want to be spied on or lost data or account information. Many anti-malware and anti-spyware can co-exist with anti-virus solution in home computers and this is true also for businesses. Anti-spyware and anti-malware are built to detect and clean some types of risks that some anti-virus cannot handle well and I hope you, as a business person will add spyware or malware protection because, today, malware is much more of a problem than spyware.
SMBs need anti-malware and anti-spyware solutions too that is easily managed and you will add such if you want to have a security with difference. Before you can advise a potential customer, you as a business user need to show an example that you implement such solution in your business. Most IT managers are tasked not only to manage the main computer but to secure clients and customer’s computers and information. To attain that – add a layer of defense. Install anti-malware or anti-spyware for SMBs.
There are
available business assessment tools like this
one. It will provide guidance to a company if they have weak security measures. Sophos recently
reveal its initial report that not all companies have strong security measures. No wonder there are reports of businesses being spied on, infected and lost customer’s personal and financial information.