As a business leader, you’re always looking for ways to increase revenue, cut expenses and grow your bottom line. Implementing automated processes is a great way to do that. One place you do NOT want to cut corners is using free antivirus or firewall software.
In today’s blog, we’ll share why these seemingly helpful software solutions are a detriment to your business and why a 15-minute call with our team might just be the best investment you’ll make this year.
Free software often lacks the necessary features.
Free antivirus software and firewall solutions might protect your business against some known viruses, but they likely lacking crucial features found in paid versions, such as email scanning, web protection, and ransomware protection. Cybercriminals are constantly rolling out new and “improved” viruses to trick even the most robust security solutions, which makes it difficult to believe that free, infrequently updated antivirus solutions could offer the level of protection needed to keep you secure.
There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
While free cybersecurity solutions sound like a good way to save a few bucks, you have to stop and realize these programs will make their money somewhere. They often do this by displaying intrusive ads that can slow down your system, offering “free trials” that automatically convert to paid subscriptions, and collecting and selling your browsing data to third parties. This compromises your privacy and can lead to unexpected costs.
Some free solutions are already infected with malware.
Some cybersecurity solutions advertised as free may actually be malware in disguise, especially those from less reputable sources, waiting to infect your computer upon download. It’s also difficult to determine the difference between real free software solutions and fake ones created by hackers looking to trick unsuspecting business owners who hope to save money.
Free antivirus software is mostly reactive, detecting infections after they’ve happened.
Most free solutions typically rely on signature-based detection, which is largely reactive; they simply alert you when an intruder has already breached your network. The point of having cybersecurity solutions is to try to prevent a data breach from occurring in the first place. If you’re going with a free solution, make sure you have a robust recovery plan in place. You’ll likely going to need it.
Cybersecurity solutions are not as expensive as most business owners think, and are more cost-effective than dealing with a data breach. If you have been using free antivirus or firewall software in your organization, it’s time to level up.
Our cybersecurity experts will provide you with a Security Risk Assessment that will detail if and where you’re vulnerable and what to do about it. Schedule a Discovery call.
