The term “antivirus” covers a lot of ground today. Here’s how the main categories compare.

Traditional antivirus (AV)

Detects known malware using signatures and some behavior checks. It’s a baseline but struggles against new or fileless attacks.

Next-generation antivirus (NGAV)

Adds behavioral analysis and machine learning to catch threats that don’t match known signatures.

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Continuously monitors endpoint activity, records events, detects suspicious behavior, and lets analysts investigate and respond, such as isolating a device. EDR gives visibility into what happened, not just what was blocked.

Extended Detection and Response (XDR)

Extends detection beyond endpoints to email, identity, cloud apps, and network, correlating signals into a single view.

Managed detection and response (MDR)

A service where security specialists monitor and respond to alerts, often around the clock. Valuable because tools alone don’t help if nobody is watching.

Which do you need?

Business situation	Reasonable choice
Very small, low-risk	NGAV with good configuration
Most SMBs handling sensitive data	EDR (such as Defender for Business)
Limited security staff	EDR plus MDR service
Complex or regulated environments	XDR plus 24/7 monitoring

Remember

– Keep devices patched

– Enable tamper protection

– Combine with MFA, email filtering, and backup

– Cyber insurers increasingly expect EDR

DBR Soft provides endpoint protection and managed detection services. Contact us for more information.