If you're a business owner trying to protect your company's computers, you've probably heard both terms thrown around: antivirus and EDR. They both sound like security solutions, so what's the actual difference? And more importantly, which one do you need?
Let's break it down in plain English.
What Antivirus Actually Does
Think of antivirus software as a lock on your front door. It's designed to stop known threats from getting into your computer in the first place.
Antivirus works by:
- Scanning files you download or open
- Comparing them against a database of known viruses and malware
- Blocking anything that matches a known threat
It's effective at catching common threats that have been identified before. If a virus has been seen in the wild and added to the antivirus database, your software will catch it.
The Problem: Antivirus only catches threats it already knows about. New attacks, sophisticated hackers, and threats that don't match known patterns can slip right past it.
What EDR Actually Does
EDR stands for Endpoint Detection and Response. If antivirus is a lock on your door, EDR is a full security system with cameras, motion sensors, and an armed response team.
EDR works by:
- Monitoring everything happening on your computers in real-time
- Looking for suspicious behavior, not just known threats
- Investigating unusual activity automatically
- Responding immediately to stop attacks in progress
- Keeping detailed records of what happened
Here's the critical difference: EDR doesn't just look for known bad files. It watches for suspicious behavior patterns that indicate an attack is happening, even if it's never been seen before.
Real-World Scenarios
Scenario 1: A Known Virus
- Antivirus: Catches it immediately. Job done.
- EDR: Also catches it, plus investigates if it did anything before being stopped.
Scenario 2: Ransomware Starts Encrypting Your Files
- Antivirus: Might catch known ransomware variants, but new ones can slip through.
- EDR: Sees a program suddenly encrypting hundreds of files and stops it immediately, even if it's never seen this exact ransomware before.
So Which One Do You Need?
Here's the honest answer: modern businesses need both, but EDR is becoming essential.
Antivirus is still useful for catching common, everyday threats. But today's cyber attacks are too sophisticated for antivirus alone to handle. Hackers aren't just sending virus files anymore—they're stealing passwords, exploiting vulnerabilities, and using legitimate tools in malicious ways.
You Definitely Need EDR If:
- You handle sensitive customer or financial data
- You're subject to compliance requirements (HIPAA, PCI-DSS, etc.)
- You have multiple employees accessing your systems
- Your business would be seriously damaged by downtime or data loss
- You've heard about ransomware attacks in your industry
You Might Get By With Just Antivirus If:
- You're a solo operation with minimal digital footprint
- You don't store sensitive data
- You can afford to rebuild everything from scratch if compromised
Honestly? Most businesses fall into the first category.
The Bottom Line
Cyber threats have evolved beyond what antivirus was designed to handle. Antivirus stops known threats at the door. EDR watches for suspicious behavior inside your systems and responds to attacks in real-time.
Think of it this way: antivirus is playing defense against yesterday's threats. EDR is playing defense against today's and tomorrow's threats.
Your business deserves protection that actually works against modern attacks. That means EDR isn't optional anymore—it's essential.
Need help protecting your business? We implement and monitor EDR solutions as part of our managed IT services. No tech jargon, no sales pressure—just a straight conversation about what makes sense for your business. Contact us at [email protected].