Antivirus vs. EDR: Which Endpoint Protection Does Your SMB Need?

Why Signature-Based Antivirus No Longer Works

Traditional antivirus software works like a security guard checking IDs against a list of known criminals. When a file enters your system, the antivirus compares it to a database of known malware “signatures”—unique patterns that identify specific threats.

This approach has a fundamental flaw: attackers create new malware variants faster than signature databases can be updated. Security researchers estimate that over 450,000 new malicious programs are registered every day. Attackers routinely modify their code just enough to evade detection while retaining the same malicious functionality.

If your endpoint protection relies solely on signature matching, you are protected only against threats that have already been identified, catalogued, and distributed to your systems. Novel attacks—including targeted ransomware—pass straight through.

The Business Impact of Inadequate Endpoint Protection

The consequences of inadequate endpoint protection extend beyond a single infected machine:

• Ransomware propagation: Modern ransomware spreads laterally across networks before encrypting files. By the time traditional antivirus detects the threat, the damage is often complete.
• Data exfiltration: Attackers increasingly steal data before encrypting it, creating dual extortion scenarios where paying the ransom does not guarantee your data remains private.
• Regulatory exposure: Under Australian privacy law and frameworks like the ACSC Essential Eight, businesses are expected to implement application control and restrict administrative privileges—controls that basic antivirus cannot provide.
• Recovery costs: The average cost of a ransomware incident for small businesses includes not just ransom payments but also operational downtime, forensic investigation, and reputational damage.

Business-grade endpoint protection is no longer optional. It is a baseline expectation for insurers, auditors, and regulators.

How EDR Uses Behavioural Detection to Stop Threats

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of asking “Is this file on a list of known threats?”, EDR asks “What is this file doing?”

Behavioural analysis monitors activity patterns in real time:

When EDR detects suspicious behaviour, it can respond immediately—isolating the affected endpoint, terminating malicious processes, and alerting your security team—before the attack completes.

Example: Unknown File, Known Behaviour

Consider a scenario where an employee opens a malicious email attachment containing a brand-new ransomware variant:

• Traditional antivirus: The file has no known signature. It executes without interference and begins encrypting documents.
• EDR: The file is unknown, but its behaviour—rapidly accessing and modifying hundreds of files—triggers an immediate response. The process is frozen within seconds, and the endpoint is isolated from the network.

This distinction is critical. EDR protects against threats that do not yet exist in any signature database.

How to Implement EDR in Your Business

Step 1: Assess Your Current Protection

Audit what is currently installed on your endpoints. Many businesses still rely on consumer-grade antivirus (Norton, McAfee, AVG) that lacks behavioural detection, centralised management, or incident response capabilities.

Key questions:

• Can your current solution detect fileless attacks or living-off-the-land techniques?
• Does it provide centralised visibility across all endpoints?
• Can it automatically isolate compromised devices?

If the answer to any of these is “no” or “I don’t know,” you have a protection gap.

Step 2: Select a Business-Grade EDR Solution

EDR solutions designed for small and medium businesses include:

• Microsoft Defender for Business: Included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Provides EDR capabilities, automated investigation, and integration with Microsoft’s security ecosystem. Product overview.
• SentinelOne: Known for autonomous response and rollback capabilities. Suitable for businesses seeking advanced protection without requiring a dedicated security team.
• CrowdStrike Falcon Go: Cloud-native platform with strong threat intelligence. Offers managed detection options for businesses without internal security staff.
• Huntress: Designed specifically for SMBs and managed service providers. Combines automated detection with human-led threat hunting.

Evaluate solutions based on deployment complexity, management overhead, and whether your IT provider can support the platform.

Step 3: Configure for Your Environment

Once deployed, configure your EDR for optimal protection:

1. Enable automatic response: Allow the EDR to isolate endpoints and terminate processes without waiting for manual approval.
2. Configure tamper protection: Prevent malware from disabling the EDR agent itself.
3. Set up alerting: Route critical alerts to email, SMS, or your IT provider’s monitoring system.
4. Enable rollback where available: Some EDR solutions (including Microsoft Defender and SentinelOne) can revert ransomware damage by restoring files from shadow copies.

Step 4: Integrate with Your Broader Security Posture

EDR is most effective when combined with other controls:

• Patch management: Ensure operating systems and applications are updated promptly. Unpatched software remains a primary entry point for attackers. See our guide to patch management.
• Multi-factor authentication: Prevent attackers from using stolen credentials to access systems. If credentials are compromised, MFA stops the attacker from logging in.
• Backup strategy: If an attack succeeds despite your defences, a tested backup and recovery strategy is your last line of defence.
• User awareness: Many attacks begin with phishing. Training staff to identify phishing attempts reduces the likelihood of initial compromise.

Step 5: Test and Validate

Deploy test scenarios to confirm your EDR responds as expected:

• Use vendor-provided simulation tools (many EDR platforms include safe test files that trigger detection).
• Review detection and response times in the management console.
• Confirm that alerts reach the appropriate people.

Document baseline response times so you can measure improvement over time.

EDR Rollback: Undoing Ransomware Damage

Modern EDR goes beyond detection. Some platforms include the ability to roll back ransomware damage by restoring files to their pre-attack state.

This works by continuously tracking file changes at the endpoint level. If ransomware encrypts your documents, the EDR can revert those changes—effectively undoing the attack without requiring you to restore from backup.

Rollback is not a substitute for a proper backup strategy, but it provides an additional recovery option that can significantly reduce downtime.

EDR Limitations: What It Cannot Do

EDR is a powerful control, but it is not a complete security programme:

• EDR requires endpoints to be online and reporting. Devices that are powered off, disconnected, or running outdated agents are not protected.
• Attackers actively try to disable EDR. Ensure tamper protection is enabled and that administrative access to the EDR console is protected with MFA.
• EDR generates alerts that require review. Without someone monitoring alerts and responding to incidents, you lose much of the value. If you lack internal security staff, consider a managed detection and response (MDR) service.

Why SMBs Should Upgrade from Consumer Antivirus to EDR

If your business is still using consumer antivirus products, you are relying on protection designed for home users who face different threats and have different risk tolerances.

Business-grade EDR provides:

• Real-time behavioural detection instead of signature-only scanning
• Centralised management across all endpoints
• Automated response to contain threats immediately
• Forensic visibility into what happened and how
• Integration with broader security controls and frameworks

The transition from consumer antivirus to business-grade EDR is one of the most impactful security improvements a small business can make.

Action Item: Review your current endpoint protection this week. If you are using consumer antivirus or a product without behavioural detection, evaluate Microsoft Defender for Business or an equivalent EDR solution and schedule a migration.