Skip to main content
  • Login
  • Support
  • Partnerships
    • Partnerships Overview
    • Solution Provider Program
    • Technology Alliance Program
    • Distributor Program
N-able
  • Request a Quote
  • Try Now
    • N-able RMM
    • N-able N-central
    • N-able Backup
    • MSP Manager
    • N-able Mail Assure
    • N-able Passportal
    • N-able Risk Intelligence
    • N-able Take Control
Request quote
N-able
  • Products
    • Monitoring & Management
    • N-central Automate. Tackle complex networks. Get remote monitoring and management built for efficiency and scale.
    • RMM Start fast. Grow at your own pace. Try this powerful but easy remote monitoring and management solution.
    • Backup
    • Backup Get data protection for servers, workstations, applications, documents, and Microsoft 365 from one dashboard.
    • Security
    • EDR Defend against ransomware, zero-day attacks, and evolving threats with endpoint detection and response.
    • Mail Assure Leverage mail protection and archiving to keep your users safe from email threats and downtime.
    • Passportal Adopt and enforce best practices for password and documentation management with ease.
    • Tools & Services
    • MSP Manager Increase helpdesk efficiency with a robust PSA, ticketing, reporting, and billing management solution.
    • Take Control Help support customers and their devices with remote support tools designed to be fast and powerful.
    • View All
  • Solutions

    Solutions

    • Security Protect your customers and expand your business by offering layered security services without the complexity.
    • Monitoring Choose the right remote monitoring and management solution to meet you where you are and grow with you.
    • Operational Efficiency Boost profits by improving efficiency via automation, resources and training, and time-saving products.
    • IT Departments Keep your organization productive by easily managing IT from a single, easy-to-use, web-based dashboard.
    • Remote Monitoring Solutions Comparison Compare N-able RMM and N-central side by side. Sign up to talk to a specialist to find the right fit.
    • View All
  • Resources
    • Download
    • Resource Library
    • Product Information
    • Free Tools
    • Learn
    • MSP Institute Webinar Series
    • Daily Live Demos
    • MSP Advice Project
    • Ask the N-central Experts
    • Upcoming Webcasts
    • Connect
    • Blog
    • Security Resource Center
    • Events
    • RMM Foundations Training
  • About
    • Company
    • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Careers
    • News & Press
    • Awards & Recognition
    • Support & Policies
    • Customer Success
    • Customer Support
    • Legal
    • Security
    • Get in Touch
    • Contact
    • Get a Quote
    • Worldwide Sales & Support
  • IT Departments
  • Contact Sales
    • Contact Sales
    • General Inquiry
    • Get a Quote
    • Worldwide Sales & Support
    • Talk to Specialist
    • Security Solutions
    • Monitoring Solutions
    • Operational Efficiency
  • Try Now
    • Monitoring & Management
    • N-central
    • RMM
    • Backup
    • Security
    • EDR
    • Mail Assure
    • Passportal
    • Tools & Services
    • MSP Manager
    • Take Control
SolarWinds MSP is becoming Read More
Filter Blogs
  • Filter by:
  • MSP Business
    • Automation
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • Security-series
    • Best Practices
    • Business
    • Business Growth
    • Business Risk
    • Cloud Computing
    • Customer Service
    • Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity Awareness Month
    • Data
    • GDPR
    • Internet of Things
    • IT Support
    • ITSM
    • LOGICcards
    • Machine Learning
    • Mail
    • Managed Services
    • Marketing
    • Mobile
    • Networking
    • Operations
    • Podcast
    • Product
    • PSA
    • Remote Management
    • Research & Trends
    • Risk Intelligence
    • Security
    • Security Vlog
    • Service Desk
    • Services & Support
    • The Head Nerds
    • Tips & Advice
    • Training
Home Blog MSP Business Security EDR vs. Managed Antivirus—Which Solution is for You?
Security

EDR vs. Managed Antivirus—Which Solution is for You?

By Michael Tschirret
6 July, 2020

In my last blog, I looked at the difference between managed antivirus (MAV) and endpoint detection and response (EDR). So which one should you choose? 

It might surprise you to learn there is room for both in today’s world. SolarWinds® offers both because one simple question determines the need for either. What kind of end users do managed services providers (MSPs) serve? For context, consider these personas:

  • Human resources manager: This person likely has personally identifiable information (PII) on their machine, which is confidential. If a cybercriminal accessed the PII during a breach, individuals and businesses could experience catastrophic damage. Which is why we need to stop attacks in real-time, before they occur. EDR is the obvious choice for this type of end user. The risk and potential cost justify the additional expense.
  • Marketing manager: This individual probably has important files, but probably doesn’t have PII on their machine. For this reason, a combination of MAV, backup, and disk encryption provides a solid, layered defense. Choose MAV for this end user and enjoy the lower cost since most users fall into this category.
  • C-suite or other executive: This person presents the greatest risk when contemplating a breach because both PII and highly valuable data to the business are likely stored on their machine. Not only do you need to protect that data, you need to be able to recover it with a rollback function. Only EDR can help with both.

Cost: is it the bottom line?

CTA Image

N-able N-central

Try the powerful N-central solution for free.

Try It Free Learn More

Of course, to be objective, we need to address the issue of cost. EDR does cost more per license than traditional MAV—but not prohibitively so. Many customers will balk at the additional expense, but they may be in a position where they can’t afford not to use EDR. If you’d like to read an example of the potential business costs to a customer who chooses to go without EDR, take a look at a recent case study.

If your customer doesn’t have endpoint protection in place at all, we highly recommend counseling them to take advantage of the EDR value proposition. Your customer won’t incur upgrade costs moving from MAV to EDR down the line, and the added peace of mind more than justifies the choice. And for your servers, treat them the same as the high-value assets they host—EDR is your best choice.

If you encounter resistance to EDR based on cost, consider focusing not on what the customer is losing by moving to EDR, but instead on what they are gaining—time. It takes less than a minute to do a rollback versus four to six hours to reimage each device—and you gain insight into what happened. Finally, if a breach does occur, there’s a very real possibility you’ll lose that customer. 

The last word

To answer our original question, given the steady innovation EDR offers, there’s room for bot but don’t be surprised to see EDR replace MAV soon. There’s just too much on offer for it not to, given the small differences in per seat license costs. 

There is one final point to note: EDR is not a substitute for backup. It goes without saying that backing up your data and storing it off-site remains a cyberhygiene best practice. But together, they’re an incredibly effective one-two punch.

You have options—not just what to deploy, but also who you choose as your vendor. Consider strengths, limitations, and keep an eye toward the future. Today’s costs may very well be tomorrow’s savings.

I hope you’ve found this comparison helpful. Next month we’ll delve deeper into EDR’s rollback function. It’s a game changer, to say the least.  

 

Michael Tschirret, Sr. Product Marketing Manager, EDR

 

Additional reading

What is EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response)?
Endpoint Detection and Response: Modern Weapons Against the Cybercriminals
EDR vs. Managed Antivirus: What You Need to Know
You might also like...
Security

DearCry Ransomware Review 

Security

Endpoint security for Mac: What you need to know In 2021

Security

A guide to patch management policies for MSPs

Security

A Beginner's Guide to Unified Endpoint Management

Mail

How to Detect and Prevent Business Email Compromise

Security

Intrusion Detection System (IDS): Signature vs. Anomaly-Based

Want to stay up to date?

Get the latest MSP tips, tricks, and ideas sent to your inbox each week.

Loading form....

If the form does not load in a few seconds, it is probably because your browser is using Tracking Protection. This is either an Ad Blocker plug-in or your browser is in private mode. Please allow tracking on this page to request a subscription.

Note: Firefox users may see a shield icon to the left of the URL in the address bar. Click on this to disable tracking protection for this session/site

Recent Posts
  • DearCry Ransomware Review 
  • PSA vs ITSM vs ESM: Part 2—Which is the right fit for your MSP?
  • 4 ways PSA software helps MSP businesses
  • PSA vs ITSM vs ESM: Part 1—What do they do? 
  • Endpoint security for Mac: What you need to know In 2021
Categories:
  • Security (252)
  • Tips & Advice (130)
  • Best Practices (97)
  • Backup & Disaster Recovery (97)
  • Managed Services (89)
  • The Head Nerds (88)
  • Business Growth (79)
  • IT Support (43)
  • Business (42)
  • Automation (41)
  • Operations (38)
  • Cybersecurity (37)
  • Mail (37)
  • Remote Management (31)
  • ITSM (26)
  • Data (23)
  • Networking (22)
  • Cloud Computing (21)
  • PSA (16)
  • Marketing (15)
  • Product (11)
  • Service Desk (7)
  • Services & Support (5)
  • Mobile (4)
  • Risk Intelligence (4)
  • GDPR (3)
  • Internet of Things (3)
  • Customer Service (3)
  • Research & Trends (2)
  • Training (2)
  • LOGICcards (1)
  • Cybersecurity Awareness Month (1)
  • Business Risk (1)
Show moreless
N-able

Products
  • N-able RMM
  • N-able N-central
  • N-able Backup
  • N-able EDR
  • N-able MSP Manager
  • N-able Mail Assure
  • N-able Risk Intelligence
  • N-able Take Control
  • N-able Passportal
  • All Products Use Cases
Solutions
  • Security Solutions
  • Monitoring Solutions
  • Efficiency Solutions
  • Identify which RMM solution is right for me
  • Drive Efficiency with Automation
  • Manage my MSP Business More Efficiently
  • Manage my IT Department More Efficiently
  • Layered Security
  • Cross-Platform Support
  • Data-Driven Insights
About
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Leadership Team
  • Upcoming Events
  • Subscription Preferences
  • COVID-19 Response
Support
  • N-able RMM
  • N-able N-central
  • N-able Backup
  • N-able Mail Assure
  • N-able Take Control
  • N-able MSP Manager
  • N-able Risk Intelligence
  • N-able Threat Monitor
  • N-able Passportal
  • N-able Take Control Downloads
  • Backup & Recovery Downloads
  • Service Status

Footer 2

  • Legal Documents
  • Privacy
  • California Privacy Rights
  • Security Information
  • Sitemap

© N-able Solutions ULC and N-able Technologies Ltd.
All rights reserved.