Norton Small Business is the clearest starting point if you want a product that appears in both recent Windows business-security lab reports. The results are not a universal winner list: AV-Comparatives and AV-TEST used different tests and scoring systems, and their evidence covers endpoint protection—not every part of a cybersecurity program. The comparisons below show what the labs measured and how to narrow the options to your business.
What the 2026 tests do—and do not—tell you
AV-Comparatives evaluated business endpoint products from March through June 2026, reporting real-world protection, malware protection, false alarms, and performance. Its report announcement says 16 vendors were evaluated. The report was dated July 2026. Read the AV-Comparatives report announcement and the full business test.
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AV-TEST’s separate results are for business security on Windows 11 in August 2026. They score protection, performance, and usability, with up to 6 points in each category. A 17.5-point total is the stated threshold for its TOP PRODUCT award. See AV-TEST’s August 2026 results.
These are independent laboratory results, not tests conducted by Freedom251. They compare Windows endpoint products under lab conditions; they do not establish how a product will perform on every business’s computers or whether a full plan includes backup, email or identity security, network protection, incident response, or managed monitoring. AV-Comparatives also cautions that its results are not guaranteed to suit every purpose.
#1 Best Overall
- Compact and Efficient Design: The FortiGate 40F is designed for small to mid-sized businesses and enterprise branch offices, featuring a compact, fanless desktop form factor that ensures quiet operation and minimizes space usage.
- Robust Connectivity Options: Equipped with 5 GE RJ45 ports, including 1 WAN port and 4 internal ports, this model provides essential connectivity and flexibility for various network configurations in a small-scale environment.
- High-Performance Security: Offers up to 1 Gbps IPS throughput and 600 Mbps threat protection throughput, using Fortinet’s purpose-built security processor technology to deliver industry-leading performance and protection for SSL encrypted traffic.
- Advanced Threat Protection: Integrated with Fortinet’s AI-powered FortiGuard Labs, the FortiGate 40F offers comprehensive cybersecurity, identifying and mitigating both known and unknown threats to maintain robust security across your network.
- Simplified Management and Deployment: Features a user-friendly management console that provides comprehensive network automation and visibility, coupled with Zero Touch Integration with Fortinet’s Security Fabric for easy deployment.
AV-Comparatives malware protection results
The percentages below are the malware-protection results reported by AV-Comparatives for its March–June 2026 business test. This is one test category, not an overall product score or a guarantee against infection.
| Vendor | Malware protection |
|---|---|
| Elastic | 100% |
| Avast | 99.8% |
| Norton | 99.8% |
| CrowdStrike | 99.7% |
| Kaspersky | 99.6% |
| ManageEngine | 99.6% |
| Bitdefender | 99.5% |
| G Data | 99.3% |
| Microsoft | 99.3% |
| VIPRE | 99.3% |
| ESET | 99.2% |
| Cisco | 99.0% |
| SenseOn | 98.2% |
| Trellix | 97.5% |
| Sophos | 96.6% |
| K7 | 96.0% |
Source: AV-Comparatives, March–June 2026 business test. The report’s real-world test covers internet-borne threats over four months; its malware test covers malicious programs that may arrive through a local network or external drives. Those are different threat situations, so a result in one should not be treated as a substitute for the other.
Rank #2
- Single appliance with integrated firewalling, SD-WAN and Wi-Fi controller reduces complexity of WLAN management. Its zero-touch deployment helps optimize your onboarding experience.
- Built on a patented secure processor, this compact network firewall delivers the highest level of security and performance in its class – 800 Mbps IPS | 500 Mbps threat protection.
- User-friendly management console gives you centralized visibility and simplifies policy enforcement across your network. Its zero-touch deployment helps you optimize your onboarding experience.
- Compact and fanless design equipped with 4 GE RJ45 ports (1 WAN port and 3 internal ports) provide essential connectivity and flexibility for various network configurations in a small-scale environment.
- Fortinet is the most deployed and trusted firewall from businesses worldwide with 99.98% security effectiveness, surpassing competition. Fortinet is the only vendor recognized as a firewall leader 13 consecutive years by Gartner.
False alarms need context
Every product in this test recorded zero false alarms on common business software. AV-Comparatives separately tested false alarms involving non-business software and uncommon files. The common-software result alone therefore does not establish that a product will never flag an unusual, internally developed, or non-business application. Check the report’s separate false-alarm findings if your staff relies on specialized software.
AV-TEST’s separate Windows 11 scores
AV-TEST’s August 2026 business results give each product a score out of 6 for protection, performance, and usability. These points are not directly comparable to AV-Comparatives’ percentages.
Rank #3
- 【Flexible Port Configuration】1 Gigabit SFP WAN Port + 1 Gigabit WAN Port + 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus1 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to four WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【Increased Network Capacity】Maximum number of associated client devices – 150,000. Maximum number of clients – Up to 700.
- 【Integrated into Omada SDN】Omada’s Software Defined Networking (SDN) platform integrates network devices including gateways, access points & switches with multiple control options offered – Omada Hardware controller, Omada Software Controller or Omada cloud-based controller(Contact TP-Link for Cloud-Based Controller Plan Details). Standalone mode also applies.
- 【Cloud Access】Remote Cloud access and Omada app brings centralized cloud management of the whole network from different sites—all controlled from a single interface anywhere, anytime.
- 【SDN Compatibility】For SDN usage, make sure your devices/controllers are either equipped with or can be upgraded to SDN version. SDN controllers work only with SDN Gateways, Access Points & Switches. Non-SDN controllers work only with non-SDN APs. For devices that are compatible with SDN firmware, please visit TP-Link website.
| Product as listed by AV-TEST | Protection | Performance | Usability | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norton Small Business | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18/18 |
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus (Enterprise) | 6 | 5.5 | 6 | 17.5/18 |
| Sophos Intercept X Advanced | 6 | 5.5 | 6 | 17.5/18 |
Source: AV-TEST, Windows 11 business results, August 2026. The product names matter: AV-TEST’s Microsoft entry is Defender Antivirus (Enterprise), not every configuration of the commercial Defender for Business product.
Which options are easier to manage without dedicated IT?
Protection is only one part of the choice. Someone must still manage policies, updates, alerts, and investigations. AV-Comparatives identifies cloud-console options for smaller organizations and distinguishes them from tools it says require substantial training and continuing support.
Rank #4
- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
- Options the lab describes as suitable for smaller businesses without dedicated IT staff: Avast, Norton, and VIPRE. AV-Comparatives says: “Avast, Norton and VIPRE offer user-friendly cloud consoles that are well-suited for smaller businesses without dedicated IT staff.”
- Other cloud-management options it lists for businesses of the same size: Bitdefender, ESET, Kaspersky, ManageEngine, Microsoft, SenseOn, and Sophos. A cloud console can help centralize administration, but it does not remove the need to assign someone to review alerts and maintain policies.
- Products the lab says require significant training and ongoing support: Cisco, CrowdStrike, Elastic, and Trellix. That may suit a business with experienced security staff or outside support, but it is a meaningful operational cost for a small team.
This is AV-Comparatives’ product-category guidance, not a guarantee about a particular deployment. AV-Comparatives’ full report.
How to interpret the named products
Norton Small Business
Norton is the most straightforward cross-report starting point in this evidence: it appears in both lab comparisons, and AV-Comparatives includes it among the cloud-console options it considers suitable for smaller businesses without dedicated IT. That makes it worth evaluating for a small Windows-focused organization; it does not establish coverage, licensing, or features for a specific current plan. AV-Comparatives; AV-TEST.
Best Value
- APPLIANCE ONLY: Hardware unit sold without a service subscription — security services, firmware updates and support are NOT included and must be purchased separately to activate protection.
- PERFORMANCE: Up to 2.5 Gbps firewall inspection, 1 Gbps threat prevention and 1.2 Gbps IPSec VPN throughput driven by SonicWall's patented Reassembly-Free Deep Packet Inspection (RFDPI) engine.
- CONNECTIVITY: 8x1GbE + 2x1G SFP in a desktop form factor; zero-touch deploy and manage on-box or via cloud Network Security Manager (NSM).
- THREAT PROTECTION: SonicOS 8 delivers intrusion prevention, gateway anti-malware, application control, TLS/SSL decryption, Capture ATP multi-engine sandboxing (RTDMI) and reputation-based content & DNS filtering with an active service subscription.
- BUILT FOR SMALL BUSINESS & BRANCH: Secure SD-WAN, IPSec and SSL VPN plus Zero-Trust Network Access through Cloud Secure Edge keep distributed sites and remote workers protected.
Microsoft Defender for Business
Microsoft’s commercial business product is Microsoft Defender for Business. The lab labels should not be conflated: AV-Comparatives tested Microsoft Defender Antivirus with Microsoft Endpoint Manager, while AV-TEST lists Microsoft Defender Antivirus (Enterprise). Neither label establishes that every Defender for Business plan or setup was tested. Confirm the current product configuration and licensing against your needs.
Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security Premium
This named product was included in AV-Comparatives’ business test, and the report lists Bitdefender among its cloud-management options for smaller organizations. The result does not verify the current feature bundle or licensing for every GravityZone plan. AV-Comparatives test.
ESET PROTECT Entry with ESET PROTECT Cloud
AV-Comparatives included this configuration in its business test. ESET’s business product page describes its business product family, but the available evidence does not establish current pricing or an apples-to-apples feature comparison against the other vendors.
Recommended Free Tools
Sophos Intercept X Advanced
Sophos appears in both lab sources, but the results tell different parts of the story: AV-TEST reports its Windows 11 category scores, while AV-Comparatives says it was not approved for that report’s July 2026 award despite its malware result. Award status reflects AV-Comparatives’ full criteria, not the malware percentage alone. See the AV-Comparatives test, AV-TEST results, and Sophos Endpoint Security page.
How to choose for your business
- List what you actually need to protect. Count user devices and servers, and note the operating systems in use. Check the vendor’s current supported platforms, server coverage, device or user limits, and regional availability; the lab results do not settle those plan details.
- Match the test to your main concern. Use real-world protection evidence for internet-borne threats and malware-test evidence for malicious programs arriving through local networks or external drives. Read false-alarm and performance results as separate dimensions rather than reducing them to one percentage.
- Choose a management model your team can sustain. Decide who will configure policies, apply updates, inspect alerts, and handle investigations. If no one on staff can do that work, favor a manageable console and determine whether a vendor or outside provider can supply the help you need.
- Decide whether endpoint protection is enough. If you also need email or identity protection, backup, network safeguards, incident response, endpoint detection and response (EDR), or managed detection and response, confirm that the exact plan includes those capabilities. Do not assume they come with an endpoint-security license.
- Compare current offers directly. The lab results do not provide a current, like-for-like price or licensing comparison. Verify the exact plan, renewal terms, covered devices, support, and included services with the vendor before buying.
What the lab scores cannot decide for you
AV-Comparatives describes performance results as relative-impact measures, not a promise about how software will affect every business computer. Your hardware, applications, policies, and workload can change the experience. Likewise, the lab results do not establish how a vendor’s current plan handles EDR, managed response, backups, email threats, identity protection, or incident support. Treat those as procurement questions for the specific plan and deployment you are considering, not as capabilities implied by a test score.
Quick Recap
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