DriversRecommendedOutdated drivers can make a good PC feel brokenScan driver issues before chasing fixes manually.Scan NowOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsPC HealthRecommendedCrashes, freezes, slowdowns? Check your PC nowSpot repairable issues before they interrupt work.Check PC×
Skip to content
World desk5 min

How to Choose Endpoint Security Software for a Small Business

A practical guide to matching endpoint security coverage, capabilities, operations, and licensing to a small business’s devices and risk.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Choose endpoint security by matching device coverage, protection and response features, day-to-day operating capacity, and total licensing cost to your business—not by comparing products labeled “antivirus” alone. Start with an inventory of users, devices, operating systems, and servers; then verify each candidate’s support, licensing, management requirements, and current plan details.

1. Inventory the devices and users you need to protect

Before requesting quotes, record how many people and endpoints the business has, what each endpoint runs, and who owns it. Include shared computers, phones and tablets used for work, remote devices, and servers. An endpoint product that fits employee laptops may require different coverage or licenses for servers.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Users and devices: Count employees, shared devices, and endpoints used by contractors or other workers if they fall within the product’s licensing terms.
  • Operating systems: List the versions in use, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android where relevant. Verify the candidate’s current support details for each.
  • Location and access: Identify remote endpoints and how they connect to company resources.
  • Servers: Record server operating systems and instances separately, then confirm whether server protection is included or sold as an add-on.

Microsoft says Defender for Business supports Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android and allows up to five devices per user, with no minimum device requirement. Microsoft documents server protection as a separate add-on, with one license per Windows Server or Linux instance and a limit of 60 per subscription. Check the Defender for Business overview and licensing FAQ for current terms; do not assume these limits or requirements apply to another product.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

2. Compare protection and response capabilities

“Antivirus” is not a sufficient comparison. A business may need tools that help prevent attacks, reveal suspicious activity, and support investigation and response. Check the product’s plan matrix and distinguish features included in the quoted license from paid add-ons.

#1 Best Overall
FortiGate-40F Firewall Appliance - 5 Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 Ports, Ideal for Small Businesses (Appliance Only, No Subscription) (FG-40F)
  • 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.
  • Malware protection: What protection is provided against malicious files and other common threats?
  • Attack-surface reduction: Can policies limit risky behavior or reduce exposure to common attack paths?
  • Endpoint detection and response (EDR): Can the product surface suspicious endpoint activity for investigation?
  • Investigation and remediation: Does it automate any investigation or response work, and what still requires a person?
  • Vulnerability visibility: Does it help identify and prioritize endpoint vulnerabilities?
  • Central management: Can an administrator manage devices and policies from a shared console?

Microsoft’s documented Defender for Business feature set includes next-generation protection, attack-surface reduction, EDR, automated investigation and remediation, centralized management, and core vulnerability-management capabilities. Microsoft describes the product as including Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 features, some Plan 2 features, and SMB-specific capabilities. These are vendor descriptions, not independent test results; review the current product overview and confirm the exact features in the subscription being quoted.

3. Decide who will operate the product

Security software does not manage itself. Name the person or provider responsible for configuration, onboarding, policy changes, alert review, and response. If those responsibilities have no clear owner, a technically capable product can still leave important alerts unattended.

  • Ask how devices are enrolled and how long onboarding is expected to take.
  • Determine who can change policies and how changes are approved.
  • Specify who reviews alerts, during which hours, and what happens when an alert is escalated.
  • Clarify who is authorized to isolate a device or take other response actions.
  • Check what support is included and what work carries an additional fee.

Microsoft documents partner-assisted setup and configuration, as well as MSP integration with remote monitoring and management and professional-service automation tools. Those are options to investigate, not evidence that any particular provider is suitable. When considering a managed service, ask for its written scope, response hours, escalation process, and responsibility boundaries; assess the provider directly.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #2
Glovary Firewall Mini PC J3710 Quad Core, 4 x i225V 2.5GbE LAN Fanless OPNsense Appliance, 8GB RAM 128GB SSD, Micro Router Computer Hardware, AES-NI, HD+DP Dual Display, Console, 2USB3.0, SPK/MIC
  • Quad Core J3710 Processor: F3 firewall hardware with Pentium J3710 Processor, 4 Cores 4 Threads, 2M Cache, up to 2.64 GHz, TDP 6.5 W. Compatible with OPNsense, Linux, ESXi, Proxmox
  • 4 x i225V 2.5GbE LAN: J3710 mini pc with 4 x i225V 2500Mbps LAN, can monitor network data, improve network security, powerful and widely used
  • DDR3 RAM mSATA Slot: J3710 firewall pc with 1 x DDR3L SO-DIMM memory, 1 x mSATA SSD slot, 1 x SATA 3.0 slot(SATA Cable included), 1 x Mini-PCIe Slot
  • HD DP Dual Display: Micro firewall appliance J3710 integrated HD Graphics, HD + DP dual display interfaces improve work efficiency
  • Fanless Mini Size: Firewall appliance J3710 with aluminium alloy body, fanless quiet running without noise. Size only 11 x 10 x 3.5 cm

4. Check how the product fits your existing setup

Endpoint security is one part of a small business’s technology environment. Compare each candidate with the identity, device-management, and productivity services already in use. A bundle may reduce duplicate spending, but only if its additional services are useful and its licensing terms fit the organization.

For example, Microsoft lists Defender for Business as a standalone subscription and as part of Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Business Premium also includes services such as Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1, Intune Plan 1, and Entra ID Plan 1. If the business already pays for overlapping services, compare what each license actually supplies before treating a bundle as a savings.

5. Compare the full cost and licensing terms

Ask vendors or resellers for a quote that reflects your actual users, devices, servers, and operating systems. A per-user price is not automatically comparable to a per-device price, and a server add-on or managed-service fee can change the total.

Rank #3
FortiGate-40F Firewall Appliance plus 1 Year FortiCare Premium and FortiGuard Unified Threat Protection (UTP) (FG-40F-BDL-950-12)
  • INTEGRATED FIREWALL APPLIANCE AND SECURITY SERVICES: Comes with FortiGate-40F Firewall Appliance, 1 year of FortiCare Premium, and FortiGuard Unified Threat Protection.
  • UTP SECURITY FEATURES: Offers protection from advanced threats with DNS filtering, URL filtering, video filtering, and controls against botnets.
  • IDEAL FOR SMALLER SETTINGS: Best suited for small to mid-sized businesses needing reliable security without the complexity of larger systems.
  • CONTINUOUS SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE: FortiCare Premium ensures that technical help is readily available to manage and troubleshoot issues.
  • COMPACT AND EFFECTIVE: Provides a powerful, yet compact security solution that effectively protects against a wide range of cyber threats.
Microsoft option Displayed US price What the price represents
Defender for Business, standalone $3.00 per user/month, paid yearly Microsoft’s displayed price for the standalone endpoint-security subscription at the time reflected on its product page.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium $22.00 per user/month, paid yearly Microsoft’s displayed price for a broader bundle that includes Defender for Business and other services, not a like-for-like endpoint-only alternative.

These are Microsoft’s displayed US prices, not independent market averages; pricing and availability may change. Microsoft says the product may not be available in every market. Verify local availability, taxes, annual commitment, user and device limits, server add-ons, and any support or provider fees on the Microsoft Defender for Business product page before buying.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

6. Set the shortlist according to business risk

The right level of protection depends on what the business needs to safeguard and what it can operate effectively. Consider the sensitivity of business and customer data, the disruption the organization could withstand, how it would recover from an incident, and whether internal staff can investigate and respond to alerts. A product’s feature list matters only insofar as the organization can use those features and act on what they reveal.

NIST’s small-business cybersecurity hub links to guidance on ransomware, incident response, securing devices, cybersecurity risks, and phishing. Its Cybersecurity Framework is intended to help organizations understand and improve cybersecurity risk management. These resources can help shape requirements; they do not select a product for you. NIST also says its listings of commercial entities are not endorsements.

A practical selection checklist

  1. Document the environment: Count users, endpoints, operating systems, remote devices, and server instances.
  2. Confirm coverage and licensing: Verify supported devices and versions, user or device limits, and separate server requirements for each candidate.
  3. Map required capabilities: Mark which prevention, detection, response, management, and vulnerability features the business needs; verify which are included in the proposed plan.
  4. Assign operational ownership: Name who handles setup, configuration, alerts, and response, or evaluate a managed provider’s scope.
  5. Compare total cost: Include the right license model, commitment, tax, add-ons, support, and provider fees; account for useful services already included in existing subscriptions.
  6. Check obligations: Confirm any industry, contractual, or insurer requirements directly before committing.

This is a buyer framework, not an independent test or a side-by-side ranking of the endpoint-security market. For a regulated business or one with specific contractual obligations, validate the product, response scope, and licensing with the relevant adviser or provider before purchase.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More from the Wire

  1. World desk4 min
    How to Spot an AI Voice Scam Before Sending MoneyDon’t rely on how a caller sounds. Pause, call back through a known number, and verify the emergency with another trusted person before sending money.
  2. Mountain View desk4 min
    Google’s SynthID Detector: How to Check AI-Generated Images, Video and AudioGoogle’s SynthID Detector looks for an embedded watermark in supported images, video and audio. Here is what its results do—and do not—show.
  3. Redmond desk20 min
    How to create a link to File or Folder in Windows 11Windows 11 gives you several ways to point to a file or folder without moving or duplicating it. You can create a desktop shortcut,…
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.