Strong and seamless AI-powered protection for small businesses.
Grade: A — Score: 95/100
ESET Small Business Security leverages advanced artificial intelligence to provide proactive protection against a wide range of online threats, including malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. Its multilayered security architecture ensures that all devices, from PCs to smartphones, are safeguarded against emerging threats in real time.
The solution is designed for easy installation and management through the ESET HOME platform, allowing non-IT specialists to monitor security status, share protection with employees, and receive alerts via a mobile application. This streamlined workflow enhances operational efficiency and minimizes the burden on small business owners.
Small businesses face significant risks from cyberattacks, which can lead to data breaches and financial losses. ESET Small Business Security addresses these risks by providing robust features such as ransomware remediation, secure banking, and data encryption, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected and business continuity is maintained.
ESET Small Business Security: $179.99/year for 5 devices (first term)
Consider switching to Norton Small Business: Norton offers similar features but may have different pricing and support structures.
ESET SBS costs $179.99/year for 5 devices and caps at 25 devices, managed via the consumer-grade ESET HOME app with per-device installation. ESET PROTECT Entry costs $211/year for 5 devices, scales to 100+ devices, and uses the ESET PROTECT Console with remote deployment, policy management, dynamic groups, and Linux support. Choose SBS if you have no IT admin and under 25 devices. Choose PROTECT Entry if you need centralized management, remote deployment, or Linux coverage.
Yes. ESET SBS includes Safe Server, which protects Windows Server file servers at no extra cost. The server count matches your device count: a 10-device subscription covers up to 10 endpoints plus up to 10 Windows Server file servers. Safe Server requires Windows Server 2019 or higher. Linux servers are not supported.
Bitdefender Small Business Security starts at $104.99/year for 5 devices, which is $75 less than ESET SBS ($179.99). Bitdefender includes a centralized cloud console and email security at that price. ESET SBS includes features Bitdefender does not: unlimited VPN with VPN for Router, Windows Server protection (Safe Server), and ransomware file rollback (Ransomware Remediation). If budget is the priority, Bitdefender wins. If you need VPN and server coverage included, ESET SBS offers more per subscription.
Partially. The ESET HOME web portal and mobile app let you monitor security status, view alerts, and share subscriptions with employees remotely. However, a Windows Forum review found that the console flags issues but does not always allow remote remediation for Windows endpoints. You may need to fix flagged devices locally. macOS remote visibility is more limited. For full remote management with policy push, remote scans, and centralized deployment, you need ESET PROTECT Entry or above.
No Linux support. SBS covers Windows (10, 11+), macOS (13+), Android (9.0+), and Windows Server (2019+). For iOS, ESET does not provide full antivirus, but selected privacy and identity protection features are available for iPhones and iPads. If you need Linux endpoint protection, ESET PROTECT Entry and above include it.
ESET offers an upgrade path from SBS to ESET PROTECT Entry through the ESET eStore. The cost is pro-rated based on the remaining time on your current subscription. The upgrade requires a manual product switch: you uninstall the SBS client and install the ESET Endpoint Security client managed by ESET PROTECT Console. The upgrade is not automatic and your settings will not transfer, so plan for a deployment window.
Yes. SBS includes ESET VPN with unlimited bandwidth across all covered devices, plus VPN for Router, which encrypts all traffic at the network level for every device on the office network (including IoT, printers, and smart TVs). The VPN covers approximately 40 server countries. This is a notable differentiator: Bitdefender Small Business Security, Avira Prime, and Sophos Endpoint do not include a VPN at their base tiers.
ESET SBS includes both Ransomware Shield (behavioral blocking before encryption) and Ransomware Remediation (automatic file backup and restore). In practical testing by Windows Forum, the core detection engine blocked most samples, but a few evasive ransomware variants and a destructive wiper slipped past initial detection. The reviewer noted that Ransomware Remediation helps with recovery but recommended configuring Folder Guard and maintaining independent backups as an additional layer. AV-TEST awarded ESET a TOP PRODUCT certificate for 2025 Windows protection.
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