In short
Endpoint protection is security software installed on each laptop, desktop, server and mobile device to stop malware, ransomware and exploits before they do damage. Business products add a central console, policies, server coverage and reporting that consumer antivirus lacks. Forever Systems supplies a range of vendors and helps you choose.
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What is endpoint protection?
An endpoint is any device that connects to your network or your cloud services and runs software: laptops, desktops, physical and virtual servers, Macs, Linux machines, phones and tablets. Endpoint protection is the software that sits on each of those devices and stops malicious code from running, whether it arrives as an email attachment, a download, a malicious website, a USB stick or a script launched by an attacker who has already got in.
You will see several labels for the same idea:
- Antivirus (AV): the traditional name, built around recognising known malicious files.
- Next-generation antivirus (NGAV): adds machine learning, behaviour monitoring and exploit prevention so it can stop threats it has not seen before. See our guide to next-generation antivirus.
- EPP (endpoint protection platform): the industry term for NGAV plus the controls that usually come with it, such as web protection, device control and a host firewall, managed from one console. For a wider look at the category, see our sister site's guide to the endpoint protection platform and how it fits with XDR.
In practice, when a business buys endpoint protection today it is buying NGAV-style prevention, managed centrally, with an upgrade path to detection and response.
Vendors we supply
Endpoint protection vs consumer antivirus
Home antivirus is designed for one person looking after a few devices. A business needs something different:
| Need | Consumer antivirus | Business endpoint protection |
|---|---|---|
| Who manages it | Each user, on each device | An administrator, from one cloud console |
| Policies | Set device by device | Defined once and applied to groups of devices |
| Servers | Usually not supported | Windows and, with most vendors, Linux servers |
| Reporting | Local alerts on the device | Estate-wide view of threats, devices and protection status |
| Licence terms | Often limited to personal or home use | Licensed for business use, per device or per user |
| Upgrade path | Rarely | EDR, XDR and managed services on the same agent |
The central console matters more than any single feature. It shows you which devices are protected, which have dropped off, what was blocked and where, and it lets you change a policy for everyone in minutes rather than visiting each machine. Our guide to antivirus software for business goes into the features that matter.
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What endpoint protection covers
Good business endpoint protection follows the devices you actually use:
- Windows laptops and desktops: the core of most estates, and the platform every vendor we supply protects.
- Macs: most of the vendors we supply have a macOS agent managed in the same console. See antivirus for Macs in business.
- Servers: Windows Server and Linux need server-aware protection and are often licensed separately. See server antivirus for Windows Server and Linux antivirus.
- Phones and tablets: "antivirus" works differently on iOS and Android, where the focus is phishing links, risky apps and networks. See mobile antivirus for business.
If you only take one thing from this page: count every device type before you compare products, because platform coverage and licence units differ more between vendors than headline features do.
The vendors we supply
Forever Systems supplies endpoint protection from a deliberately chosen range of vendors, so we can match the product to your estate rather than the other way round:
| Vendor | Endpoint protection product | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| CrowdStrike | Falcon Prevent next-gen antivirus on the Falcon sensor | CrowdStrike antivirus |
| SentinelOne | Singularity Endpoint (Control and Complete) | SentinelOne antivirus |
| ThreatDown (Malwarebytes) | ThreatDown Endpoint Protection | Malwarebytes endpoint protection |
| Bitdefender | GravityZone | Bitdefender business antivirus |
| Trend Micro | TrendAI Vision One Endpoint Security and Worry-Free Services | Trend Micro |
| Webroot (OpenText) | Webroot Business Endpoint Protection | Webroot |
| Sophos | Sophos Endpoint and server protection | Sophos antivirus |
| Check Point | Check Point Endpoint Security (formerly Harmony Endpoint) | Check Point antivirus |
| WatchGuard | Endpoint Security Basic, Prime, 360 and Elite | WatchGuard Endpoint Security |
| Acronis | Anti-malware and anti-ransomware in Acronis Cyber Platform | Acronis antivirus |
| Halcyon | Anti-ransomware platform that runs beside your antivirus | Ransomware protection |
| Absolute | Self-healing for security agents (not antivirus) | Absolute Persistence |
There is no single right answer, and we do not rank vendors. The endpoint protection vendors page compares them on criteria you can check: platforms, licence unit, EDR upgrade path and managed options. For licensing detail across the market, see our endpoint protection software catalogue.
Need help choosing?
We will recommend what fits your organisation and explain why, in plain English.
Where EDR, XDR and MDR fit
Endpoint protection is about prevention: stopping malicious code before it runs or as it starts to misbehave. EDR (endpoint detection and response) records activity on each device so someone can investigate an incident, isolate a machine and see how an attacker got in. XDR widens that view to email, identity and cloud, and MDR is a service where a vendor's analysts watch and respond for you.
Most of the vendors we supply offer all of these on the same agent, so you can start with endpoint protection and add detection and response later without reinstalling. Our EPP vs EDR guide covers that decision from the buyer's side, and our sister site has fuller EDR, XDR and MDR guidance.
Buyer guides on this site
- Antivirus software for business: what business antivirus does differently and how it is licensed.
- Antivirus for small business: criteria for choosing when you have no security team.
- Is Windows Defender enough?: an honest look at the built-in option.
- Free antivirus for business: what free products leave out.
- How much does business antivirus cost?: what drives the price, explained plainly.
- Managed antivirus: having us deploy and run it for you.
- Ransomware protection for business: the layers that work together against ransomware.
- Antivirus for schools: shared devices, small IT teams and per-user licensing.
How Forever Systems helps
We are a supplier, not a vendor, so our job is to help you pick the product that suits your devices, your team and your budget, then make buying and running it straightforward:
- Count the estate: we list your laptops, desktops, servers, Macs, Linux machines and mobiles, and note what protects them today.
- Shortlist on facts: we compare two or three products against your platforms, licence preferences and any EDR or managed service plans.
- Trial where available: several vendors we supply offer trials, so you can run the agent on a few devices first.
- Deploy and hand over: we can plan removal of the old product, deploy the new agent with your existing tools and set sensible policies.
- Keep licences right: licences sit on one Forever Systems account, and many products can be billed monthly, so adding a starter or retiring a laptop can be a licence change rather than a new contract; terms are confirmed at quote.
Pricing depends on the product, edition and number of devices or users, so ask us for a quote. Contact us and tell us what you need to protect.
Guides and comparisons
CrowdStrikeIs CrowdStrike an antivirus? Falcon Prevent next-gen antivirus, the bundles we supply and how it is licensed.
SentinelOneIs SentinelOne an antivirus? Singularity Endpoint's AI prevention, rollback and packages, and how it is licensed.
ThreatDown (Malwarebytes)Malwarebytes endpoint protection, now ThreatDown: next-gen antivirus for Windows, macOS and Linux, servers and add-ons.
BitdefenderBitdefender's GravityZone business editions explained, and how we supply them monthly per endpoint.
Trend MicroTrend Micro's business antivirus in three tiers: Core, Essentials and Pro, licensed per endpoint.
WebrootWebroot's cloud-managed business antivirus: Evasion Shield, a light agent and per-device licences.
WatchGuardWatchGuard Endpoint Security Basic, Prime, 360 and Elite compared, with the old EPP and EPDR names and modules.
SophosSophos antivirus for business: Sophos Endpoint's protection layers, servers and Linux, and how it is licensed.
Check PointCheck Point antivirus on laptops, desktops and servers: the anti-malware engine in Check Point's endpoint agent.
AcronisAcronis antivirus and anti-ransomware on the same agent as backup, with EDR, rollback and recovery options.Ransomware protectionHow endpoint protection, dedicated anti-ransomware, backup and agent resilience fit together against ransomware.
Absolute PersistenceWhat the Absolute Persistence module in device firmware does, and how Resilience self-heals your antivirus and EDR agents.How Forever Systems helps with endpoint protection
We are an independent UK IT and cyber security provider. We supply business antivirus and endpoint protection from several vendors, so we can recommend what fits your devices, your team and your budget rather than pushing one product.
- Review what you have: we look at your current antivirus, your Microsoft licences and the devices you need to cover before suggesting anything new
- Compare the options: next-generation antivirus, EDR and managed services from vendors including CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, ThreatDown, Bitdefender, Trend Micro, Sophos, Check Point, WatchGuard and Acronis
- Licensing and quotes: the right edition and licence count for your Windows, Mac, Linux, server and mobile devices, with pricing confirmed at quote
- Deployment and migration: we can help roll out agents, set policies and remove the old product cleanly
- Support after go-live: help with policy tuning, alerts and renewals, with the scope agreed at quote
We can also help with the rest of your security, from endpoint security and EDR to Cyber Essentials and security awareness training.
Frequently asked questions
What is endpoint protection?
Endpoint protection is security software installed on laptops, desktops, servers and mobile devices that stops malware, ransomware and exploits from running. Business products are managed from a central console, so one administrator can set policies, see threats and check every device is protected.
Is endpoint protection the same as antivirus?
Antivirus is part of it. Modern endpoint protection adds machine learning and behaviour monitoring to catch unknown threats, plus controls such as web protection, device control and a host firewall, all managed centrally. Many vendors use the terms interchangeably.
What devices does endpoint protection cover?
Business products cover Windows laptops and desktops, and most also cover macOS, Windows and Linux servers and virtual machines. Phones and tablets are usually protected by a separate mobile security product or add-on, because iOS and Android work differently.
Do I need EDR as well as endpoint protection?
Not necessarily. Endpoint protection prevents most threats automatically. EDR helps you investigate and respond when something gets through, which matters more if you have someone, or a managed service, to act on its alerts. See our EPP vs EDR guide.
How is endpoint protection licensed?
Most vendors license per device or endpoint, while Sophos Endpoint and Trend Micro Worry-Free are licensed per user. Servers are often licensed separately. Many products can be billed monthly through Forever Systems, with terms confirmed at quote; ask us for a quote.
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