AVG Antivirus continues to garner a solid support among independent testers such as PC World (where it ranks among there top 5 antivirus products). You can read Robert Vamosi's PC World review of AVG Antivirus 8.5 here.
In addition to its line-up of products for standalone PCs, AVG also offers a full suite of server based products for business security applications.
Marketing
AVG's popularity is due in part to it's marketing approach. They've built name recognition and a user base of over 80 million with AVG Free, which home users can download at no cost. This year, they've also added the free AVG LinkScanner which scans websites for malware in real time. LinkScanner can be used as a stand-alone application alongside any anti-virus product. As the web has become the primary channel to distribute viruses, this is a timely addition.
Even though you'll have to buy the software if you want to use it for your business, you can download any AVG product free for 30 days and receive the same tech support as the paid version.
The Business Line Up
AVG business products come in two basic packages; a Network Edition, compatible with both Windows and Linux platforms, and an SBS edition for Microsoft Small Business Servers. (There is even an email server product that runs on FreeBSD.
AVG Antivirus
Along with anti-virus and anti-spyware functions, this product also includes anti-rootkit protection, desktop firewalls, and file server protection. AVG LinkScanner is also included in all business security products. The SBS edition of AVG Antivirus adds email server protection.
AVG Internet Security
AVG Internet Security contains the same functions as AVG Antivirus and adds a layer of anti-spam protection. In the Network Edition this protection is at the desktop level only. The SBS Edition deploys anti-spam protection on your Microsoft Exchange Server.
Conclusion
AVG's suite of business products continues to evolve to confront new threats, as demonstrated by their LinkScanner product. The free trial editions let you take a test drive on your own network. In today's security environment phishing, hacking, and malware are daily realities. If you're not protecting your network, it's just a matter of time before it goes down. AVG makes it easy for you to get started with protection on all fronts.
Developer's Website
Click here to visit the AVG Business Security Site.
