When assessing the reliability of cybersecurity solutions, we’ve identified three key areas to help you better understand what to look for and how to evaluate them.
Reliability is the cornerstone of cyber security software. A solution might boast all the bells and whistles, but if it falters when you need it most, its value is negligible. Much like a leaky roof, a security system that fails intermittently leaves you exposed to the elements. In the realm of cyber threats, where attacks can strike anytime, reliability isn’t just a feature, it’s a necessity.
An independent testing lab in Austria, AV-Comparatives has been rigorously testing antivirus products for over 20 years. They're well-respected for their in-depth, real-world testing scenarios, making their awards highly sought-after.
Navigating & Reading Tests: AV-Comparatives' website features a dedicated "Tests" section, where you can find reports categorized by product type (e.g., antivirus, anti-malware) and test focus (e.g., real-world protection, performance). Each report details the testing methodology and presents the results in clear tables and charts.
Key Benefits: AV-Comparatives offers unbiased, expert evaluations, helping you cut through marketing hype and make informed decisions. Their tests focus on real-world scenarios, which is especially valuable for SOHOs and SMBs who may not have dedicated IT security teams.
Based in Germany, AV-Test is another leading independent testing organization. They're known for their comprehensive testing, evaluating products on protection, performance, and usability.
Navigating & Reading Tests: AV-Test's website provides a "Test Reports" section, organized by product category and testing period. Each report features detailed test results, including scores for protection, performance, and usability, presented in an easy-to-understand format.
Key Benefits: AV-Test provides reliable, independent assessments, helping you compare different cybersecurity solutions. Their focus on usability is particularly beneficial for SOHOs and SMBs, who need solutions that are easy to implement and manage.
An independent testing and certification body based in the UK, Virus Bulletin has been assessing security products since 1989. Known for their rigorous VB100 tests, they are respected for their focus on malware detection and proactive protection.
Navigating & Reading Tests: Virus Bulletin’s website offers a comprehensive "Comparatives" section, where you can access detailed reports on antivirus software, email security, and endpoint protection. Each report includes analysis on product performance, detection rates, and false positives, presented in easy-to-understand tables.
Key Benefits: Virus Bulletin delivers unbiased, expert evaluations, enabling you to make well-informed decisions beyond marketing claims. Their tests are particularly valuable for SOHOs and SMBs looking to strengthen their cybersecurity without a dedicated IT team.
For over 25 years, the SC Awards have recognized excellence in cybersecurity products and services. These awards are respected for their independent judging process, conducted by a panel of industry experts.
Navigating & Reading Tests: The SC Awards website offers a "Winners" section, where you can explore award categories like Best Security Solution, Best SME Security Solution, and Best Managed Security Service. Each category includes detailed write-ups on why each product stood out, with insights from industry leaders.
Key Benefits: The SC Awards provide a trustworthy benchmark of the best cybersecurity products, helping you cut through marketing hype. Their focus on innovation and effectiveness is particularly useful for SOHOs and SMBs looking for proven solutions.
Part of the non-profit MITRE organization, MITRE Engenuity is known for its ATT&CK Evaluations, which assess cybersecurity products against advanced threat scenarios. They are highly respected for their open and transparent testing methods.
Navigating & Reading Tests: MITRE Engenuity's website features a dedicated "ATT&CK Evaluations" section, showcasing detailed reports on how different security solutions perform against specific adversary tactics. The reports include step-by-step breakdowns and visualizations of detection capabilities.
Key Benefits: MITRE Engenuity provides unbiased evaluations focused on real-world adversary behaviors, which can be critical for SOHOs and SMBs needing robust security against sophisticated threats. Their transparent methodology helps you understand how products perform in actual attack scenarios.
A UK-based independent testing lab, MRG Effitas specializes in financial malware and online fraud protection. They are highly regarded for their focus on real-world simulations and specialized threat landscapes.
Navigating & Reading Tests: MRG Effitas’ website includes a "Comparative Reports" section, where you can explore their testing on banking Trojans, ransomware, and other high-risk malware. Reports are presented with clear metrics, showing product effectiveness over time.
Key Benefits: MRG Effitas offers in-depth, unbiased evaluations that are particularly useful for businesses concerned about financial threats. Their focus on real-world effectiveness helps SOHOs and SMBs navigate the complexities of cybersecurity in high-risk environments.
Product reviews typically offer an overview of user sentiment towards a specific product, which can be positive, negative, or neutral. We recommend focusing on the positive and negative reviews, as neutral feedback generally provides limited insight.
Be cautious when a review is both lengthy and highly positive, it could indicate an inauthentic review designed to artificially boost the product's overall rating
Key benefits of review sentiment:
The language used in a customer review can reveal valuable insights about the reviewer and their experience with the product. By paying attention to the tone and vocabulary, you can better understand the review's context and credibility. Here's a quick guide on what different types of language may indicate:
The length of a customer review can be quite telling. To gain meaningful insights, focus on longer reviews, whether positive or negative, as they often provide more detailed feedback. Short reviews like 'Great product' offer little value since they lack specifics
Short reviews: Short customer reviews offer limited value, as they typically convey only a general sentiment—positive, neutral, or negative—without providing specific details. This lack of depth makes them less helpful for informed decision-making.
Medium & Long reviews: Longer reviews often have more specific information, which can be helpful if you're looking for details about certain features or how the software works in real life.
It can be confusing to find reliable customer reviews for cybersecurity software because many websites seem different but actually share the same reviews. To simplify your search, we recommend checking these three websites:
We selected these three websites for their unique added value. Additionally, many review sites are owned by Gartner and share reviews, so these options offer distinct perspectives.
Are there SLAs in place that outline the expected level of service and response times in case of issues? For small businesses, every minute of downtime can mean lost revenue and productivity. That's why Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are crucial.
Does the vendor offer uptime guarantees, ensuring the software is available and functional when you need it?
Tips for SMB Owners
An SLA Uptime Calculator is a tool that helps you determine the expected uptime of a service based on its Service Level Agreement (SLA). This is crucial for businesses as it allows you to:
By understanding the potential downtime, you can make informed decisions about your IT infrastructure and ensure business continuity.
World of cyber security is complex and always evolving. You take care of your business and we help you choose the best cyber security solution for your business.
If you don't have time feel free to try our automated guide that helps you narrow down your search based on your business type and requirements. Just click on the "Start Guide" button and in just couple of clicks you'll have a custom selection available.
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