Antivirus + EDR: Building Your First Line of Defense Against Cyberthreats

Antivirus (AV) solutions once handled most cyberthreats, but today’s faster and stealthier threat tactics demand more. Businesses need a layered defense that goes beyond prevention, combining AV with the detection and response power of endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions.

EDR catches advanced threats that AV alone can’t stop. Pulseway’s integration with Datto AV and EDR delivers a smarter, stronger security framework to tackle these modern challenges head-on.

What are AV and EDR tools?

An AV is a cybersecurity solution that detects and blocks known threats, like common viruses and malicious files, using signature-based detection. While it provides real-time monitoring to keep systems secure, AV is limited to addressing threats it recognizes. Even modern solutions with features like scheduled scans and behavioral analysis can only do so much. They're essential but not sufficient.

However, unlike AV, EDRs are built to handle advanced, elusive attacks, such as fileless malware, sophisticated ransomware attacks and zero day exploits, that easily bypass traditional defenses. It continuously monitors endpoints, tracks activity in real-time and leverages machine learning to detect and stop even the subtlest of anomalies that might otherwise go unnoticed.

What makes EDR truly indispensable is its ability to respond: isolating compromised devices, halting malicious processes and neutralizing threats before they cause chaos. For businesses facing today’s sophisticated cyberthreats, EDR is a must-have.

Why AV and EDR are non-negotiable for cyber protection

AV and EDR may have their limits individually, but together, they form a formidable defense against cyberthreats. For example, in a ransomware attack, AV blocks the known threats during download or execution, but if the attack is new or fileless, it might sneak through.

That’s where EDR takes the lead by detecting unusual activity, isolating the compromised endpoint, shutting down malicious processes and delivering the insights needed for swift remediation. This effective pairing ensures threats are stopped in their tracks before they can disrupt operations, keeping damage and downtime to a minimum while protecting your business.

The cost of ignoring layered protection

Neglecting layered security can have devastating consequences. An example is Ticketmaster, which suffered a breach exposing sensitive data of over 40 million users, leading to reputational damage, legal battles and a $500,000 ransom demand. Here’s what happens when layered protection is overlooked:

• Lack of threat visibility: Antivirus alone can’t catch advanced threats. EDR fills this gap with real-time monitoring and actionable alerts, ensuring threats are detected and neutralized before they escalate.
• Financial loss: Ransomware attacks can cost millions. The Colonial Pipeline attack in the U.S., for example, forced a $5 million ransom payment and days of disruption, showing the financial risks of weak security.
• Operational disruption: Malware can grind operations to a halt, delaying service delivery and hitting revenue hard. Every minute of downtime means lost productivity and frustrated customers.
• Reputational damage: Breaches destroy customer trust and tarnish credibility. Add non-compliance fines and legal penalties, and recovery becomes even harder.
• Resource drain: Without automation, IT teams struggle with alert fatigue and slow responses. Datto AV and EDR automate detection and remediation, saving time and improving efficiency.
• Compliance issues: Regulations like GDPR and HIPAA demand strong security. Falling short risks data breaches, hefty fines and legal trouble, making robust protection a must-have.

Datto EDR + AV: The ultimate layered defense

Datto EDR and AV combine to deliver robust, layered cybersecurity protection. Datto AV serves as the first line of defense, leveraging AI-powered detection and real-time scanning to block threats like ransomware and malware while ensuring uninterrupted productivity.

When advanced threats arise, Datto EDR steps in, continuously monitoring endpoints, detecting anomalies like fileless malware and responding instantly with features like ransomware rollback and pre-configured remediation templates.

Unlike traditional solutions, Datto EDR is cost-effective and intuitive and seamlessly integrates with Pulseway, making deployment and management simple. Together, Datto AV and EDR provide an accessible, efficient and powerful solution to stay ahead of evolving threats.

Pulseway’s native integration with Datto AV and EDR

Pulseway brings RMM, Datto AV and EDR together in a single, centralized dashboard, eliminating the hassle of juggling multiple tools. Here’s how it streamlines endpoint security:

• Effortless deployment: From Pulseway RMM, users can deploy Datto AV and EDR agents across all endpoints in just a few clicks. This automated process ensures rapid, consistent protection at scale, saving time and reducing workloads while keeping every device secure.
• Centralized management: With real-time visibility and seamless configuration, you can monitor endpoints, detect threats and enforce policies directly from one platform. No more switching between tools — everything you need is in one place for faster threat visibility.
• Integrated reporting and compliance: Real-time reports deliver actionable insights into security posture and threat activity. These automated reports also help MSPs and SMBs demonstrate compliance with regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and NIST by documenting protection and remediation efforts.

Key benefits for businesses

Pulseway’s integration with Datto AV and EDR delivers measurable savings, enhanced efficiency and reduced complexity for businesses and MSPs:

• Streamlined deployment at scale: Whether securing ten devices or ten thousand, Pulseway simplifies deployment and endpoint protection. MSPs and SMBs can roll out AV and EDR quickly and reliably across all environments, saving time and effort.
• Time-saving automation: Automation eliminates tedious manual tasks like malware removal, endpoint isolation and policy enforcement. IT teams can focus on strategic priorities, knowing threats are contained and resolved automatically.
• Cost savings and simplicity: Managing AV and EDR from a single dashboard cuts down on tool sprawl and lowers costs. With no need for additional tools or licenses, businesses can achieve enterprise-grade security without breaking the bank.
• Enhanced threat protection: With real-time alerts and actionable insights, businesses gain full visibility into threats. Datto AV and EDR work together to detect, contain and remediate both known and emerging threats, ensuring endpoints remain secure.

Strengthen your defense with Pulseway’s AV and EDR integration

Cyberthreats are growing more advanced every day, and businesses can’t afford to rely on outdated tools or partial solutions. By integrating Datto AV and EDR within Pulseway RMM, organizations gain multilayered endpoint protection that’s effective, automated and easy to manage.

Ready to see how Pulseway’s AV and EDR integration can enhance your security? Book a demo today!