Best cloud antivirus of 2023

The best cloud antivirus software makes it simple and easy to protect your business computing assets from a single antivirus platform. 

Keeping your business computing assets safe isn't always a straightforward task—luckily, that's where a reliable cloud antivirus can help out. These solutions allow you to set up a virtual gateway for your entire network, rather than go through the trouble of installing apps on each of your business machines. As a result, you'll have enhanced protection against malware and ransomware, and because these are cloud-based solutions, you'll have no trouble using them on desktop or mobile devices.

The best cloud antivirus software platforms used to work by matching records of known threats. However, now they utilize advanced machine learning algorithms to detect unwanted software behaviors and isolate them before they can damage your assets. The benefits don't stop there, either. With a cloud antivirus, you won't need to constantly update software across multiple devices

To help you find the solution that best suits you, and your business, I've put together a list of the five best cloud antivirus solutions on the market—though it's worth noting that an antivirus app is only one facet of a robust IT security policy.

The best cloud antivirus of 2023 in full:

Check out my top picks and in-depth analysis, where I delve into each solution's key features, test results, and what I liked (and didn't like) about their security suite.

The cloud antivirus overall

Malwarebytes has been a go-to solution for removing malware since 2006—and one that works on just about any platform you can imagine.

Malwarebytes (formally known as Malwarebytes Anti-malware) scans and removes any malicious software that may be lurking on your system, and actually scans in batch modes rather than sifting through individual files that are open.

Malwarebytes also includes its own endpoint protection security solution, and varied layers of detection technology, to match its layered approach to security. This multi-vector approach to protection ensures that your network, devices, and important files are kept out of harm's way.

The cloud platform delivers Malwarebytes Endpoint Protection via a single unified endpoint agent.  This leads to the instant deployment and management of this service. 

Because Malwarebytes Endpoint Protection is delivered via a single unified endpoint agent, you'll be able to instantly deploy and manage the cloud platform.

If you're interested in trying Malwarebytes for yourself, you can check out the free trial, which offers instant access to its endpoint protection (with full functionality for up to 100 endpoints.) Once you're ready to take the plunge, just reach out to the Malwarebytes sales team for a quote.

Read our full Malwarebytes review.

The best cloud antivirus for performance

Sophos is a British security software and hardware company. They have been developing and selling antivirus software from the 1990’s.  

Sophos Endpoint Protection protects all your devices from one simplified management console. This can be installed on your organizations servers or on the cloud.

Sophos automate their threat discovery, investigation and response process. This means that incident times are reduced. All other tactical resources can be focused on their strategic analysis. The solution does not rely on signatures to catch any malware. Instead Sophos catches threats before they even have time to setup home on your device. This means that the performance of your individual devices is not affected.

Sophos Endpoint Protection is primarily aimed at businesses and organizations. In order to get a quote, you will need to fill in a request form. The company will then send you a quote suited to your needs. However, Sophos do offer a 30-day free trial that will include automated malware clean-up and cloud-based admin and reporting portal access.

The best cloud antivirus for ease of use

Webroot is a private American company, founded in Boulder Colorado in 1997. It operates across multiple countries such as Australia, Ireland, Japan and the UK. Their international headquarters are based in Dublin, Ireland. Webroot provide internet security for both consumers and businesses.

Webroot uses a multi-vector protection system. This protects against threats across email, web browsers and files amongst others. They use a ‘Threat Intelligence Platform’ which is cloud based. It classifies and scores over 95% of all website three times per day.  

Webroot’s Endpoint Solution offers a 30-day free trial which will deploy protection and scan in seconds, without the need for bulky updates. It also allows admins to manage Webroot protection products from a single management console. 

If you decide you need more from your protection suite you can choose to purchase the solution. Webroot requires you to purchase a minimum of 5 endpoints. 

For more advanced needs, you can contact Webroot for a quote.

Read our full Webroot review.

The best cloud antivirus for security

As well as its famous and powerful free anti-virus, Avast also provide a dedicated cloud-based security platform for small and medium-sized businesses called Cloudcare. It provides a single management dashboard from which any device connected to it can be managed for security purposes. 

This can include anything from remote access for troubleshooting, transferring files, or even communicating with users, on top of more direct security operations such as anti-virus and malware protection. Additionally, Cloudcare doesn't just allow for monitoring of security threats from outside the network but also activity within it.

Web content filtering can be managed through a secure gateway, with email protection and anti-spam also provided. Backup and recovery solutions are also included as standard.

Devices can be managed in real-time, with a comprehensive range of summaries and reports available. Alerts are also built in, which can be configured to send via SMS or email. Changes to security policy made through the dashboard can be immediately applied to all connected devices.

Cloudcare is also now able to handle patch management as part of a recent upgrade to the service.

Pricing depends upon individual needs and business size, but both an online demo and a free trial are available.

Read our full Avast Clourdcare review.

The best cloud antivirus for small businesses

ESET is an IT security company, established in 1992. Its headquarters are in Bratislava, Slovakia. ESET was voted the most successful Slovak company for three years running between 2008-2010. Their clients include Canon, Honda and Greenpeace who have tens of thousands of endpoints between them.

ESET offers protection for both home users and businesses. The ESET Security Management Center manages endpoint products from a ‘single pain of glass’ and can be installed on Windows or Linux.

ESET endpoint products use machine learning in conjunction with their other layers of defense.  The company’s endpoint protection has the ability to detect malware pre-execution, during execution and post-execution. By doing things this way ESET are able to provide extremely high levels of protection for your devices.

The software also includes a ransomware shield, which monitors all applications based on their actions. This is designed to protect and block processes that resemble the behavior of ransomware.

There are multiple options available to but the product, not least cloud-based as well as an on-premises solution. Also, you can buy from a partner which could be ideal for those looking for personal support in their home state. 

Both the cloud and on-premises solutions are available to buy direct from the ESET website, with plans for cloud protection of 5 devices, with the ability to add more online.

The on-premises solution comes with a discount on a two-year license.

Read our full ESET Endpoint Protection Advanced Cloud review.

We've also featured the best business VPN.

Best cloud antivirus FAQs