Antivirus software has been a mainstay for individuals and organisations in preventing threats from compromising their data and other sensitive information. However, legacy antivirus tools are now limited in that they can only handle known and basic threats, not emerging ones. This is where next-generation antivirus software or NGAV comes in to address this shortcoming with advanced features in tow, like machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), and provide advanced threat protection for simple threats to those never before seen.

Why upgrade to NGAV?

NGAV, also known as endpoint protection, helps secure an organisation’s network endpoints, as these are generally the biggest security gap in most IT systems. These endpoints include desktop computers, laptops, and mobile devices, and attackers take advantage of the fact that some companies fail to properly secure them as they often lack enough resources to address all possible endpoint vulnerabilities.

Responding to current and increasingly complex third-party cyber threats requires comprehensive, consistent, and coordinated prevention measures only found in NGAV solutions. Moreover, attackers have had plenty of time to determine the loopholes and workarounds in legacy antiviruses like in-memory execution, scripting engines, macro-based fileless attacks, and more.

Legacy antivirus prompts organisations to take a reactive stance against cyber threats as it can only protect against known viruses and malware in the antivirus provider’s database, which, while it may have worked in the past, no longer applies today. A Ponemon survey showed that 80 per cent of responders who experienced a cyber incident reported that an unknown or new zero-day attack caused it.

NGAV fixes the limitations of legacy antivirus with the help of more sophisticated technologies and prevention methods such as behavioural detection, AI, and ML and does away with the process of detecting malicious activity by solely relying on signatures. Lastly, NGAV exposes both known and unknown threats near real-time, making them far more effective at enabling businesses to block them and prevent further damage much quicker than before.

Advantages of NGAV

1. Blocking malware-free attacks

IOAs (Indicators of Attack) correlate endpoint events to uncover covert activities that may point to malicious activity. Legacy antivirus solutions that rely solely on retrospective offline analysis to detect IOAs cannot keep up with today’s emerging threats. Online algorithms leveraging machine learning are better because they are faster, more efficient, and more effective since they do not need entire data sets to conduct a useful analysis.

Furthermore, malware payloads are no longer exclusively delivered via files. Attacks that use newer techniques like in-memory executive, macros, and other fileless techniques are now becoming the norm. Exploit blocking seeks out and blocks exploitation as it happens in real-time.

2. Prevention of known and unknown threats

Machine learning is among the core functionalities of NGAV that lets it determine the likelihood of files containing malicious content, thus enabling signature-less malware prevention. Unknown threats are blocked instantly, and time-to-value is cut down to zero.

3. Cloud-Native

Cloud architecture is the key component in true next-gen antivirus, as cloud-based NGAV solutions can be operational within seconds without requiring extensive configuration, signature updates, reboots, or infrastructure purchases. Algorithms monitor and process endpoint activity in real time to expose harmful files and suspicious behaviours without degrading endpoint performance.

4. Threat intelligence integration

Threat intelligence integration enables the immediate assessment of a threat’s origins, severity, and impact on the organisation’s environment and provides the best course of action in responding to and remediating it.

Conclusion

As organisations begin to see the limits of legacy antivirus, NGAV will gradually become the new standard for robust endpoint protection. With its proactive approach to cyber threats, attacks are blocked and prevented from causing damage in the first place, thanks to its superior protection against malware and malware-free intrusions, exploits, and emerging persistent threats.

In addition to switching to NGAV, working with a reputable cybersecurity firm is the best way to cover all the bases of your security posture. GROUP8 is your one-stop shop for offensive-inspired cyber defence with a diverse range of industry-leading solutions covering the entire cybersecurity ecosystem, from endpoint security and blockchain security to CREST-certified Singapore penetration testing. For more information, get in touch with us at hello@group8.co today.