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HomeNews & EventsExpert NoteWhy Antivirus Alone Is No Longer Enough: The State of Cybersecurity in SMEs
Often considered the weak link in IT systems, cybersecurity is frequently forgotten or minimized in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Yet threats are evolving rapidly and particularly affect small businesses. In other words, protection tools need to keep pace. But how effective are traditional antivirus solutions in this context? Should SMEs turn to more specialized tools that are better equipped to protect both their work systems and their data
In other words, protection tools must keep up. But how effective are traditional antivirus solutions in this context? Should you turn to a more specialized tool that is therefore better able to protect both your work tools and your data?
Antivirus: A Basic Tool That’s Often Outdated
For a long time, antivirus software was the main line of defense against cyber threats. Its principle is simple: compare incoming files to a database of known viruses and block those matching malicious signatures. This approach remains effective against basic attacks.
However, this model shows its limits against modern threats, such as:
In short, antivirus still offers some protection, but it is no longer sufficient against increasingly sophisticated and growing threats.
The Reality for SMEs: Constraints, Exposure, and Digital Dependence
Swiss SMEs, like many elsewhere, are now highly digitalized but remain under-equipped in cybersecurity. Due to limited resources, time, or internal expertise, their protection often relies on basic common sense and a default antivirus. Yet, SMEs:
This makes them easy targets: less protected than large companies and often more profitable for cybercriminals seeking quick cash flow. Cyber attackers prefer to target many under-protected small businesses rather than heavily fortified large corporations
What Does a Solution Like Praethorus Offer?
Praethorus is a Swiss solution created by ELCA, dedicated to SMEs. Unlike traditional antivirus, it doesn’t just block known threats—it monitors, learns, alerts, and supports. It is both a proactive and protective solution, recognizing that it’s not a matter of if you’ll be attacked, but when.
Feature Comparison Table
| Functionality | Classic Antivirus (e.g., Norton, Avast) | Praethorus (ELCA) |
|---|---|---|
| Detection of known viruses | ✅Yes | ✅Yes (included) |
| Behavioral analysis (EDR) | ❌ Rare or limited | ✅Next-gen EDR |
| Human incident response | ❌ No (remote, often automated) | ✅Local expert team |
| Cyber posture diagnostics | ❌ Absent | ✅Questionnaire + recommendations |
| Virtual cyber assistant | ❌ Absent or generic | ✅Contextualized for SMEs |
| SME-oriented features | ❌ Geared to consumers/large enterprises | ✅Interface and features for SMEs |
| Multi-device deployment | ✅Possible, not centralized | ✅Designed for business use |
| Alerts and recommendations | ⚠️ Limited to “threat detected” | ✅Blocking, alerts, concrete actions |
Praethorus: The New Standard of Protection
The challenge is no longer just to prevent attacks, but to detect them, contain them, and regain control quickly to minimize losses. This requires smarter tools, tailored to the business context, and capable of adapting to new threats. Praethorus stands out with its human dimension: unlike the standardized support of many antivirus vendors, its expertise is based on a team of local, French-speaking specialists available to assist at any time.
Protection Must Match the Environment
For SMEs, every minute lost to a cyber incident means tangible losses: productivity, reputation, customer trust, and revenue. Cybersecurity should not be an afterthought, but an integrated, business-adapted component—an investment, not just a cost.
Consumer-grade tools are still useful, but they no longer meet the minimum requirements of a professional environment
Conclusion
Cybersecurity is no longer a luxury for large enterprises or a simple option. It is now a prerequisite for business continuity. For Swiss SMEs looking to move beyond the antivirus reflex, Praethorus offers a comprehensive alternative that protects everything that matters. Click here to learn more about Praethorus.
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