What are managed antivirus and managed anti-malware services? Well, let’s start by defining antivirus and anti-malware software. These are special software that can identify, block and remove malicious software (malware). Everyone should install at least antivirus software. Separate anti-malware software is also highly recommended. Having both adds a second layer of protection. You can’t have two different brands of antivirus software on the same computer, but you can have antivirus and anti-malware, as the two can coexist.

Antivirus and anti-malware software are relatively cheap. Antivirus software ranges from free to about $60 per year. Anti-malware from free to about $30. Some are better than others and price does not always determine value. I won’t attempt to rank them all here; there are plenty of online reviews and opinions. But I will offer one piece of advice: whatever software you get, keep an eye on it. Make sure it’s always running. Make sure your subscription hasn’t expired and you’re getting all required updates as they are made available. And make sure you configured it properly when you installed it. Without these assurances, even the best software is worthless.

That’s where managed antivirus and managed anti-malware services come in.

If you have a good IT Managed Service Provider (MSP) managing your IT network you don’t have to worry about this. It’s their job to provide good antivirus and anti-malware software products, configure them properly, and keep an eye on them to ensure they are running properly. Ask your MSP how often they check to ensure your antivirus and anti-malware software is working properly. If the answer is anything less than every day, you are exposed to more risk than you should be.