Businesses today grapple with a variety of security challenges, particularly the need for effective solutions that are easy to implement and manage, especially when operating with limited budgets and resources. Many organizations recognize that their current antivirus solutions have gaps, yet they often lack clarity on how to begin searching for alternatives. Research indicates that 65% of organizations feel their security team's skill level could be improved, and nearly half utilize over 25 different security products, leading to overworked personnel and less effective security.

When evaluating endpoint security solutions, organizations should focus on several critical factors. These include the ability to provide comprehensive protection against various modern attacks, not just malware, and the capability to recognize and respond to patterns of malicious behavior. Additionally, organizations should look for solutions that allow for customizable policies for different endpoints, effective identification and quarantine of malware, and robust protection against fileless attacks. Ensuring that the solution cannot be disabled by unauthorized users is also essential.

To effectively test next-generation antivirus solutions, organizations should follow a structured approach. First, they need to configure their evaluation environment by selecting a representative sample of machines. Next, they should evaluate from the perspective of both endpoint users and administrators to ensure usability. Establishing clear use cases and maintaining consistency across evaluations is crucial. Organizations should also create a scorecard to rate functionality and document results meticulously to identify leading products for further consideration.