Are Cloud-Based Antivirus Solutions More Effective?

With the ever-increasing rise of cyber threats, there is an ongoing requirement for antivirus software to be as innovative and adaptable.

The shift from traditional on-device solutions to more advanced, on-the-cloud preventive systems is one of the major breakthroughs in the history of anti-virus technology.

However, this shift has sparked a discussion between cybersecurity experts and the users on which approach of antivirus technology is more effective.

Do cloud-based antivirus software systems work better? Let’s take a look at the benefits they offer along with their drawbacks and compared to on-device solutions.

What Is A Cloud-Based Antivirus Solution?

The main feature of cloud-based antivirus solutions is that a majority of its essential functions like threat detection, threat analysis and updates are taken to the cloud.

Traditional antivirus solutions would perform their scans and updates directly on the user’s device however in this case, the cloud lets the scanners do the hard work, retrieving information and files, analysing them and searching for threats.

While it certainly does offer some advantages, its downside shouldn’t be overlooked either.

Why Should You Use A Cloud-Based Solution?

Users can enjoy a range of benefits when it comes to using an antivirus software that is cloud-based. It can free up device storage and memory, while still offering notifications in real-time. Moreover, its convenience has increased its popularity even more.

Updates Are Received In Real-Time

One of the key benefits of cloud-based antivirus systems its constant updates. With solutions hosted in the cloud, users don’t have to wait for the next update or download since all the threat databases are continuously updated in the system.

This ensures that users are much more secure against more developed threats as there is very little delay between the detection of a threat and the protection of the users against that threat.

It Doesn’t Impact The Device As Much

The use of cloud-based antivirus solutions can greatly decrease the load of resources on a device. Most traditional antivirus programs require a fair amount of storage, memory, and processing power to be able to carry out scans, updates, and other processes running in the background.

On the other hand, these solutions do not install anything on user’s devices as data and scans are all processed in the cloud. This makes it an ideal option for older devices that have very limited storage or memory.

It Is More Accessible

Due to the fact that there is no installation requirement coupled with the possibility of access through any web-enabled device, cloud-based solutions are very flexible and easy to use.

For example, a user can access antivirus protection on different devices without physically installing it or regularly updating the software, making it efficient and easy to handle for the security of all linked devices.

Potential Issues With Cloud-Based Antivirus Solutions

While these solutions are ideal for convenience and freeing up storage space, their reliance on an Internet connection can become tricky. They have also raised concerns about the extent of their security when it comes to data privacy.

It Needs An Internet Connection

The reliance on a consistent Internet connection is a major drawback of cloud-based antivirus solutions. They are designed in a way that if the user is not connected to the Internet, the resources which enable the protection such as the threat database, wouldn’t be accessible, putting their device at risk of infection.

This is especially difficult for those living in areas with poor or intermittent Internet or for users who tend to work offline most of the time.

Data Can Be Compromised

With cloud-based antivirus systems, user data and files are uploaded to cloud servers for scanning and evaluation. This raises a possible concern for privacy and safety as the users might question who gets to see their data and how safe it is.

Well-known providers of cloud-based virus protection services adopt extensive privacy policies and use encryption to protect the data, but the risk of hacking still remains.

Subscriptions Could Be Costly

Generally, cloud-based antivirus solutions are use a subscription model where users are required to pay a fee on a regular basis. This may be a drawback for some users, especially those who are used to more traditional antivirus software that only requires a once-off payment.

Although subscription-based services support for new updates against emerging threats, it can be quite expensive in the long run, especially for a  business who needs to cover several devices.

What Is The Future Of Cloud-Based Antivirus Solutions?

The future progress in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud systems may help to improve the detection mechanisms resulting in better response times and tailored user protection.

At the same time, hybrid models, an antivirus solution that provides both cloud and on-device versions, seems to be gaining popularity, giving users more options and the best of both worlds.

For the moment, cloud-based solutions tend to be better suited to those who work online often with access to a reliable Internet connection and need the protection across multiple devices.