In my last post about compatible anti-virus software for Windows Home Server, we came to the conclusion that NOD32 was the best paid for option and that ClamWin was probably the best FREE option available.
Since than I have tried and tested a few more anti-virus products and here is the outcome.
- Avast 4 Server Edition. Good but expensive at $399 for the one licence.
- Avast 4 Small Business Server. Only available in 5+ licences for $199.75. Less expensive than the sever edition but cheaper alternatives are available.
- Sophos Anti-Virus SBE 2.0. Again only available for 5+ users @ £148 ($295)
- AVG Anti-Virus Network edition. Available for 2 computers @ $62.95. This is extremely good value. And works extremely well.
- Avira AntiVir Server. Only available for 10+ users @ €320 ($430) Very Expensive!
- McAfee Enterprise AV 8.0i-8.5i. Expensive, but works well.
All pricing is for a 1 year subscription
As you can see apart from AVG the least expensive is Avast 4 Small Business Server which is still a staggering $199.75. Luckily for us in this round up AVG Anti-Virus Network Edition comes to the rescue at the staggering price of only $62.95 and that also allows you to install it on to 2 PCs. It is also available as a 2 year subscription at the discounted price of $83.95
So after all this antiviral fun what would I recommend? Well if you can afford it go for NOD32 Enterprise Edition @ £90 £154. It is very light on resources and has an excellent detection rate. If your money can’t stretch that far go for the AVG Anti-Virus Network Edition. Its excellent value and works extremely well for the money. And if you’re short of cash at the moment give the FREE ClamWin a go.
One of these will stop your Windows Home Server getting an infection, and as I said in the first installment of this series….
“This is what I have come up with so far. Unless YOU know better of course, in which case please let us know!”
UPDATE 1: I wanted to test a few more “home” products and as expected they would not install on Windows Home Server, complaining that it was not a server machine. They were Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6, AVG Anti-Virus Free and AVG Anti-Virus Professional Edition 7.5. Before leaving this test I tried my NOD32 for Windows which I use on my home PCs and it installed! and worked! WOW. I quick call to NOD32 technical support told me that unlike competing anti-virus products NOD32 will NOT check which platform it is being installed onto. This is very good news for you and me, we now have an Anti-Virus product for WHS for only £23 ($46) and as an added bonus NOD32 is light on resources and has one of the best detection rates of all the antiviral products!!!
UPDATE 2: Thanks to Daniel Keller for bringing it to my attention that F-PROT Antivirus for Windows installs and works fine on Windows Home Server. A home use license covers up to five computers, for personal use, in the license holder’s home for $29 (€21.58) or the corporate license for up to 10 computers is $50 (€37.21). A FREE 30 day trial of either is available from their respective pages.
So I now believe that we have joint winners for the BEST anti-virus package for WHS. NOD32 for Windows. A free 30-Day Trial is available from here and the extremely cheap F-PROT Antivirus for Windows.
