In the SME world there is an instilled view that anti-virus, along with a firewall or two, is the knight in shining armour, constantly battling malicious threats. But is it always the hero we think it is? Let’s talk about duality – the good and the not-so-good side of anti-virus software. On the bright side, it’s an essential tool for digital safety. It stands as our frontline defence, identifying and eliminating potential threats like viruses, malware, and phishing attempts. It’s a relentless protector, working round-the-clock to safeguard our valuable data. So far so good.

However, no knight is without its flaws. Anti-virus software can sometimes be overzealous, flagging innocent files as harmful. This ‘false positive’ can disrupt our workflow, especially when essential files are blocked. Moreover, no anti-virus software provides 100% protection. Complacency can be our undoing, leading us to believe we’re invincible behind our digital shield. So, what’s the bottom line? Well, anti-virus software is a necessity in today’s world, but it’s not a fool proof solution.

So why do SMEs think it is?  Well, there’s probably several reasons for that and chief amongst them will be the constant companion of an SME, cost.  If you can convince yourself that a solution solves all, or most, of your problems in one hit, then that’s going to be a winner in your mind.  There is also an issue with the larger IT and Cyber Security companies, that they have largely ignored SMEs because they don’t produce the financial rewards that their bigger clients do. So, they have been happy to pass off software sales, like AV, to their sales channel, and allow their re-sellers to push those products on their behalf.  Sounds good except that often those re-sellers simply don’t have any more in house cyber skills than the SMEs themselves, so there is no guarantee that what they are selling is what the SME needs.

Now, I’m not knocking your local IT support company, they do what they do and generally do it well.  Generally, they like to stick to the tried and tested products that they have been selling for years and tend not to buy in to innovation easily.  Can’t blame them, they are as beholden to the bottom line as the rest of us.  And the various flavours of AV fall into that category.

This is where we part company with such companies.  We are very much involved with innovation, looking at new ways of solving old problems, and new ones as they crop up.  The only way an SME is going to get the protection they need and deserve, at a cost they can afford, is via such innovation.  We have been working with Platinum High Intensity Technologies, or Platinum-HIT.  This is a new PROACTIVE Managed Security Service Solution for Endpoint in the class of Anti-virus, anti-malware, anti-ransomware.

So, what’s different about it?  Surely, it’s just another version of AV?  Well, no it isn’t, it’s a new approach to an old and continuing problem, that solves a several problems along with way, using what is known as a Hard-Disk-Firewall or HDF.  So, what I hear you cry.  I have a personal firewall on my laptop.  Why do I need another one?  Perhaps the word firewall is a little misleading.  Read on and you’ll see what I mean.

The HDF concept is a simple one. On any computer system, data is stored either as non-runnable information data or runnable application programs. Malware is a type of runnable program with undesirable behaviours. HDF prevents malware infection by stopping malware program files from being stored and run on a computer. HDF functions as part of the Microsoft® operating system.

From the perspective of the computer operating systems, malware or viruses are simply another form of application program. From a human’s perspective, malware is existential threat that we do not want to run on our systems. HDF works by stopping any additional program from saving on a fully working and virus free computer unless the system administrator/owner allows a certain specific program to install.

The approach is to deny write access of runnable program files to any storage devices irrespective of the user’s right and privilege on the computer. For example, the control is so absolute that administrator/user cannot bypass, intentionally or by mistake.

Other than blocking install of malware, the computer functions as normal, and HDF operates to- tally transparently to end users. For example, running applications, opening, reading, saving, and deleting non-runnable data is not affected.

Device independent – effective on all storage devices supported by the underlying operating systems, e.g., hard disk, USB token device, tape drive, optical writers (CD or DVD writer) and any future device which relies on the operating system to provide read and write functionality.

Data location independent – works identical on local and remote storage devices including write access from wired and wireless networks, infrared and blue tooth etc. No hardware component. Implemented as a component fully integrated into the operating system, effectively becomes part of the operating system and not a separate application. Making the operating system immutable.

HDF does not require any prior knowledge of file and data contents. The system just stops any data to be saved that can be run on a computer, including all known or future malware. This indiscriminately stops polymorphic viruses, ransomware, zero-day threat and renaming any data file back to runnable programs.

HDF does not rely on Microsoft security operating system patches and in of itself no regular updating is required.

HDF security capability has NOT degraded since commercial deployment in 2008. There has never been a CVE attributed to the HDF solution.

So yes, whilst this system has been around the defence and nuclear space for some time, it’s very new to the SME market, and in fact, to the enterprise market for that matter.

Is your AV due for renewal soon?  Before you just push the button and renew, have a word with us first.  We just might have what you are missing, and you might be surprised at how affordable it is, considering it’s managed for you at no additional cost.