The avast Standard Suite provides comprehensive protection for client PC workstations, file servers and email servers. This small business internet security solution includes the avast Professional Edition for workstations, the avast Server Edition for file servers and the avast Distributed Network Manager.

Avast is certified by all five of the certification bodies we included in our evaluation. Avast receives a ranking in the 90 percent range by Virus Bulletin, and it is Checkmark Certified by West Coast Labs. However, it is only ISCA certified in detection but not in cleaning. The security provider is also ranked moderately well by AV-Test.org and AV-Comparatives.org.

The crux of the avast Standard Suite is found in its anti-virus protection. Avast is equipped to protect your computers from new threats specifically engineered to disable your security software. Furthermore, avast includes advanced rootkit detection and removal tools. The avast engine is designed to delve deep into your system to scan archived and packed files, and even NTFS data streams.

The suite works in real time and effectively monitors and filters all web traffic. Its Web Shield serves as an invisible proxy browser to protect you from internet threats, and it will work with all major browsers without affecting performance.

With the avast Standard Suite, you don’t have to worry about malicious spyware or adware collecting information about your company, employees or trade secrets. You can implement the suite's anti-virus protection at the individual workstation level or at the server level.

The avast Professional Edition component protects users from threats that take advantage of other communication methods like P2P networks and instant messaging. Instant messaging has become a staple of interoffice communication, but it can pose some unique threats. With avast, you are able to utilize the technology without having to worry about malware.

Anti-virus tools for mail and SMTP servers are accommodated by the avast 4 Exchange Server plug-in, which effectively protects your Microsoft Exchange servers with the same level of protection found throughout the suite. The software can even be configured to block specific dangerous attachments within emails (inbound or outbound).

The avast Standard Suite provides a great deal of protection and security for your entire business by incorporating a variety of features and utilities. One of these is the lightweight firewall Network Shield. Technically, it’s an intrusion-detection system and not a traditional firewall, but the resident protection analyzes all network traffic to keep malware away from your business.

The suite includes a command-line scanner for advanced users (like the IT professionals who will likely be managing your security software). This utility can be used as a pipe filter that is controlled manually.

The avast Standard Suite is easy to use and easy to integrate into your business. The interface comes with two varieties, simple and enhanced. Administrators will definitely want to use the enhanced user interface to have ultimate access and control.

With the avast Distributed Network Manager, you can install and deploy the full security system across your entire network with ease. New machines added to the network are automatically detected for almost immediate security.

Unfortunately, avast does not provide any help over the phone. However, its email technical support is quite proficient, and it offers a number of additional resources online, including a knowledgebase, support forums and a FAQs section.