McAfee’s Internet Security Suite (McAfee Total Protection) for small business is designed to keep your business safe and running smoothly. It offers a complete package of internet peace of mind by combining a complete array of security features for your small business. McAfee Total Protection is different than the other solutions in this comparative review because it is a service (Security-as-a-service) rather than traditional software. That means that the solution is hosted by McAfee, web-based, and won’t require additional hardware, software, or IT personnel.
McAfee Total Protection Service Advanced includes hosted protection as a service for your endpoint desktops, file servers, and email servers.
McAfee’s desktop firewall can continuously monitor your computer to help keep your computer free from breaches. The firewall can be configured to allow connections on certain ports, or to block them altogether.
The integrated centralized desktop firewall helps you keep hackers and identity thieves at bay, while still facilitating secure business communication. Essentially the firewall acts as an initial barrier between your business data and intruders, but is permeable enough to allow secure communication.
McAfee’s antivirus function is one of the few companies whose software has been approved by three major testing labs: ICSA, Virus Bulletin, and West Coast Labs. Like most antivirus applications you are able to schedule scans, scan on demand, or scan select files one at a time.
Virus protection within McAfee Total Protection protects desktop computers, file servers, and email. McAfee features immediate scanning of files, so that malware is stopped before it has the opportunity to install and deploy.
McAfee does a good job of catching spyware on your computer. The software is constantly being updated as new threats are made known. The software did allow a few tracking cookies through, but this is typical as no antispyware software was able to completely eliminate everything.
McAfee Total Protection protects your business resources from spyware, adware, viruses, phishing scams, hackers, and even spam. The Advanced edition includes McAfee Secure Messaging Service Small Business Edition for integrated email security in real-time. This option is monitored and run in-house (as opposed to the rest of the hosted solution), and provides a great way to protect your employee inboxes from spam and malware.
McAfee does a good job at keeping your computer free from viruses and spyware. In addition, McAfee will scan e-mails and instant message attachments for viruses and other malware. The security suite can also alert you if you land on suspicious Web sites, such as phishing Web sites which will try to hack your computer for sensitive information.
If you implement SiteAdvisor on your employee’s computers, they will be protected from internet threats. With simple at-a-glance (color-coded) security ratings, you know about potential dangers before you click-thru the site.

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