Companies have to manage security across a wide range of issues and threats. Operating systems and applications have to be patched and updated. Active monitoring needs to be in place to identify and block malware threats. Data needs to be protected to prevent exposure or compromise. Mobile devices and the BYOD (bring your own device) trend represent a new frontier of concerns.
Kaspersky intends to simplify the process for all of the above issues. Its new Endpoint Security for Business merges all of these functions into one product so that small and midsize business IT managers can see and control every aspect of security from one console.
Kaspersky Lab has been at the forefront of research into sophisticated cyber espionage attacks like Flame, Gauss, and Red October—insidious attacks that have compromised and exploited targets for years. The Moscow-based antimalware and computer security company unveiled the new Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business at an analyst event last week in New York.
Part of the problem, particularly for SMBs, is that there are too many moving parts involved. “Complexity is the enemy of security,” said chief product officer Petr Merkulov.
He pointed out that there are solutions for a number of security problems, but each one requires a different platform and management console. That’s too many balls to juggle—especially for busy IT managers in small and midsize businesses.
By merging system management, patch management, antimalware, mobile device management, data protection, and other security tools into a single product, Kaspersky promises to enable IT managers to protect all systems and endpoints—from a PC in the next cubicle, to a virtual machine in the next building, to a smartphone in the next country—through one console.
The new product comes in four flavors: Core (only available outside of North America), Select, Advanced, and Kaspersky Total Security for Business. The options are modular and scalable, so a company can choose the level of protection that meets their needs today, but can also easily add additional functionality as needed.

Other platforms provide a similar mix of capabilities, but Kaspersky naturally claims they’re all too cumbersome and expensive for SMBs. Symantec and McAfee each offer comprehensive platforms that can be managed from a single console.
No security solution is perfect, though. Users of Kaspersky Endpoint Security—a similar but separate product—were unable to reach some websites following a software update this week. Kaspersky resolved the issue with a subsequent update Tuesday morning.
Unfortunately, Kaspersky is not sharing pricing for Endpoint Security for Business. You’ll have to contact a Kaspersky Lab reseller for a quote for your company.
via Kaspersky launches all-in-one security tool for SMBs | PCWorld.