By: When it comes to security in the enterprise, software and hardware solutions need to work together with their enterprise environment in order to maximize the safety of corporate data stores. Chances are, you have several different hardware options in place to help secure your company's data, but which software solutions are you using to support on-premises and cloud infrastructure?
Enterprise technology has significantly expanded its portfolio in recent years, particularly with the number of available computing environments and devices that offer different levels of native security. A growing number of companies have begun experimenting with cloud computing, edge computing, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence, all different technologies that create more flexibility in the areas of storage and tooling.
But these technologies also open up more vulnerable entry points for malicious actors. As companies look to expand their toolset while securing it simultaneously, many are turning to endpoint security solutions for an additional layer of protection. To help you find a potential solution for your endpoint security needs, we've focused this enterprise product comparison on two top products in the category: Symantec Endpoint Security and McAfee Total Protection.
Also read: Endpoint Security: It's Way More Complicated than You Think
Symantec Endpoint Security vs. McAfee Total Protection Comparison Chart
| Features | Symantec Endpoint Security | McAfee Total Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Market focus | Enterprise; other package levels available | Enterprise; other package levels available with a very private consumer-driven approach |
| Security-specific features | Endpoint detection and response (EDR) | Secure VPN licensing |
| Artificial intelligence security management | Antivirus | |
| Targeted attack analytics and threat hunter | Firewall password manager | |
| Network firewall and intrusion prevention | File shredder | |
| Automated policy management | Identity protection service | |
| Behavioral insights | Site blocking on browsers | |
| Single cloud console management available | Bandwidth optimization tools | |
| AI-guided policy update recommendations and automation | Identity theft insurance | |
| Available integrations | Integration with third-party applications, including Microsoft Graph, Open C2, and other Symantec solutions through Symantec ICDx | This particular product does not clearly advertise specific integrations However, McAfee has significantly expanded their enterprise integrations and offerings through their Marketplace and Developer Portal features |
| System requirements and compatible devices | Devices: Compatible with laptops, desktops, servers, tablets, and mobile devices | Devices: Compatible with laptops, desktops, tablets, and mobile devices |
| Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android compatibility | Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android compatibility | |
| Deployment Environments: on-premises, cloud-managed, and hybrid models | Browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge compatibility | |
| Required hardware: 2GB RAM, 500MB free drive space, and 1GHz processor | ||
| Available support | Support and recommendations provided by Global Intelligence Network (GIN) | 24/7 security expert availability |
| Customer support portal, documentation, customer cases, learning video library, and knowledge base | Podcast and blog | |
| Professional and education services available | VPN setup | |
| Various support communities available | Community forums available |
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Symantec Endpoint Security vs McAfee Total Protection
Finding the right software solution in the security space isn't nearly as easy as it should be, considering the wide variety of siloed and specialized solutions that don't always work together well. Our goal with this comparison is to aid your decision-making process by giving you a one-stop resource to compare what these security platforms can do across a variety of categories.
Both Symantec and McAfee offer competitive solutions when it comes to enterprise endpoint security, especially since they offer more holistic security protections rather than siloed security verticals.
The biggest challenge for many enterprises is not only finding the right security solution, but successfully managing that tool and scaling it up and down as their needs change over time. Regardless of which tool you choose, consider working with managed security service providers (MSSPs), or hiring additional staff with expertise in those tools.
Top-tier cybersecurity products and their vendors can do a lot of the legwork, but over time, security tools are only as effective as the teams that monitor and manage them.
Additional Resources
For additional top solutions and resources for enterprise security management, take a look at these cybersecurity articles and resources:
