Do You Need a Firewall If You Have Antivirus?

Antivirus and a firewall guard different doors. Antivirus watches each computer; the firewall watches the connection between your whole office and the internet.

What antivirus does

Antivirus, or endpoint protection, runs on each PC or laptop. It checks files and programs on that device and stops known malicious behaviour. It only protects devices it is installed on.

What a firewall does

• Blocks unwanted connections from the internet to every device in the office
• Filters websites and applications by category for everyone at once
• Spots and blocks known attacks in network traffic before they reach a PC
• Protects devices that cannot run antivirus: printers, cameras, phones, smart TVs, guest laptops
• Connects branches and remote staff securely with VPN
• Keeps a log of what happened, which matters when something goes wrong

Why the router is not enough

The router from your internet provider separates your network from the internet, but it does not inspect traffic, filter websites, block attacks or keep useful logs. A business firewall does all of these.

Layers work together

Security works best in layers. The firewall stops much of the noise at the edge, antivirus catches what reaches a device, and backups recover what both miss. Each layer covers the gaps of the others.

Common questions