What is Cloud Antivirus?

Antivirus software is a program that is used to detect and remove viruses and other malicious files from computers, which can harm the computer system. Cloud antivirus is a popular software technology nowadays that reduces loads of antivirus from the client’s computer by porting it into a server based on cloud technology rather than installing it into the computer with the complete software. Regular antivirus programs are just dependent upon the resources of the client’s local computer while for using cloud antivirus solutions we just need to install a small software in our local computer which connects our machine to the cloud server of the security service provider by the mean of the internet. With the help of this small software, the data by cloud antivirus is scanned and the necessary information regarding threats or viruses is sent to the user.

Working on Antivirus software

Antivirus software works as a background process, and it regularly checks for malicious files or activity inside the computer system. This cloud-based security software requires a minimal amount of processing power on the client side, while most of the workload is done by the cloud servers. The small software on the client side helps to connect the computer with the cloud server so that the transmission of necessary information and scanning happens by means of the internet. For working in full proficiency, the antivirus software needs to access the local storage, the permission is given by the user itself.

Use Cases of Cloud Antivirus

• An interface for all the activities: Cloud antivirus provides an interface for all of the activities running inside the user’s computer. That activity can be related to both security and performance as well. With the help of this interface, users can interact and maintain their activities.
• Real-time provide monitoring: It provides real-time monitoring for all of our activity, whether it is web surfing, installing third-party software, or plugging in an external device. If any suspicious activity is found, then it alerts the user by giving an alert.
• Remote service: Cloud security providers provide remote service, If any user has a problem while using cloud service, then remote service is available for any required help.
• Easy and secure installation of third-party software: Cloud antivirus monitors all of the running activities, whenever any software is installed, it checks for malicious activity. If the software contains a virus or behaves unethically then it generates an alert to warn. Thus, it makes the installation of software easy and secure.

How To Choose the Right Cloud Antivirus Solution?

While choosing a cloud solution the user must be attentive. Users must choose a cloud solution from well-known cloud security providers. They have a good team of engineers, which works day to night to satisfy the needs of users by providing top-notch security. Also, they have more experience than their small organization competitors. There can be some other factors also, while choosing a solution, like cost, services, and features provided, etc. However, it depends on the user to user.

How To Manage Cloud Antivirus?

• Managing settings: When you are well aware of how to choose the right security solution, after that you can manage the cloud security solution by provided features. You can use those features to secure your system and manage it in your own way.
• Keep it up to date: It is a must to update security solutions regularly as new types of viruses are generating day by day, Therefore, it becomes a necessity and helps in managing also.
• Monitoring performance: You can see the system performance and internal activities through the provided interface by security providers. We can also manage the cloud antivirus by interacting with the interface.
• Read user manual: When we purchase any software or service, then a user manual is always there to manage that service. You can take the help of that manual to manage cloud security solutions.

Troubleshooting Cloud Antivirus

• Check network connection: A network connection is a must for the proper working of cloud solutions. If you are facing an issue, then check your network connection first.
• Check settings: Go through the settings and check whether there are any settings, which are affecting the working of security.
• Grant all permissions: It is essential to provide all the permission to cloud antivirus for its proper working. If no such licenses are provided, then it can lead to a serious issue.
• Contact security providers: If nothing of the above works, then the last option is to contact the security providers. They will tell you about the potential issues and will help in troubleshooting.

Advantages

• Virus Protection:  The main benefit of the antivirus is that provides security from malicious files, software, etc. Most hackers nowadays use different kind of viruses to hack user’s computer and then locks it, which can cause the loss of personal and important data.
• Malicious pop-ups: While surfing on the web, sometimes an unwanted window occurs on the display. These are known as ‘pop-ups’. Clicking on these pop-ups may cause downloading a malicious file or redirecting to a new webpage. Antivirus software also provides security through these pop-ups.
• Real-time Protection: Antivirus software continuously checks the system for malicious activity and provides real-time protection, If any file containing a virus is found then either it is permanently deleted or moved to a temporary folder for further checking. These actions depend upon the setting applied to the security software.
• Boot-scan command: Some viruses are programmed in such a way that they are able to make a copy of themselves. These type of viruses takes advantage of the Operating System of the machine. While the machine is running, they make copies of themselves. For such viruses, the antivirus program shuts down the entire Operating System for preventing the replication of viruses and after restarting the OS again it checks for all copies of viruses.
• Safety against external devices: Sometimes plug – in devices may contain te viruses at any moment. Therefore, antivirus checks the external devices when they are plugged into the machine, If any malicious file detects in the external device. The security software generates a warning.

Disadvantages

• Demands a continuous connection: Cloud antivirus works by the mean of the internet; Therefore, it is essential to connect to the internet continuously. Which may not be possible for a user every time. This is a major disadvantage of cloud security software.
• Privacy: The working of cloud antivirus is totally dependent upon the internet, where the transfer of information is required. However, this transfer of information may contain issues of privacy.
• Performance: Cloud antiviruses work by the mean of the internet and reduce the load on the client’s machine, yet they can be slow due to server or network issues.
• Automatic Settings: Settings in Traditional antiviruses can be set manually according to the requirements, but in cloud antivirus, We can’t maintain all the settings ourselves. They don’t give access to all of the settings.

Conclusion

In this article, we understand what Cloud antiviruses are, their working, use cases, how to choose a good cloud solution along with the advantages and disadvantages of them.