Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky (2024): Which Solution is Better?

Cybersecurity threats have become one of the biggest concerns for businesses of all sizes. These security threats are often harder to detect than in the past, making it more difficult for OpSec engineers to find remediation solutions.

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Two powerful Endpoint Detection and Response Tools Being deployed globally are Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business and Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security. Both EDR software solutions offer powerful detection, removal, and threat management tools. Below, we’ll look at what Kaspersky and Bitdefender have in common and where each product excels.

• BitDefender: Best suited for larger organizations with in-house SecOps engineers who can maximize Bitdefender’s advanced security features.
• Kaspersky: Best suited for small and medium-sized businesses as it has a more user-friendly interface and convenient automation features.

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Kaspersky vs. Bitdefender: Features Comparison

feature	BitDefender	Kaspersky
Dashboard Console	Yes	Yes
On-premises, cloud and hybrid consoles	Yes	Yes
Lock Mode	No	Yes
Automatic Sandbox	Yes	Yes
Automatic IoC detection and remediation	No	Yes
Machine learning detection	Yes	Yes
Free Trial	Yes	Yes
Starting Price	$104.99 for 5 devices for 1 year (Small Business Security)	$539 for 10 devices for 1 year (Business Select)

Bitdefender and Kaspersky EDR Pricing

Bitdefender Pricing

Pricing for Bitdefender’s GravityZone platform depends on which of four security plans you choose: Small Business Security, Business Security, Commercial security premium and Commercial Security Enterprise.

look: Bitdefender vs. McAfee: Comparing EDR Software (TechRepublic)

Fortunately, Bitdefender provides an online portal where you can enter the number of protected devices you want and the length of your contract. Once you enter these details, the portal will provide an estimated price for your subscription.

Here is a quick comparison of the prices of each plan:

	5 devices (1 year)	10 devices (1 year)	25 devices (1 year)	Functional Differences
Small Business Security	USD 104.99	USD 199.49	$465.49	Endpoint protection against ransomware, phishing, and web-based attacks
Business Security	$129.49	USD 258.99	$573.99	All small business security features, plus protection against cyberattacks and device control
Commercial security premium	USD 286.99	$570.49	$1256.49	All commercial security features, plus tunable machine learning and sandbox analyzers

I commend Bitdefender for offering free trials for nearly all GravityZone products, which makes it easier for businesses to test their products without incurring financial obligations.

Kaspersky Pricing

Kaspersky’s endpoint security subscriptions come in three flavors: Business Select, Business Advanced, and Total Security for Business.

Here’s an overview of pricing:

	Business Selection	Business Premium	Comprehensive business security
price	$539	$995	Contact a Kaspersky Authorized Partner for selected pricing
equipment	10	10	Contact Kaspersky
Contract period	1 year	1 year	Contact Kaspersky
Functional Differences	Basic EDR functionality	All Business Select features and advanced automation	All Business Premium features and anti-spam protection

Like Bitdefender, Kaspersky also offers a free trial version of its endpoint security software.

Head-to-head comparison: Bitdefender vs. Kaspersky

Dashboard Console

Both Kaspersky and Bitdefender offer a detailed dashboard console that provides access to all features and configurations for both tools. Kaspersky Endpoint Security uses Kaspersky Security Center. This dashboard view is a favorite with users for its simple, easy-to-learn interface and layout. It’s best suited for small businesses or those that may not have dedicated staff to manage more complex tools.

look: McAfee vs. Kaspersky: Comparing EDR Software (TechRepublic)

Bitdefender GravityZone also offers a dashboard console, but it’s definitely more complex than Kaspersky’s offering, which users often find to be one of the software’s shortcomings. It’s powerful, but has a high learning curve and isn’t intuitive or easy to understand at first glance. As such, it’s best suited for larger enterprises that have a dedicated person to figure out its nuances.

deploy

Both options are SaaS tools that are relatively simple to deploy, but users report that Bitdefender is easier in this regard. Despite being easier to use once deployed, Kaspersky is slightly slower to deploy in most cases, according to many SecOps engineers who have used both tools.

Most of Bitdefender’s features are available out of the box, while Kaspersky’s models are more feature-rich, with tiered modules and different pricing for different features. This can make it difficult for small businesses to figure out what needs to be configured for a new installation.

Detection and remediation

Kaspersky allows users to set up automatic parameters and actions for various detections and other threats. This can reduce a lot of workload for employees who don’t have a dedicated team or want to streamline their work.

Bitdefender doesn’t offer the same level of automation, but they do offer vulnerability management, which can examine trends and history across your entire network to find weaknesses. This helps speed up tasks related to network security audits and threat management.

Antivirus products

It must be acknowledged that both Bitdefender and Kaspersky offer some of the best antivirus solutions on the market today. When enterprises are choosing their preferred EDR solution, evaluating the antivirus products of both vendors should also be part of the purchasing decision.

This is especially true because having both an EDR and antivirus solution can provide a more robust and multifaceted approach to your business’s overall security. It also saves time because there’s no need to contact other vendors for separate security solutions.

With that in mind, here’s a quick comparison of the antivirus or AV solutions from Bitdefender and Kaspersky:

	BitDefender	Kaspersky
Real-time malware and threat protection	Yes	Yes
Ransomware Protection	Yes	Yes
Built-in firewall	Yes	Yes
Impact on machine performance	Uses a lot of memory	light
Outstanding security (varies by plan)	AV profiles, VPN, webcam protection, privacy firewall, device optimizer, file shredder, vulnerability assessment	Two-way firewall, VPN, online payment protection, data leak checker, hard drive cleaner, emergency recovery
Main Disadvantages	Resource intensive	Concerns about Russian surveillance
Free Version	Yes	Yes

Should your organization use Kaspersky or Bitdefender?

Both EDR options are well-tested and well-suited for businesses of nearly any size. They detect a wide range of threats and provide dynamic options to quickly address them.

The difference between the two is primarily in the user interface, with Kaspersky clearly geared more towards small and medium-sized businesses that don’t need dedicated personnel to fully manage the software. Their automation tools also help with this simpler approach to EDR management.

Bitdefender, on the other hand, is more comfortable in the hands of a dedicated SecOps engineer who can take full advantage of the slightly more difficult interface and advanced features.

method

I compared the EDR solutions from Bitdefender and Kaspersky, providing a detailed evaluation of each product’s security offerings, costs, and standout features.

Specifically, I evaluated both vendors’ EDR capabilities, such as threat detection and remediation, dashboards and consoles, and ease of deployment. This was accomplished by digging into the official documentation and features of both products.

I also reviewed real user feedback on reputable review sites to get a comprehensive understanding of the pros and cons of both EDR solutions.