Beyond Antivirus: Why WNY Small Businesses are Switching to Endpoint Protection

Many business owners in Western New York think of cybersecurity like a deadbolt on the front door. You lock it, and you're safe. For years, traditional antivirus was that deadbolt. But today, our "offices" aren't just one room; they are laptops at Coffee Spot, tablets in the field, and home computers in Amherst. Standard antivirus only looks for "known" bad files, but modern threats are smarter—they act like a visitor who has a key but starts changing the locks once they're inside.

This is where Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), or modern Endpoint Protection, comes in. Instead of just checking a list of "bad guys," EDR acts like a 24/7 security guard for every device. It watches for behavior. If a computer suddenly starts encrypting files at 2:00 AM or trying to access data it never touches, EDR spots the weird behavior and stops it instantly. It’s proactive, not just reactive. For a Buffalo SMB, this means less time worrying about "what if" and more time focusing on your customers.

At 716 IT Group, we believe local businesses shouldn't have to be tech experts to stay safe. We implement enterprise-grade endpoint protection that fits a small business budget. We monitor the alerts so you don't have to, ensuring that whether your team is working from downtown Buffalo or remotely from Orchard Park, your data stays right where it belongs.