Bitdefender Small Office Security vs Total Security: Review + 30% OFF
For small businesses that want the maximum device, network security, and management for their small and even home offices, Bitdefender Small Office Security is for you.
And for individuals or families that want comprehensive device protection, and optimized systems, Bitdefender Total Security is your best bet.
One important thing to remember is that cybersecurity, antivirus, and anti-malware solutions are specifically meant for different audiences.
But in terms of which is better and more advanced with higher capabilities, the cloud-based management, multi-layer ransomware protection, multiple business endpoints, unbeatable threat protection, protection for up to 20 endpoints including macOS, windows, and devices, and centralized management via Web console which Bitdefender Small Office Security has gives it an edge over Bitdefender Total Security.
The only two advantages Bitdefender Total Security has over Bitdefender Small Office Security are affordable pricing and parental control features.
If you are confused as to which suits your needs as per their differences, I'm here to help you. I have tried both and will share my findings to help you make an informed decision.
Comparison Table
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Bitdefender Small Office Security vs Bitdefender Total Security: Summary of their Differences
Cloud-based management: This capability allows you to control and monitor your devices from a single user-friendly web console. Even if your small business protects up to 20 devices, you can easily manage them in one single dashboard. You don't need an on-site server or additional hardware since the management console is hosted in the cloud. And you can access cloud-based consoles from anywhere with an internet connection, which makes it easier to monitor your devices remotely. Businesses with multiple office locations or with employees who work remotely will find this feature helpful.
Unfortunately, Bitdefender Total Security doesn't support this feature.
Multi-layer ransomware protection: Bitdefender Small Office Security uses multi-layer ransomware protection to keep sensitive data across all devices you use in your business safe.
This is an advanced and sophisticated feature you also find on Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security. It uses behavioral analysis to track and monitor applications and processes in real time. This allows you to detect, and block, any ransomware before it becomes a threat to your devices and networks.
Nowadays, zero-day threats are common and it can take your defense mechanism unawares. With multi-layer protection, you become proactive by using behavioral patterns to spot and block threats instead of relying solely on well-known virus signatures.
Bitdefender Total Security has a multi-layer ransomware protection feature, but it isn't as advanced and robust as Bitdefender Small Office Security. Its defense mechanism is more reactive rather than proactive and cannot identify and block zero-day threats, which are new ransomware threats that small businesses battle with.
Device protection: Bitdefender Small Office Security protects up to 20 devices, which makes it suitable for businesses that operate with PCs, desktops, and other smart devices. Bitdefender Total Security protects up to 10 devices, which makes it suitable for individuals and families.
Management: Bitdefender Small Office Security is a centralized management via a web console for a network of devices used in running a business. Bitdefender Total Security is individual user management with no centralized management.
Performance Tools: Bitdefender Small Office is focused on business network security and management, which any business that wants a cybersecurity solution needs. Bitdefender Total Security focuses on system optimization like device speed boost and disk cleanup.
VPN Traffic: Bitdefender Small Office Security offers you 500MB/day of VPN traffic. This helps you protect your business's bank info, passwords, downloads, and other sensitive details from hackers, especially when using public Wi-Fi. Bitdefender Total Security offers 200MB/day/device VPN traffic to protect devices and personal details from phishing eyes.
Parental control: Bitdefender Total Security empowers you to monitor your kid's internet usage. You can control the amount of time they spend on the internet, and block them from accessing certain content you deem inappropriate for their age. Bitdefender Small Office Security doesn't offer this feature.
Cryptomining protection: With the cryptomining protection feature from Bitdefender Total Security, you can't fall victim to bad guys who make money with your hardware and without your content while causing your electricity bill to go up. It fights and protects you against “ leech” software that runs on your devices without you being aware. Unfortunately, Bitdefender Small Office Security doesn't have this capability.
Price: Bitdefender Small Office Security is a bit pricey compared to Bitdefender Total Security. Its one-year plan costs $104.99 for 10 devices. You pay $79.99 per year if you want to protect 5 devices and $149.99 per year if you want to protect 20 devices.
If you prefer the 2-year plan, you pay $249.99 for 10 devices, $299.99 for 20 devices, and $169.99.
And for the 3-year plan, you pay $299.99 for 10 devices, $499.99 for 20 devices, and $199.99 for 5 devices. Keep in mind that all these are 40% discounted price, and you may pay higher when you want to renew your subscription.
Bitdefender Total Security's one-year plan costs $49.99 for 5 devices and $54.99 for 10 devices.
The 2-year plan costs $154.99 for 5 devices and $179.99 for 10 devices, while the 3-year plan costs $209.99 for 5 devices and $239.99 for 10 devices. Just like Bitdefender Small Office Security, Bitdefender Total Security prices are discounted at 50%.
And for both antivirus and anti-malware solutions, there is a 30-day money-back guarantee. So ask for a refund within 30 days if you aren't satisfied with any of them.
Similarities between Bitdefender Small Office Security and Bitdefender Total Security
While both cybersecurity solutions have differences in their features and capabilities, they also have similarities which I shared with you below:
Webcam and microphone protection: Both cybersecurity solutions offer maximum protection for webcam and microphone. It's common to have Zoom calls, meetings, or webinars with your team, family members, or clients. Hackers and scammers might want to intercept and get unauthorized access. With the webcam and microphone protection, you get notified in real-time when apps or scripts try to access your microphone or webcam and also block them instantly.
Support for multiple operating systems: Bitdefender Small Office Security and Bitdefender Total Security support multiple operating systems like Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS. This means devices that run on these operating systems are compatible with both cybersecurity solutions.
Data breach protection: Data breach is common in personal and business devices. You can install an application from an unofficial app store and this app turns out to be stealing your personal details.
You can mistakenly open a phishing email and click on it. Your office computers can be compromised because of weak passwords, which makes it easier for hackers to gain access to the office network.
All these are instances of data breaches that can happen on your personal and home office devices. But with the data breach protection feature on Bitdefender Small Office Security and Total Security, you get notification of potential data breaches and also block them in real-time. This secures your personal and business-sensitive details.
Secured online banking: To prevent any form of fraud in all your financial dealings online, Bitdefender Small Office Security and Total Security offers you a unique and dedicated browser for you to bank and shop online. It also automatically fills your credit card details in the billing field.
Now you understand the differences and similarities between Bitdefender Small Office Security and Total Security, let's review each of them alongside their features so you understand how they can help enhance your business, family, or individual security.
Bitdefender Small Office Security Review
$104.99/ year (10 device protection)
This is a cybersecurity product from Bitdefender specially designed to meet the online security needs of small businesses and home offices. It costs $104.99 per year for 10 devices and offers comprehensive and advanced protection for devices, data, and networks to help small businesses remain safe from any form of attacks while they run their businesses. It's compatible with Windows, iOS, macOS and Android. Installation is quick (under 5 minutes) and doesn't require any IT skill to install. However, your device needs to meet the below requirements to have Bitdefender SOHO work perfectly:
Operating System: Windows 7 with Service Pack 1, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11
Memory (RAM): 2 GB
Available free hard disk space: 2.5 GB free space
Software requirements: Internet Explorer version 11
Note: System performance may be affected on devices that have old-generation CPUs
Capabilities of Bitdefender Small Office Security
Device protection: It can protect up to 20 devices simultaneously. This is higher than 10 Bitdefender Total Security protects.
Easy installation: Installation of Bitdefender SOHO is easy. You can do it in 5 minutes. No IT skill is required, and it doesn't take much of your device resources.
Video leak prevention: When making Zoom calls and video conferences with your employees, hackers may want to access your webcam or microphone. But with the video leak prevention tool, you can block all forms of unauthorized access to your mic and video conferencing tools.
Limited VPN traffic: Bitdefender Small Office Security offers you 500MB/day of VPN traffic. This helps keep your business private, protect your bank information, passwords, and sensitive details from hackers who are looking for any opportunity to defraud you. While this 500MB/day isn't enough for a business that wants to keep its online activities private, it's still a good place to start.
Work, game, and movie mode: This detects when you are working, watching movies, or playing games so it doesn't bother you with unnecessary requests that can distract you.
Safe online banking: You have a dedicated browser for all your online banking, so you keep your credit card details and all financial transactions safe and secured.
Bitdefender SOHO Photon: This is a new and extensive technology that was created to help businesses adapt to their system's hardware and software configuration to save computing resources and boost performance and speed.
Battery mode: This feature helps to save the battery life of your devices by temporarily tweaking systems like system cooling, Bluetooth connectivity, and display.
24/7 support: Even though Bitdefender Small Office Security is simple to install and set up, there is 24/7 support in case you have issues with your cybersecurity solution. Bitdefender SOHO has a help center where you read articles that help you fix the issues you face. You can also contact the support team for help via email.
Bitdefender Total Security Review
This is one of the renowned anti-malware, antivirus, and system optimization security products designed for individuals and families.
It is compatible and works well on macOS, iOS, Android and Windows. One of the things I like about it is the ability to boost the speed of your computer. My 64-bit Windows PC was running slowly and with just a click, it freed up space, cleaned and repaired my registries, optimized my browsers, and tweaked my Windows settings to boost performance.
However, it has some downsides which are that it has a 200MB/day/device VPN traffic, doesn't support cloud-based management, and can't protect up to 20 devices.
Keep in mind that Bitdefender Total Security requires the following:
System requirement
Operating System: Windows 7 with Service Pack 1, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11
Memory (RAM): 2 GB
Available free hard disk space: 2.5 GB free space
System performance may be affected on devices that have old-generation CPUs
Software requirements
Internet Explorer version 11
Capabilities of Bitdefender Total Security
Multiple operating systems: Compatible and works on different operating systems like Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.
Threat prevention: Combines dominant cybersecurity algorithms with the latest technologies to provide sophisticated threat prevention solutions when gaming, streaming, or browsing the internet.
Blocks third-party data tracking or mining: This gives you the peace of mind you need when browsing sites or doing your business online. Hackers and big data companies want your data and that of your business for financial gains. Bitdefender Total Security blocks any unauthorized access to your microphone or webcam when working online.
Optimized performance: Boosts your computer performance, using its in-house technology to adapt to your system's hardware and software configuration to save you key computing resources.
Anti-malware: Detects and blocks viruses, Trojans, worms rootkits, malware, and ransomware that want to attack your device or network.
Customer assistance: 24/7 assistance in case you experience technical issues.
What Reddit Users Say About Bitdefender Small Office Security and Bitdefender Total Security
I jumped on Reddit to get a feel of what Small businesses that use Bitdefender Small Office Security and individuals that use Bitdefender Total Security have to know about both cybersecurity products.
A business owner who uses Bitdefender Small Office Security for his home office and 5 of his remote workers agree that the centralized management via web console makes it easier to monitor, and protect all devices he uses in running his business from a single dashboard. Another pass mark he gave Bitdefender SOHO is the Photon feature, which helps businesses adapt to their system's hardware and software configuration to save computing resources and enhance performance and speed.
An entrepreneur who started using Bitdefender Small Office Security in 2022 says that she likes the beginner-friendly interface, quick installation guide, and advanced reporting dashboard. Before Bitdefender, she used Kaspersky and believes that Bitdefender offered more features and capabilities.
Bitdefender Small Office Security vs Total Security vs Premium? What's the difference
Bitdefender Premium Security is a pro version of Bitdefender Total Security. It offers more advanced features like a password manager, unlimited VPN traffic, email security, and a dedicated security expert which are all missing in the Bitdefender Total Security.
Both share similar features like:
Support for multiple operating systems including macOS, Android, Windows, and iOS
Parental control, allows you to monitor and control the online activities of your kids and set a limit for their internet usage.
Safe online banking that provides you with a dedicated browser that protects your online transactions and can also automatically fill your credit card details in the billing field
Optimization of device for optimal performance while taking less of your computing resource
Advanced security features that fight viruses, malware, and ransomware of different degrees
Comparing Bitdefender Premium Security to Bitdefender Small Office Security, the difference isn't much, but Small Office Security had a slight edge.
It has centralized management via a web console, offers sophisticated multi-layer ransomware protection, and protects more devices. Bitdefender Premium Security lacks these capabilities which are more advanced, especially web console-powered centralized management. It rather offers unlimited VPN traffic, password manager, and email security.
Bitdefender Small Office Security vs GravityZone? What's the difference
There is a big difference between these two cybersecurity solutions from Bitdefender. Small Office Security is designed for small businesses that have up to 20 devices. It's easy to install and set up and offers advanced protection against all forms of threats and attacks without needing extensive IT management. GravityZone is meant for large enterprises with robust and dynamic security needs. Its capabilities range from endpoint protection to more sophisticated features like patch management and risk management.
Bitdefender GravityZone has a learning curve and requires IT knowledge to make the best out of it. This is different from Small Office Security which is beginner-friendly and doesn't require any IT skill to manage. In terms of pricing, Bitdefender GravityZone is more expensive compared to Small Office Security. For example, Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security which is one of the GravityZone products costs $258.99 per year for 10 devices while Bitdefender Small Office Security costs $104.99/ year for the same 10 devices.
In terms of support, Small Office Security offers standard support with resources tailored to the needs of small organizations while GravityZone offers premium and priority support including a dedicated account manager and enterprise-grade assistant.
Alternatives to Bitdefender Small Office Security
Bitdefender isn't the only cybersecurity product with solutions for small office security. It has a strong competitor - Kaspersky, which has security products for small and home offices.
Let's compare it to what Bitdefender's Small Office Security offers.
Kaspersky Small Office Security just like Bitdefender Small Office Security is compatible with multiple operating systems like Android, Windows, macOS, and iOS. It also offers premium VPN traffic, advanced antivirus and anti-malware protection features, safe online banking, and endpoint management, and doesn't require an IT specialist to manage. Kaspersky Small Office Security offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, 24/7 customer support, affordable pricing, and also discounts.
However, there are differences between them.
Kaspersky Small Office Security offers unlimited VPN traffic for 5 devices, while Bitdefender offers 500MB/day of VPN traffic. So you can see that Kaspersky is more generous in this regard than Bitdefender.
Kaspersky Small Office Security has a password manager feature that helps you manage your sensitive details like passwords, credit card details, personal information, and other key details you and your employees use in the office. You can even have it fill out online forms automatically using the personal information you saved on it. This saves you the time and effort of entering it manually. Bitdefender Small Office Security doesn't offer this feature. You can only get it on Bitdefender Premium and Ultimate Security.
In terms of the number of devices, Bitdefender Small Office Security protects up to 20 devices, while Kaspersky protects up to 8 users. So you can see that Bitdefender Small Office Security has the capability to protect more devices and may be suitable for offices with more computers or more employees that work remotely.
When it comes to cost, Bitdefender Small Office Security is more affordable compared to Kaspersky Small Office Security. It costs 104.99/ year for 10 devices, while Kaspersky Small Office Security costs $155.25 per year for 5 users.
Final thoughts on Bitdefender Small Office Security vs Total Security
For an organization or small business that wants maximum security for their office devices, programs, and servers, Small Office Security is your best bet. It has advanced features, including the all-important cloud-based management via web console, which makes it easier to monitor and manage devices from anywhere. If you are an individual or family that wants to protect and optimize devices you use at home, Bitdefender Total Security is all you need.
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