What threats can EDR detect that traditional antivirus cannot?

EDR detects fileless attacks, living-off-the-land techniques, zero-day exploits, and behavioural anomalies that signature-based antivirus misses entirely. Modern threats increasingly use legitimate system tools like PowerShell to avoid triggering antivirus signatures. With 85% of businesses that experienced a breach identifying phishing as the attack vector (DSIT 2025), EDR's ability to detect post-compromise activity is essential.

Is the cost difference between EDR and antivirus justified for a small business?

EDR costs roughly £3 to £10 per endpoint per month versus £1 to £4 for antivirus — an additional £2 to £6 per device. For a 30-endpoint business, that is £60 to £180 per month extra. Given the average cost of the most disruptive breach is £3,550 (DSIT 2025), the upgrade pays for itself if it prevents even one incident per year.

Can I use EDR alongside my existing antivirus or do I need to replace it?

EDR typically replaces traditional antivirus rather than running alongside it. Most EDR solutions include signature-based detection as a baseline feature, so you retain antivirus capability whilst gaining behavioural analysis and investigation tools. Running both simultaneously can cause conflicts, increased resource usage, and alert duplication on endpoints.

Do I need EDR if I already have Microsoft Defender included with Windows?

Windows Defender provides basic antivirus protection, but upgrading to Microsoft Defender for Business — included in M365 Business Premium — delivers full EDR capability. For organisations not on Business Premium, standalone EDR solutions offer comparable protection. Only 40% of UK businesses have two-factor authentication enabled (DSIT 2025), highlighting how many leave default security settings unenhanced.

EDR vs Antivirus: Why Traditional Antivirus Is No Longer Enough

Traditional antivirus detects known malware using signatures. EDR monitors endpoint behaviour in real time, catching zero-day exploits, fileless attacks, and living-off-the-land techniques that signatures miss.

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Key Facts

85%of breaches involved phishing as the attack vector (DSIT 2025)

99.99%of compromised accounts had not enabled MFA (Microsoft)

67%of medium businesses reported cybersecurity breaches (DSIT 2025)

612,000UK businesses affected by cyber breaches in the past year

Last updated: March 2026

EDR vs Antivirus: Feature Comparison

Feature	EDR£3–£10/endpoint/moRecommended	Antivirus£1–£4/endpoint/mo
Signature-based detection
Behavioural analysis
Fileless attack detection
Zero-day protection
Investigation tools
Automated response		Basic quarantine
Threat hunting capability
Real-time visibility		Limited

When to Choose Each Option

Choose EDR if...

You want real protection against modern threats. Any business serious about cybersecurity — particularly those with remote workers, sensitive data, or compliance requirements — should use EDR.

Antivirus alone is insufficient if...

You handle sensitive data, have compliance obligations, use cloud services, support remote workers, or have been targeted by phishing. Traditional antivirus misses the majority of modern attacks.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

EDR costs £3–£10 per endpoint/month versus £1–£4 for antivirus. The difference — roughly £2–£6 per endpoint — is trivial compared to the cost of a single ransomware attack that antivirus missed. For a 50-endpoint business, upgrading from antivirus to EDR costs approximately £100–£300/month extra.

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The AMVIA Recommendation

Replace traditional antivirus with EDR — or better, MDR (which includes EDR plus 24/7 human monitoring). Microsoft Defender for Business is included in M365 Business Premium and provides EDR-level protection at no extra cost. If you are not on M365 Business Premium, AMVIA can deploy a dedicated EDR solution starting from £3 per endpoint per month.

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