Cybersecurity Tools: our picks for busy owners
⏱ In about 3 minutes
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In this article
Our verdict
Short answer
Do the free steps on our Start here checklist first. If you then want central protection for your devices, Bitdefender is our starting suggestion.
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8 min readAt a glance
| Product | What it is | Best for | Free plan or trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitdefender | Central console for business devices | Protecting 1 to 100 devices from one console | See vendor page |
 Proton VPN | Business VPN with central control | A team working remotely or on public Wi-Fi | See vendor page |
Small businesses are targets too. These tools add protection on top of the basics in our Start here checklist: protecting computers and phones, and keeping your connection private.
Best for your situation
- You want one console for every business device: Bitdefender
- Your staff work remotely or on public Wi-Fi: Proton VPN
The options, one by one
Bitdefender
Best for protecting 1 to 100 devices from one console
Bottom line: A business security suite (GravityZone Small Business Security) with a central console. Pricing depends on device count.
Pros
- One console for 1 to 100 devices (laptops, desktops, file servers).
- Anti-phishing, fileless-attack protection and ransomware mitigation, per Bitdefender's page.
Cons
- Pricing depends on device count. When we checked (19 October 2026), 10 devices for 1 year was listed at US$227.49 after a 30% discount (US$324.99 list), taxes not included.
- Extras such as Web Access and Device Control are separate add-ons.
Who it's for: Teams that want to see and manage protection on every device in one place.
Who it's not for: Owners with one or two devices who only want basic built-in protection.
Source: Vendor page. Checked 18 October 2026.
Proton VPN
Best for a team working remotely or on public Wi-Fi
Bottom line: A business VPN from Proton, aimed at IT managers, with servers in 140+ countries.
Pros
- Always-on VPN, a kill switch and split tunneling are listed.
- Can be deployed silently to company devices with tools such as Intune and Jamf.
Cons
- Proton describes it as a VPN for IT managers, so it can be more than a small team needs.
- VPN Essentials was listed at US$6.99 per user a month (minimum 2 users) on a discounted rate when we checked (19 October 2026). Confirm higher-tier prices at checkout.
Who it's for: Teams with remote staff who want central control of a VPN.
Who it's not for: Owners who just need basic protection on one or two devices.
Source: Vendor page. Checked 18 October 2026.
How we reviewed this
Our method
We read each vendor's own published pages and note what they say. We have not tested these products hands-on, and we give no ratings or scores. Pros and cons are facts from those pages. "Who it's for" and "who it's not for" are our reading of them. We may earn a commission if you buy through some links, at no extra cost to you. Commissions may influence which products we choose to cover, but not our assessment of them. See how we work and our affiliate disclosure.
What to check before you choose
- Does the price suit your team size?
- Is there a free trial or free plan, and what are its limits?
- Does it work with the tools you already use?
- Is support easy to reach if you get stuck?
- Check the vendor's own site for current pricing and features.
More guides: Email Marketing & CRM, Password Managers, Accounting & Invoicing Software, Business websites, hosting & SEO tools.
Free: the Small Business Password & Access Checklist
A 1–2 page checklist that turns this article into a to-do list: which accounts to protect first, how to set up shared access, and what to do when someone joins or leaves.
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Frequently asked questions
Which cybersecurity tools option should I pick first?
See our quick picks for a suggested starting point. It is a starting suggestion, not a test result. Check the vendor's site to confirm it suits your business.
Are the links on this page affiliate links?
Some may be, once approved by the program. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
Where do I find current pricing?
On each vendor's own website. Prices and plans change, so we don't list them here.