Differences between the Dr.Web Anti-virus service and anti-virus solutions provided on a subscription basis
Doctor Web was the first anti-virus vendor on the Russian market to offer an anti-virus as a service. However, some vendors are now going through ISPs to release solutions to standard anti-virus products, delivering them by means of serial numbers.
Compare and decide for yourself which option is most convenient, simple, and cost-effective!
The Dr.Web Anti-virus service | Licenses sold by providers through Kaspersky Subscription Service solutions |
Centralized control of local area network security If a company has a full- or part-time system administrator, its service provider can convey anti-virus protection system management duties to that individual through the Control Center. |
Centralized control of local area network security is not available This feature is not supported. |
Service providers - Companies specializing in IT services. | Suppliers - ISPs. |
Companies can benefit from additional services offered by the ISP that are related to anti-virus protection. | No additional services are available. |
The maximum prepaid subscription period is 36 months. | The maximum prepaid subscription period is 12 months. |
Subscription flexibility One company can take out a subscription to cover any number of protected objects, and subscriptions can be taken out simultaneously to different packages. |
Limited subscription options One subscriber can use only one subscription. For example, a user has a Kaspersky subscription that provides them with ten licenses. While that subscription is valid, the user cannot purchase a subscription to a different application or to the same application but for a different number of licenses. |
A subscriber can change their subscription package or the number of subscriptions they have out at any time. | While a subscription is valid, a customer cannot change the parameters of the subscription, i.e., the application being used (KAV or KIS) or the number of licenses. |
The maximum prepaid subscription period is 36 months. | The maximum prepaid subscription period is 12 months. |
The widest range of supported operating systems Protection for various operating systems, such as Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7, macOS, and Android OS — find an offer that suits your company! |
Few supported OS Protection for a limited number of Windows operating systems, such as XP SP2/Vista/7. No solutions to protect Mac and mobile devices. |
Protection for Windows servers Protection for server platforms Windows Server 2003/2008 is included in all Dr.Web subscription packages. |
No protection for Windows servers |
Guaranteed confirmation that the software is legal. In the Subscription Control Center, a customer can generate a license certificate to confirm to a controlling body that the anti-virus software has been obtained and is being used legally. This can be especially relevant for companies. | Licenses sold by a provider are not backed by a certificate of authenticity. Customers cannot prove that they are using the software legally. |
Easy subscription management | Limited options for subscription management |
License registration or activation is not required. | A customer has to enter a password in order to activate their anti-virus. Prior to the activation the user must copy and memorize the password. The activation code is available to the user after they have entered their personal subscription password. |
A subscription is activated instantly on the very page where a customer subscribes to the Service. A software download link is available to the user during the second step of the subscribing procedure. | The provider sends the customer an activation email containing a download link and a personal subscription password. Such messages can be blocked by spam filters and may not be received. |
A subscription to any Dr.Web subscription package can be suspended by the subscriber. | Only open-ended subscriptions can be suspended. |
A subscription can be suspended for one or more computers, or for an entire group of subscriptions. | Only an entire subscription can be suspended. |
A subscription can be suspended and resumed when needed. A subscriber can set the length of any suspension period. | A subscription can be suspended only once in 30 days. |
The service is resumed automatically after the suspension end date. | A suspended subscription must be resumed manually. |
To switch to another subscription package, a subscriber simply chooses the corresponding option in the 'Management' tab. The subscription package will be changed while subscription parameters will remain the same. | To subscribe to a different package, a customer must first cancel their current subscription and then re-subscribe, undertaking the subscription procedure all over again. |
Flexible charging | Limited charging options |
If a customer is charged for the Service on a 24-hour basis, they can suspend or terminate their subscription at any time without losing money paid in advance. | A subscription fee is charged on a monthly basis. If a customer decides to terminate their subscription early, they will forfeit money paid in advance. |
Customers who take out a certain number of subscriptions simultaneously receive a 10%-40% discount. | No discounts. The subscription fee is the same for one computer or a hundred computers. |
Customers who use the Service continuously for a certain period of time receive a 5%-15% discount. | No discounts are given for continuous use of the Service. |
Transparent operation | Non-transparent operation |
Comprehensive information about actions taken by customers with regards to their subscriptions Comprehensive information about actions performed by a customer with their subscription In the Subscription Control Center a customer can see information about each of their subscriptions and also a subscription summary. |
Current subscription status information only A customer cannot obtain a report showing the actions performed with their subscription. They can only check the current status of their subscription using the application’s interface. |
In the Subscription Control Center, a customer can check their subscription’s status, view information on each of their subscriptions, and get a current summary of activity. | No similar feature exists. |
With the administration audit log, a customer questioning the timing or appropriateness of a Provider’s actions can be presented with a complete report of all actions performed in the customer’s system. | No similar feature exists. |
Easy-to-understand anti-virus security information on a user's PC In the Subscription Control Center a customer can see how the anti-virus is protecting their system. Virus statistics are presented as pie charts and graphs. Additionally, the Administration web interface can be accessed if a company has a full-time system administrator. |
It is unclear what the anti-virus is doing to protect the client PC. The only “report” the anti-virus can provide is a log file. Customers cannot parse log files, and they receive no other statistics as to how the anti-virus is working on their PCs. |
Instant interaction between the service provider and subscribers The application’s interface allows Service Providers to send subscribers, both as a group and individually, notifications on various events, e.g., virus outbreaks and maintenance work. |
The application’s interface allows Service Providers to send subscribers, both as a group and individually, notifications on various events, e.g., virus outbreaks and maintenance work. |
External administration guarantees full control over the virus situation in the network | Virus situations on customer PCs cannot be controlled. |
Flexible control over security policy enforcement in the customer's anti-virus network. | No control over the anti-virus network. |
An anti-virus server is installed on the Service supplier’s server and remains under its control. | There is no anti-virus server. A provider cannot deploy and administer an anti-virus network. |
The service provider can learn whether subscriber computers are infected. | The provider does not have an anti-virus network and cannot learn whether subscriber computers are infected. Conventional anti-viruses do not deal with the concept of parasitic network processes, and there is no way to find out whether an anti-virus is installed on a user’s machine and whether it is configured properly and regularly updated. |
The Service supplier can manage a security policy and customise it according to the customer's needs: e.g., create custom scan and updating schedules, disconnect machines that become sources of infection, pre-configure Dr.Web client software before it is installed or even later, start and stop tasks on a target station, and prohibit users from disabling updating. | The provider cannot access or use configuration tools of anti-viruses installed on user machines to ensure that anti-viruses are up to date. |