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.