Best Cybersecurity for Small Business 2026
Cybersecurity software provides essential tools for teams managing small-business. The right solution depends on team size, technical requirements, budget constraints, and integration needs with existing workflows. Modern Cybersecurity platforms balance powerful features with intuitive interfaces that minimize training time.
We evaluated 5 Cybersecurity solutions for small-business, examining pricing models, core features, ease of use, and scalability. Our analysis includes free tiers, entry-level paid plans, and enterprise options, considering total cost of ownership including implementation, training, and ongoing support costs.
Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Security is the best cybersecurity solution for small businesses in 2026. Starting at approximately $55/user/yr, it combines endpoint protection, email security, and web filtering in a cloud-managed console designed for companies without dedicated IT teams. Fortinet FortiClient is the budget pick at roughly $25/endpoint/yr, especially for businesses already using FortiGate firewalls.
Our Rankings
Trend Micro
Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Security is purpose-built for small businesses with under 100 employees. Starting at roughly $55/user/yr, it bundles endpoint protection, email security, and web filtering into a single cloud-managed console that requires no dedicated IT staff. The Advanced tier adds email security and cloud app protection, while Worry-Free XDR includes cross-layer detection for growing teams.
- Comprehensive feature set covers all Trend Micro needs
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio at $2.25/endpoint/month
- Strong integrations and ecosystem
- Premium features require higher-tier plans
Fortinet
Fortinet FortiClient offers strong value starting at approximately $25/endpoint/yr for VPN and Zero Trust Network Access, with EPP/ATP tiers adding antivirus and web filtering from around $35/endpoint/yr. Small businesses already using FortiGate firewalls get basic FortiClient VPN at no additional cost, making it an exceptionally affordable option for Fortinet-equipped offices.
- Competitive pricing at $5.07/endpoint/month
- Feature-rich without premium price tag
- Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
- Interface could be more modern
CrowdStrike
CrowdStrike Falcon Go is designed specifically for small businesses with up to 100 devices, starting at $59.99/device/yr with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It provides next-gen antivirus, USB device control, and mobile protection through a lightweight cloud agent that requires minimal setup. While pricier than Trend Micro or Fortinet, it delivers enterprise-grade MITRE ATT&CK-validated detection without IT complexity.
- Built for collaboration with real-time features
- Intuitive interface requires minimal training
- Flexible permissions and role management
- Enterprise features limited on lower tiers
SentinelOne
SentinelOne meets enterprise needs for small-business with $5.83/endpoint/month. Advanced security features including SSO, SAML, and audit logs provide peace of mind for large organizations. Scales effortlessly to thousands of users while maintaining performance and offers dedicated support for mission-critical deployments.
- Enterprise-grade security (SSO, SAML, audit logs)
- Scales to thousands of users
- Dedicated support and SLAs
- Higher price point at $5.83/endpoint/month
Palo Alto Networks
Palo Alto Networks is tailored for startups tackling small-business at Contact sales for pricing. The generous free tier or affordable entry point lets early-stage companies get started without upfront costs. As your startup grows, the platform scales seamlessly with flexible pricing that matches your expansion trajectory.
- Generous free tier or affordable starting price
- Quick setup gets teams productive in days
- Flexible pricing that scales with growth
- May outgrow free tier quickly
Evaluation Criteria
- Affordability for under 100 employees
- Ease of setup and management
- All in one protection features
- Quality of support and documentation
How We Picked These
We evaluated 5 products (last researched 2026-01-30).
Total cost including hidden fees and per-user pricing
Learning curve, onboarding time, and user interface quality
Core functionality required for small-business
Compatibility with existing tools and workflows
Documentation, customer service, and community resources
Frequently Asked Questions
01 How much should a small business spend on cybersecurity?
Industry guidance suggests small businesses allocate 6-14% of their IT budget to cybersecurity. In practice, this translates to roughly $25-$180 per endpoint per year for endpoint protection software alone. Trend Micro Worry-Free starts at about $55/user/yr for all-in-one protection, Fortinet FortiClient begins around $25/endpoint/yr for basic security, and CrowdStrike Falcon Go costs $59.99/device/yr. For a 25-person company, expect to spend $625-$4,500 annually on endpoint security.
02 What cybersecurity features do small businesses need most?
Small businesses should prioritize antivirus and anti-malware, email security (phishing is the top attack vector), web filtering, and automatic updates. Trend Micro Worry-Free Advanced bundles all four into a single subscription starting at roughly $60/user/yr. Fortinet FortiClient EPP/ATP includes antivirus, web filtering, and VPN for around $35/endpoint/yr. Look for solutions with centralized cloud management so a non-technical employee can monitor alerts.
03 Can small businesses use enterprise cybersecurity tools?
Yes, both CrowdStrike and SentinelOne now offer small business tiers. CrowdStrike Falcon Go starts at $59.99/device/yr for up to 100 devices with enterprise-grade next-gen antivirus. SentinelOne Singularity Core costs $69.99/endpoint/yr and includes AI-powered autonomous response. However, purpose-built small business tools like Trend Micro Worry-Free (~$55/user/yr) and Fortinet FortiClient (~$25/endpoint/yr) often provide simpler management consoles better suited for teams without a dedicated security analyst.
04 Is free antivirus enough for a small business?
No. Free antivirus tools like Windows Defender provide basic signature-based protection but lack email security, web filtering, centralized management, and advanced threat detection. A 2024 IBM report found the average cost of a data breach for businesses under 500 employees was $3.31 million. Investing $25-$60/user/yr in a proper endpoint protection platform like Fortinet FortiClient or Trend Micro Worry-Free provides ransomware protection, phishing defense, and compliance reporting that free tools simply do not offer.
05 What's the best Cybersecurity for small-business?
Based on our evaluation of 5 options, Trend Micro leads for small-business due to its balance of features, pricing, and ease of use. It offers $2.25/endpoint/month with strong capabilities for this use case.
06 How much should I budget for Cybersecurity software?
For small-business, budget $2.25-$18 per endpoint/month. Free tiers are available from several vendors but typically limit users, features, or usage. Paid plans offer more flexibility and are necessary as teams scale beyond 5-10 users.
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