We all know that installing virus protection on your computer is the first thing that you should do when you get a new one. However, a lot of people report that virus protection software slows their computer right down and makes it difficult to use. At home, this is an annoyance but in a business, it’s a big problem because it’s seriously affecting productivity. But you can’t exactly just turn it off because then you’re opening yourself up to attack and it’s likely that somebody will exploit that weakness, so what are you supposed to do? The good news is, there are a few simple things that you can do to make sure that antivirus software isn’t slowing your computer down and your business can still run efficiently while also remaining protected against cyber attacks.

Upgrade Computers

Sometimes, you might be struggling because your computers are simply outdated. While they might have been able to run security software fine when you first bought them, they are struggling with more modern software because the processing requirements are too high. Outdated computers are bad news for business anyway so you should consider upgrading them either way. You could replace the entire computer but that’s not always viable if you’re trying to keep your costs down and it might not be necessary. If you just replace the processor with something more powerful like the Intel i5 9600K which should be able to handle any antivirus software with ease. It will also make life easier for your employees when they’re using the computer because it will be a lot quicker. At around £250, it’s a lot cheaper than replacing the entire computer.

Buy The Right Software

Some antivirus software is a lot worse than others for slowing down computers so often, it comes down to just choosing the right software. Do a bit of research and check the forums to find a good antivirus software that doesn’t slow the computer down at all. There are plenty of options out there and while some of them might be a little more expensive, it’s worth paying the extra if it stops your computers from grinding to a halt and improves productivity around the office.

If you operate a bring your own device policy in the office, it’s worth suggesting that your employees also change the software on their own computers and tablets so they don’t have the same issue.

Stop Running Multiple Pieces Of Software

This is a mistake that a lot of people make and it’s easily done. If you have more than one piece of antivirus software running at the same time, they can work against each other and slow the computer right down. This usually happens when people have the built in Windows Defender software running on top of a more comprehensive antivirus program that they have installed. If you simply switch off Windows Defender once the other program is installed, you should find that the computer will speed up again.

The worst thing that you can do is switch off your antivirus because it’s slowing the computer down. Just try these quick fixes instead and it should be back to normal in no time.  

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