Endpoint IndexIs Bitdefender GravityZone Worth It, and Which Tier Should a Small Business Buy?
Bitdefender GravityZone Business SecurityBitdefender · Antivirus · buy online · min 3 seatsFull product report ›Contents
Executive summary
Bitdefender GravityZone is worth it for most small businesses that want prevention, and the entry tier, Business Security, is the right one unless you face targeted or fileless attacks or run your own Exchange server; neither small-business tier is EDR. As of 30 September 2026, Business Security lists at $38.50 per endpoint per year and ranks #1 of all products on the SMB Fit Score (78). Business Security Premium lists at $88.00 per endpoint per year and adds attack forensics, a cloud sandbox and extra machine-learning layers.
Both tiers carry the same AV-Test, AV-Comparatives and MITRE results, because the labs test Bitdefender's engine, not a price tier. Neither includes 24/7 managed response, patch management or disk encryption. Those are separate purchases, and they are where a GravityZone bill grows.
What each GravityZone tier adds
Bitdefender's tier comparison (checked 30 September 2026) lists three tiers a small business is likely to consider:
| Tier | What Bitdefender adds at this tier | Who it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Business Security | Network Attack Defense, web access control, device control, endpoint risk analytics, ransomware mitigation | Offices that want strong prevention and nobody to investigate |
| Business Security Premium | Tunable machine learning (HyperDetect), Sandbox Analyzer, Fileless Attack Defense, attack forensics, Exchange mail-server coverage | Businesses facing targeted or fileless attacks, or running their own Exchange server |
| Business Security Enterprise | Cross-endpoint detection and visualisation, one-click investigation and remediation, threat hunting | Teams that want EDR |
Endpoint Index records EDR as not offered in Premium and not offered in the entry tier, following Bitdefender's own description. Its comparison page pitches Premium at companies that want attack prevention "without additional detection and response capabilities", and puts cross-endpoint detection, one-click investigation and threat hunting in Enterprise. Premium's attack forensics show how a blocked attack unfolded on one device; they are not an investigation console across machines.
Why the entry tier scores so well
GravityZone Business Security does well on every input the SMB Fit Score measures at once. The price is published and self-serve. The labs have current results. It installs from a cloud console in about an hour, with no in-house security staff needed.
| Product | AV-Test protection | AV-Comparatives protection | MITRE ATT&CK Evaluation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security | 6.0/6 2025-12 | 99.8% 2026-H1 | 72.5% coverage 2024 Dated |
 ESET PROTECT Core | 6.0/6 2025-12 | 98.8% 2026-H1 | Participated 2025 |
 Microsoft Defender for Business | 6.0/6 2026-08 | 98.8% 2026-H1 | 83.8% coverage 2024 Dated |
| Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security Premium | 6.0/6 2025-12 | 99.8% 2026-H1 | 72.5% coverage 2024 Dated |
 CrowdStrike Falcon Go | No public result | 98.5% 2026-H1 | 98.9% coverage 2025 |
One detail matters for reading that table. The AV-Test result recorded for both Bitdefender tiers comes from testing Bitdefender Business Security Enterprise 7.9 in December 2025. The prevention engine is shared across tiers, so the protection score is a fair guide for Business Security. The extra layers in Premium and Enterprise are not separately measured. Bitdefender did not take part in the 2025 MITRE round; its recorded MITRE result is the 2024 round.
When Premium earns its price
GravityZone Business Security Premium is worth the step up in three situations:
- You want a record of how a blocked attack worked. Attack forensics shows how a threat got in on a device and what it touched. It is a per-device report, not EDR, and it pays only if someone reads it.
- You face targeted or fileless attacks. Firms that hold client money or sensitive files, such as accountants or law firms, get more from the sandbox and fileless defence than a shop selling from a till.
- You run your own Exchange server. Premium covers mail servers; the entry tier does not.
The per-device gap narrows as you grow. Both tiers have volume pricing, and the table below shows totals at 10, 25 and 100 seats.
| Product | Per unit per month | 10 seats / yr | 25 seats / yr | 100 seats / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Defender for Business | $3.00 /user/mo | $360.00 | $900.00 | $3,600.00 |
| Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security | $3.21 /endpoint/mo | $384.99 | $854.99 | $3,064.99 |
| ESET PROTECT Core | $4.58 /endpoint/mo | $549.00 | $1,167.50 | Via sales (online up to 99) |
 Avast Ultimate Business Security | $4.73 /endpoint/mo | $567.70 | $1,329.50 | $4,050.00 |
| Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security Premium | $7.33 /endpoint/mo | $879.99 | $1,869.99 | $6,039.99 |
The add-ons that change the bill
Bitdefender lists patch management, full disk encryption, email security and mobile protection under "Add-Ons (Purchased Separately)" for every tier. Managed detection and response is a separate service, which Bitdefender's MDR page ties to the Enterprise tier. A small business comparing Bitdefender with a bundle should price the same scope:
| Product | EDR | Ransomware rollback | Patch management | Email security | Mobile | 24/7 managed response |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security | Not offered | Included | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on | Not offered |
| ESET PROTECT Core | Not offered | Included | Add-on | Add-on | Included | Not offered |
| Microsoft Defender for Business | Included | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Included | Not offered |
| Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security Premium | Not offered | Included | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on | Not offered |
 ThreatDown Advanced | Included | Included | Included | Add-on | Add-on | Not offered |
ThreatDown Advanced includes patch management. Microsoft Defender for Business and ESET PROTECT Core include mobile. If you need either, the Bitdefender headline price is not the like-for-like figure.
Which tier to buy, by situation
- Under 25 devices, no IT staff, Windows and Mac: Business Security. Add Bitdefender's patch management if nobody patches laptops.
- Targeted or fileless attacks, or your own Exchange server: Business Security Premium.
- An IT person or MSP who investigates incidents: an EDR product. Premium adds prevention layers, not detection and response; Bitdefender's EDR starts at Business Security Enterprise, which we do not track. Our EDR ranking covers the alternatives.
- Already paying for Microsoft 365 Business Premium: you already own Defender for Business. Adding Bitdefender means running two consoles; do it only for a reason you can name.
- Nobody will answer an alert at night: neither GravityZone tier on its own. Look at products with managed response included, covered in our managed EDR guide.
- Healthcare: Bitdefender publishes a HIPAA compliance assessment but does not say it signs a BAA; its HIPAA page refers BAA questions to the account manager. Get the answer in writing before buying.
Mistakes buyers make with GravityZone
- Paying for Premium's forensics and never reading them. The report pays off only through use.
- Assuming either small-business tier includes EDR. Neither does; Bitdefender's own table puts it in Enterprise.
- Forgetting encryption. Full disk encryption is an add-on, and it is the control that protects client files on a lost laptop.
- Counting on mobile coverage. iOS and Android protection is a paid add-on.
- Reading one lab score as proof of every layer. The labs test the shared engine.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bitdefender GravityZone good for a small business?
Yes. Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security ranks #1 on the SMB Fit Score, with current AV-Test and AV-Comparatives results, a published price of $38.50 per endpoint per year and self-serve purchase. It lacks EDR and managed response.
What is the difference between GravityZone Business Security and Premium?
Premium adds tunable machine learning, a cloud sandbox, fileless attack defence, attack forensics and visualisation, and mail-server coverage. Business Security has the core prevention engine, network attack defence, web and device control and risk analytics.
Does Bitdefender GravityZone include managed detection and response?
No. On Business Security, 24/7 managed response is not offered, and on Premium it is not offered; neither tier can add it. Bitdefender sells managed response as a separate MDR service, and its MDR page says that service includes GravityZone Business Security Enterprise as its platform, so buying MDR means moving to the Enterprise tier, which this index does not list.
What are the best alternatives to Bitdefender GravityZone?
ESET PROTECT Core ($54.90 per endpoint per year) is the closest like-for-like product. It has no EDR either, but it includes mobile protection and full disk encryption. Microsoft Defender for Business ($36.00 per user per year) includes EDR at a lower list price. The Bitdefender Premium vs Microsoft Defender for Business comparison and the Bitdefender vs ESET comparison go field by field.
Methodology and caveats
Prices, capabilities and lab results come from the Business Security and Business Security Premium product pages, where each value links to a dated source. The tier contents in the table were checked on Bitdefender's comparison page on 30 September 2026. Business Security Enterprise is not tracked in the database, so it has no price or score here. Bitdefender's high rank reflects buying fit, measured by the published SMB Fit Score formula, not a claim that it blocks more attacks than its rivals.
Sources
- Bitdefender. Compare GravityZone business products. Checked 30 September 2026.
- Bitdefender. GravityZone Business Security Premium.
- Bitdefender. Managed Detection and Response service.
- AV-Test Institute. Bitdefender Business Security Enterprise 7.9, December 2025.
- AV-Comparatives. Business Security Test 2026 (March to June).
- Endpoint Index. Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security product page. Prices last verified 2026-10-02.
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