# Best Network Security Software 2026 | Capterra > Find the top Network Security software of 2026 on Capterra. Based on millions of verified user reviews - compare and filter for whats important to you to find the best tools for your needs. Source: https://www.capterra.com/network-security-software/s/free --- # Best Network Security Software Last updated on April 2, 2026 How to find the right Network Security Software? Learn more from our team about Network Security Software pricing features and benefits in our Network Security Buyers Guide Verified Insights Provider data verified by our Software Research team and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) ## What is network security software? Researched by: [Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/capterra/) Updated on April 2, 2026 [Network security software](https://www.capterra.com/network-security-software/) is used to assist IT teams to enhance the security of a network. The software proactively monitors the network to secure it from attacks and unauthorized intrusions. These software solutions are designed to constantly monitor the network traffic for legitimate traffic and notify the IT security department of any abnormal events for further investigation. * * * For more information consult our [Network Security Buyers Guide](#buyers-guide-content) Page 1 of 15 Filter (356) Products: Sort By: Sponsored * * * Plan Type Free Trial Popular 85% of professionals opt for a 30-day trial before the software purchase Other subsciption plans: Free Version Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription One-Time License Key Features All key features Popular We have selected the most important and critical features as defined by Capterra user reviews Access Controls/Permissions Activity Monitoring AI Copilot Anomaly/Malware Detection Anti Virus Audit Trail Compliance Management Event Logs Firewalls Generative AI Intrusion Detection System Intrusion Prevention System Patch Management Penetration Testing Policy Management Real-Time Monitoring Reporting/Analytics Risk Alerts Threat Response VPN Vulnerability Scanning Deployment Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based Desktop Mac Desktop Windows Desktop Linux On-Premise Windows On-Premise Linux Desktop Chromebook Mobile Android Mobile iPhone Mobile iPad Table of Contents - [The benefits of network security software](#the-benefits-of-network-security-software) - [Typical features of network security software](#typical-features-of-network-security-software) - [The cost of network security software](#the-cost-of-network-security-software) - [Considerations when purchasing network security software](#considerations-when-purchasing-network-security-software) - [Relevant network security software trends](#relevant-network-security-software-trends) ## The benefits of network security software With one hacker attack taking place every 39 seconds, the need for having network security cannot be denied. A network security system not only secures the network and the data within from external attacks but also helps to lay down policies for running network operations at optimum efficiency. - **Protection against malicious activities:** Implementing a network security system safeguards businesses from both external and internal attacks including malware, viruses, spyware, and trojans. It constantly updates its virus signature base to safeguard networks against both old and new threats. - **Monitor network settings:** One of the many purposes of using network security software is to keep networks running without any disruptions. Network slowdown or failures can halt business operations. The software constantly monitors the network performance and alerts administrators as soon as it senses any abnormalities in its operations. This helps to ensure businesses operate in an uninterrupted environment, making them more productive. * * * ## Typical features of network security software - **Activity monitoring:** Monitor network activity and performance and alert administrators as soon as the system senses any abnormality. - **Access control:** Grant user permissions to users with a specific role and ensure that permissions only allow a set of users to access the approved network settings. - **Threat response:** Identify security threats and initiate remediation. - **Vulnerability scanning:** Discover vulnerability issues and take precautionary measures to combat the attack. - **Intrusion detection system:** Identify and alert the necessary parties about security breaches. - **Reporting/analytics:** View and track pertinent metrics. * * * ## The cost of network security software Most products in the market are priced on a “per agent, per month” basis and can be divided into three pricing tiers based on their starting price. **Price ranges\*:** - $0 - $10 - $10 - $85 - $85+ _\*The pricing included is for the entry-level/lowest-priced offering that was found on vendor websites on January 21, 2020. These ranges correspond to 25th, 75th, and 100th percentile of the pricing information gathered from the vendor websites of sample products._ The above list summarizes pricing for the base plans of most products. An enterprise or premium product, which is priced higher, may include some additional features such as in-depth reporting, multi-tenancy, and custom branding. * * * ## Considerations when purchasing network security software - **Implementation time:** When all software applications are offering more or less the same set of features, then one of the key differentiation factors to look for is implementation time. The software that offers simple and quick implementation has a great advantage over other options. Take into account the length of time a vendor says it will take to deploy its solution and how long it will take to see the actual results. - **Be flexible and anticipate future growth:** Networks are not static. They will expand in scale and capability as your business grows over time. Make sure the software you choose and the plan you opt for allows you to add more devices and nodes easily to your existing network infrastructure without charging heavily for the expansion. Also, avoid purchasing software applications that are too rigid in deployment and non-scalable, as you might be forced to change the entire existing network infrastructure and pay for the new one when your business grows exponentially. - **Don’t miss out on big players just to save money:** Securing your network data is a very crucial and high-priority task for all businesses. You should not ignore high-end vendors simply for cheaper subscription plans, as cheaper solutions might not be as frequently updated with the latest virus signature databases and may not have the best tools to comply with ever-changing security regulations. Without the latest signature database, your networks are equally as prone to threats as a system without any safety in place. Ask the vendors how frequently they update their signature database and when was the last time that they did those updates? * * * ## Relevant network security software trends - **Network security software market expected to grow:** Hundreds of viruses and malware are being deployed over the internet daily and the number of cyber attacks are increasing year over year. With that, almost all businesses, irrespective of their sector and size, will start deploying network security solutions to safeguard their business assets and data. This will trigger the growth of the network security software market in the coming years. There are various [market reports](https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/network-security-software-market-151632343.html) that predict that the network security software market will reach USD 22.8 billion by 2024 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11%. * * * **Sources** Products evaluated for the pricing calculation were taken from [Capterra’s category page](https://www.capterra.com/network-security-software/). The pricing ranges exclude freemium versions of the products. The features highlighted were identified based on their relevance and the percentage of products in [Capterra’s directory](https://www.capterra.com/network-security-software/) that offer them. The following sources were used for this document: 1\. [Hackers Attack Every 39 Seconds](https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/87787-hackers-attack-every-39-seconds) (Date accessed: January 22, 2020) 2\. [Network Security Software Report by MarketsAndMarkets](https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/network-security-software-market-151632343.html#utm_source=whatech&utm_content=whatech.com/615269) (Date accessed: January 22, 2020) 3\. [15 Alarming Cybersecurity Facts and Stats](https://www.cybintsolutions.com/cyber-security-facts-stats/) (Date accessed: January 22, 2020)