What role do antivirus servers play in security architecture?

Antivirus servers primarily function to manage and distribute malware signature updates to endpoint devices within a network. By checking available signature update servers on a scheduled basis, these servers ensure that client systems are equipped with the latest definitions necessary to detect and mitigate emerging threats. This proactive approach helps organizations maintain a robust defense against malware and other malicious software, enhancing the overall security posture of their infrastructure.

The effectiveness of antivirus solutions heavily relies on up-to-date signatures; thus, the regular checks performed by antivirus servers are crucial for timely protection against new vulnerabilities and threats. This process does not directly involve scanning for vulnerabilities or automatically applying updates to all systems, as those tasks may fall under different components of cybersecurity strategy or tooling. Additionally, antivirus servers do not typically redirect traffic, which is more aligned with network security measures rather than endpoint protection.