When IT managers discover reboot-to-restore technology, a natural question arises: if restarting a computer completely wipes away malware, do you still need traditional antivirus software?
The short answer is yes; reboot-to-restore and antivirus serve two distinct, complementary functions within an endpoint security stack. While Deep Freeze guarantees instant recovery after a session, antivirus provides real-time threat detection during an active session. Here is why combining both technologies creates the ultimate defence for shared workstations.
The key difference: real-time defence vs. instant restoration
Antivirus operates continuously in the background; it inspects active memory, scans incoming files, and blocks execution when malicious code is detected. Its primary job is real-time prevention during an active user session.
Faronics Deep Freeze operates at the system kernel; it redirects changes to a temporary location and discards them upon restart. Its primary job is absolute restoration, ensuring that even zero-day exploits or fileless ransomware that evade antivirus detection are eradicated on reboot.
Why shared workstations need both
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Protecting active user data: If a user inserts an infected USB drive during a session, antivirus blocks the malware before it can compromise local files or steal credentials during that active session.
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Eliminating persistent threats: If a brand-new threat bypasses signature updates, antivirus might miss it. Deep Freeze ensures that no threat, no matter how sophisticated, survives a system reboot.
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Optimising network traffic: Modern reboot-to-restore solutions integrate directly with antivirus definitions; virus signatures update in the background without requiring manual thawing of the endpoint.
Feature comparison
| Feature/capability | Traditional antivirus | Faronics Deep Freeze |
| Primary focus | Real-time threat detection and blocking. | Session reset and baseline restoration. |
| Execution phase | During the active user session. | Upon system restart. |
| Zero-day protection | Relies on heuristics and signatures. | 100% effective; wipes all session changes. |
| Performance impact | Requires background CPU and RAM usage. | Negligible resource overhead. |
Frequently asked questions for IT teams
How do virus definition updates work on a frozen PC?
Faronics Deep Freeze includes direct integration with enterprise antivirus solutions; definition updates save permanently to designated thawed spaces without exposing the rest of the operating system to unauthorised changes.
Can malware spread across local networks before a machine reboots?
Yes; if malware executes during an active session, it could attempt network lateral movement. This is why active antivirus and firewall rules remain essential alongside Deep Freeze.
