Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company, announces the update in its flagship Kaspersky Next product line. Kaspersky Next Optimum tier now enables small and medium sized businesses to augment their defenses with purpose built Security Modules – Security Awareness, Email Security, Workload Security, Threat Lookup & Analysis and Vulnerability Management – extending protection without redesigning the existing technology stack.

As small and medium‑sized businesses (SMBs) grow, they encounter increasingly diverse types of threat. A recent survey conducted by Kaspersky’s internal research center shows that over the past year the most common external incidents affecting SMBs were phishing (20%) and software‑vulnerability exploits (17%). At the same time, the primary drivers prompting these organizations to switch cybersecurity vendors are internal challenges: 26% cite compatibility and integration problems with existing solutions, while 23% need to consolidate multiple products onto a single platform.

These findings make it clear that new security needs emerging around email, employees, workloads, and vulnerabilities are leading SMBs to look for simple, unified cybersecurity solutions that streamline processes and eliminate unnecessary complexity. New Security Modules for Kaspersky Next Optimum allow customers to address these needs step by step, adding the capabilities that are most relevant to them while keeping security manageable.

New Security Modules for Kaspersky Next Optimum

Kaspersky Next Optimum is the SMB-focused solution of the Kaspersky Next product line. It offers EDR, XDR and MXDR capabilities that customers can select according to their current requirements and available resources, and transition between seamlessly as those needs evolve. Kaspersky Next Optimum now offers a suite of Security Modules that let SMBs reinforce the most critical risk areas without replacing their existing technology stack or adding unnecessary complexity.

The endpoint remains the foundation, while the modules extend protection beyond the device, adding control points that can help stop threats earlier in the attack chain. Each module is mapped around real‑world business demands, taking into account operational constraints, the prevailing threat landscape, and specific growth objectives, so SMBs receive precisely the tools they need to address the scenarios that matter most, with minimal overhead. New Security Modules include:

• Security Awareness – Reduces phishing, social engineering and user error risks, especially for growing teams with limited cybersecurity culture.

• Email Security – Blocks email borne threats before they reach users, improves visibility across the email infrastructure and safeguards sensitive communications.

• Workload Security – Protects hybrid cloud environments with essential controls, ideal for organizations migrating to the cloud or scaling digital infrastructure rapidly.

• Threat Lookup & Analysis – Accelerates incident response by enabling deep analysis of suspicious files, enriching investigations, providing expert insight during threat hunting.

• Vulnerability Management – Streamlines identification and remediation of vulnerabilities across the entire estate, a must have for rapidly growing or distributed environments lacking full visibility.

By coupling these purpose built modules with the core endpoint, EDR, XDR and MXDR capabilities of Kaspersky Next Optimum, companies receive a flexible, scalable security posture that extends protection beyond the endpoint and helps address threats before they reach the device, exploit vulnerabilities or compromise accounts, with focused protection where it matters most.

Simulated phishing campaigns & compromised credential insights

In addition, Kaspersky Next Optimum now expands its protection capabilities with built‑in simulated phishing campaigns and compromised‑credential insights. Simulated phishing campaigns functionality was previously available only in the most advanced solutions, Kaspersky Next XDR Optimum and Kaspersky Next MXDR Optimum, but strong customer demand led to its inclusion in Kaspersky Next EDR Foundations. Pre‑configured phishing templates allow administrators using this solution to run realistic phishing simulations, test user readiness, uncover knowledge gaps and pinpoint vulnerable processes, while automated reporting tracks training needs and awareness improvements over time.

At the same time, Kaspersky Next MXDR Optimum introduces expert‑driven threat hunting powered by Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence. By correlating leaked credentials with alerts and suspicious authentication attempts, the solution detects potential account compromises earlier, prioritizes incidents more effectively and provides comprehensive visibility into account‑related risks. Building on customer feedback, the managed protection experience has been upgraded: core management capabilities are now optimized for mobile devices and tablets, and incident notifications delivered via Telegram include priority, affected assets, recommendations and a direct link to the incident.
Finally, companies can now start managing their infrastructure with the optimized, time‑saving Pro View Console and then seamlessly migrate to the more granular Expert View Console without having to redesign their entire security approach. They can begin with the essentials and scale management capabilities when their businesses are ready.

“In today’s rapidly growing SMB environment, the attack surface expands faster than security budgets and

resources. Kaspersky Next Optimum’s Security Modules let organizations reinforce exactly the risk areas that matter, whether it’s phishing awareness or email protection, without redesigning the existing technology stack or interrupting daily operations. This flexibility eliminates the traditional cost and complexity barriers to reliable protection for small and medium sized businesses,” comments Ilya Markelov, Head of Unified Platform Product Line at Kaspersky.