MetaDefender
Cloud file security software
Threat intelligence software
Data loss prevention (DLP) software
Vulnerability scanner software
Antivirus software
Endpoint detection & response (EDR) software
Endpoint protection platforms
Cloud security software
System security software
Data security software
DevSecOps software
Endpoint protection software
Anti-malware software
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What is MetaDefender
MetaDefender is a file security and malware prevention platform that scans files and data flows for malicious content and policy violations. It is used by security and IT teams to protect file uploads/downloads, email attachments, web portals, and API-driven file exchange in on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. The product combines multi-engine malware scanning with content disarm and reconstruction (CDR), file type validation, and data sanitization to reduce risk from untrusted files. It is commonly deployed as an ICAP/REST service or gateway component integrated into existing applications and security controls.
Multi-engine malware scanning
MetaDefender supports scanning with multiple anti-malware engines to increase detection coverage across different signature and heuristic approaches. This is useful for organizations that need a second opinion beyond a single endpoint antivirus engine. It also helps standardize scanning results for files moving through web apps, email, and file transfer workflows. The approach fits environments where files enter through many channels and need consistent inspection.
CDR and file sanitization
The platform includes content disarm and reconstruction (CDR) and file sanitization capabilities that remove active content from supported file types. This reduces reliance on detection-only controls when handling high-risk documents from external parties. It is relevant for regulated workflows where users must receive documents but want to minimize embedded macro/script risk. This capability differentiates it from tools focused primarily on storage governance or user behavior controls.
Integration-friendly deployment options
MetaDefender is commonly implemented as a service via REST APIs and ICAP, enabling integration with web gateways, email security, storage, and custom applications. This supports “scan on upload/download” patterns without replacing existing collaboration or storage platforms. It can be positioned centrally to enforce consistent file inspection across multiple systems. This integration model is useful compared with products that primarily secure a single SaaS ecosystem.
Not a full EDR platform
Although it contributes to endpoint and system security, MetaDefender’s core value is file inspection rather than continuous endpoint telemetry, behavioral detection, and response workflows. Organizations looking for full EDR features (investigation timelines, isolation, automated remediation) typically need additional tooling. It is better suited as a complementary control in the file ingestion path. Buyers should validate how it fits with their incident response processes.
Coverage depends on file types
CDR, sanitization, and deep content inspection effectiveness varies by file format and configuration. Some complex or uncommon file types may be passed through with limited transformation or require policy exceptions. This can create gaps for organizations with diverse engineering artifacts or specialized document formats. Testing against real-world file inventories is usually required before broad rollout.
Operational tuning and cost
Running multiple scan engines and deep inspection can increase infrastructure requirements and introduce latency in high-throughput workflows. Teams often need to tune policies to balance security, performance, and false positives, especially for business-critical file exchanges. Licensing and engine updates can add ongoing operational cost compared with simpler single-engine antivirus deployments. This is most noticeable in environments with large file volumes or strict SLAs.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| MetaDefender Cloud — Standard | Contact sales / Not publicly listed | Entry-level Cloud API tier: Metascan multiscanning (~10 AV engines), file size limit 140 MB, throttling 75 req/min, archive max files 500, archive recursion level 5, SLA 99.5%, lower support level. |
| MetaDefender Cloud — Professional | Contact sales / Not publicly listed | Mid tier: Metascan multiscanning (~15 AV engines), file size limit 256 MB, throttling 150 req/min, archive max files 10,000, archive recursion level 25, SLA 99.5%, medium support; 20% buffer allowance noted. |
| MetaDefender Cloud — Enterprise | Contact sales / Not publicly listed | High-volume tier: 20+ AV engines, file size limit 1 GB+, throttling 500 req/min, archive max files 50,000, archive recursion level 50, SLA 99.9%, high support, private scanning/processing and additional security options. |
| MetaDefender Core (on-prem / BYOL) | Contact sales / Not publicly listed | MetaDefender Core is licensed BYOL as an annual subscription; many licensing options (60+ options) tailored to use case. Requires contacting sales for license pricing. Docs recommend minimum hardware (e.g., 8 vCPU) and note support tiers are charged as percentages of license (Gold: 20% ($500 min), Platinum: 25% ($2000 min)). |
Notes: No public per-seat or per-month USD pricing is published on OPSWAT's official product/pricing/licensing pages. Pricing is sold via quotes/contacting sales and varies by product, deployment, and usage limits (per OPSWAT documentation).
Seller details
OPSWAT, Inc.
San Francisco, CA, USA
2002
Private
https://www.opswat.com/
https://x.com/OPSWAT
https://www.linkedin.com/company/opswat/
