Will Security Tools Slow Down My Computer?
Discover how security tools can impact your computer's performance and find tips to optimize speed while staying protected.
Table of Contents
Will Security Tools Slow Down My Computer?
VeritGuard Knowledge Base | Performance
In This Article
- The Short Answer
- What's Running on Your Computer
- Combined Resource Impact
- What to Do If Your Computer Feels Slow
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Short Answer
No. VeritGuard's security tools are designed to run quietly in the background with minimal impact on your computer's performance. Most clients never notice them.
Here's the full breakdown of what's running, how much it uses, and what to do if something feels off.
What's Running on Your Computer
A fully set up VeritGuard device has a handful of security tools installed. Here's what each one does and how much of your computer's resources it uses.
The RMM Agent
This monitors your system health and deploys patches and updates. It runs as a lightweight background service, so you won't see it or interact with it. Typical impact: around 30-50 MB of RAM and negligible CPU usage. Think of it like a quiet watchdog that barely uses any resources.
24/7 SOC Monitoring and EDR
This is your endpoint detection and response agent. It watches for threats in real time, scanning activity on your machine to catch anything suspicious. It's a lightweight agent that typically uses around 50-80 MB of RAM with minimal CPU, except during scheduled scans when it may briefly use a bit more.
Endpoint Backup
This handles automated cloud backups of your important files. It runs on a schedule, not constantly. During backup windows, it may use moderate CPU and network bandwidth for about 15-30 minutes. After the initial full backup, all future backups are incremental (only changed files get uploaded), so they're much faster.
Email Protection
This is cloud-based. It processes and filters your email on servers before it ever reaches your inbox. There is no software installed on your PC for this; it integrates at the email server level. That means zero local resource impact.
1Password
1Password includes a browser extension and a desktop app for managing your passwords securely. It has minimal impact on performance, using roughly 50 MB of RAM when open. You'll barely notice it.
NordLayer VPN
NordLayer is only active when you're connected to the VPN. When it's running, it uses around 30-50 MB of RAM and adds a slight network overhead for encryption. In practice, this is usually unnoticeable for everyday work like email, web browsing, and running tax software.
Combined Resource Impact
Here's a quick summary of what all the tools use together under normal conditions:
| Tool | RAM Usage | CPU Impact | Disk Usage | When Active |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The RMM Agent | 30-50 MB | Negligible | Minimal | Always (background) |
| 24/7 SOC Monitoring & EDR | 50-80 MB | Low; brief spikes during scans | Low | Always (background) |
| Endpoint Backup | 40-80 MB | Moderate during backup windows | Moderate during backup | Scheduled (15-30 min windows) |
| Email Protection | 0 MB | None | None | Cloud-based (nothing on your PC) |
| 1Password | ~50 MB | Negligible | None | When open |
| NordLayer VPN | 30-50 MB | Negligible | None | Only when connected |
For context, a single Chrome tab typically uses 100-300 MB of RAM. The entire VeritGuard security stack uses roughly the same as 2-3 browser tabs.
What to Do If Your Computer Feels Slow
If things feel sluggish, it's usually not the security tools. But here's a quick checklist to narrow it down:
1. Check if a backup is running.
Look for the Endpoint Backup icon in your system tray. If it's actively backing up, wait 15-30 minutes for it to finish. Performance should return to normal once it's done.
2. Check if a scheduled scan is running.
EDR occasionally runs deeper scans. These are brief and should resolve on their own within a few minutes.
3. Restart your computer.
This clears out accumulated memory usage and resets all running processes. It fixes a surprising number of performance issues.
4. Check your internet connection.
Slow internet can feel like a slow computer, especially if you're working in cloud-hosted applications. Try loading a website or running a speed test to rule this out.
5. Contact Verito Support.
If the slowness persists after trying the steps above, reach out to us. Our team can check your system health remotely and pinpoint the issue without you needing to do anything technical.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I disable any of these tools temporarily?
We don't recommend it. These tools work together to keep your data and your clients' data secure. Some of them can't be disabled without admin access anyway. If you're experiencing an issue and think a tool might be the cause, contact Verito Support and we'll look into it for you.
Q: Will the tools affect my tax software?
No. VeritGuard's security stack is designed to coexist with QuickBooks, Drake, Lacerte, ProSeries, UltraTax, and other popular tax and accounting applications. We test compatibility as part of onboarding.
Q: My computer is older. Will these tools be too much for it?
If your PC meets the minimum specs for your tax software, it can handle the VeritGuard tools. They're designed to be lightweight. That said, if performance is a concern, Verito can assess your hardware and let you know if an upgrade would help.
Q: Does the backup tool slow down my internet?
Slightly, but only during active backups. Incremental backups (which happen after the initial full backup) upload only changed files, so they're quick and use very little bandwidth.
Table of Contents