OFFLOADING OPERATIONS TO A REPLICATE VIRTUAL MACHINE

A method for detecting malicious code within a first virtual machine comprising creating a snapshot of the first virtual machine and transferring the snapshot to a second machine. A scan operation is run on the snapshot using resources of the second machine. In response to detecting malicious code during the scan operation, action is taken at the first virtual machine to address the detection of the malicious code. Thus, the action in response to detecting the malicious code may include placing the first virtual machine in quarantine.