Does Avast Free Attempt to Contact A Subscription Server?

I have a need to use Avast on a PERSONAL virtual machine which is on a network that the admins get VERY UPSET whenever something attempts to scan ports or broadcasts messages in search of a server. Does the Avast FREE Antivirus product attempt to scan or otherwise search for a subscription server/service on the network?

Avast is in constant contact with avast servers, it recive stream updates evry 5-15 minutes

All (most) AV today have cloud service they stay in contact with