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Symantec Anti-virus Corporate Edition is targeted at companies with Windows and Netware networks. The company makes much of its Digital Immune System, developed with IBM, and included in all its anti-virus products. This offers closed loop automation, which allows for hands-free detection, analysis and removal of new virus strains as they appear. In practice you get automatic quarantine of offending files and their secure transmission to Symantec for analysis. Automated response systems at the Symantec Antivirus Research Centre (SARC) then develop cures and transmit these back with no need for operator involvement, enabling new viruses to be identified and dealt with in just a few hours.
There's no support for Linux/Unix in Antivirus Corporate Edition, nor any for gateway systems, but that's not to say they can't be protected with Symantec software. The company has a range of products to protect Exchange, Lotus Notes/Domino and generic SMTP mail servers, plus tools to work with Mimesweeper, Microsoft ISA server and a number of other third-party products. Most of these are in the Antivirus Enterprise Edition, which also includes all the Corporate Edition components.
Corporate Edition is built around the core Anti-virus client software for use on both 32bit and, in the latest release, 64bit Windows implementations. This uses the Symantec Navex scan engine and Bloodhound heuristic technology to detect known and unidentified virus strains. There's on-demand, scheduled and on-access scanning, with the usual facilities to scan compressed files, archives and mapped network drives. Client snap-ins for use with Exchange/Outlook and Lotus Notes email are also included.
Windows and Netware servers can be configured with server anti-virus software to secure hosts and enable configuration and signature updates to be pushed out to client systems, with the ability to organise nodes into hierarchical management groups. These are then managed remotely using the Symantec System Centre, which is implemented in the form of an MMC snap-in. Network discovery and audit tools can be used to identify unprotected nodes and those protected by existing Symantec or competitor anti-virus products. You can also remotely install server and client software from the System Centre console. Activity logs can be viewed centrally and reports generated, and there's a built-in alert system to send network, pager and email messages when suspicious events occur.
On most networks you'll use the Symantec System Centre to install client and server software, but it can be loaded direct from CD-Rom with the option of either managed or unmanaged configurations. The latter is suitable for notebooks and remote PCs not continuously connected to the Lan. A Symantec Packager utility creates and then distributes custom installation packages via network logon scripts, shared directories, downloads from a web server or third-party tools. A central quarantine server holds suspect files and a console to manage this facility. A Live Update Administrator utility configures Lan or intranet web servers as repositories for regular signature and software updates, completing what is a very comprehensive package.
Its comprehensiveness can be something of a drawback, however. With so many installation options it's not immediately obvious how best to deploy the client Symantec anti-virus software. And, although the System Centre console is a good starting point, the interface can be baffling in places. Another issue is the need to call up other tools, with different interfaces to complete many of the initial setup tasks. There's good supporting documentation, but it does all take a while to get to grips with.
In practice it all works as expected. The Symantec scanner is thorough, if slow, and during our testing the company responded to a number of new threats very quickly, adding to our confidence in this corporate anti-virus product.
Contact: Symantec 01628 592 222
www.symantec.co.uk
Price details:
£21.33 (£18.15 ex VAT) per node (500+ nodes)
Back to corporate anti-virus tools group test
See also:
An anti-virus tool named after a popular Czech TV show. 13 May 2004
A corporate anti-virus solution from Kaspersky. 11 May 2004
An anti-virus solution that supports both Linux and Windows-based management platforms. 11 May 2004All Antivirus & Firewalls
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