Anti-Virus Recommendations for SBS environment

[dotobi]

This is just a request for recommendations for an Anti-Virus Solution for an SBS 2003 + WINXP Pro environment.

I've so far evaluated Trend Micro's SMB, Computer Associates' e-trust AV & McAfee's GroupSheild/VirusScan/WebShield SMTP/Protection Pilot.

My favorite so far has been McAfee's solution. Protection Pilot is a good central administration tool. Although, any settings I change do not save (I guess this is becuase of it being an Evaluation).

I would post this in an AV section, but I'm interested in what others have found with running AV's in their SBS2003 + WINXP pro environments.

Ideally it would include protection for exchange, internet gateway + Optional Anti-SPAM, Anti-Spyware, Anti-Adware protection.

Thanks in advance.

keV

 

[markdmac]

My fovorite for SBS is Trend Micro. Have had good experience with them and the pricing is the best for small business. Just be careful when you install to not allow it ot install into the default web site or it messes up Companyweb.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[metaxlog]

We also use trend micro to protect our SBS but the manager is not installed in the server, it is installed in its own antivirus server. The one we use is TrendMicro OfficeScan, and it works pretty good because you can purchage the exchange spam filtering option and virus scan with it.

 

[wahnula]

I went with CA eTrust, elegantly simple and $38.

Before that I spent $$$ on Symantec as that was what I was using on the clients, I was familiar with it, but...after a few days I received a report the server had restarted and followed the trail in the Eventlog to a Symantec page "Symantec is aware of this problem and is working on a solution". Out it went.

This was only my experience, and I could have done something improperly.

Tony

 

[58sniper]

I've got several hundred SBS boxes running Symantec's Corporate Edition. It works ok. But we're slowing migrating them to Trend Micro. As Mark mentions, we've had good experience with it.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[Daire]

We have been using Symantec Business/Corporate on all sites without problems.

Very interested to read 58sniper moving to Trend.

What were the good experiences?

 

[markdmac]

I can tell you the pricing is better with Trend and I much prefer the management console over Symantecs.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[58sniper]

Ditto. Trend has better granularity with its spam products, as well.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[nileshmorker]

Have worked with both symantec and CA lately, Symantec seems to slow down server quite a lot especially with Exchange componenet. CA works very good and now they are selling a business protection suite which really works out cheap. CA have also configured for automated push technology for all builds, patches for protections suite.

Nilesh Morker

 

[wahnula]

I've got several hundred SBS boxes running Symantec's Corporate Edition

Holy Toledo!!!

I have enough problems running just one!

Of course I guess once I get it properly set up it will be like my old NT4.0 workhorse, couldn't stop that with a hammer.

Tony

 

[dotobi]

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

So no-one’s mentioned McAfee? Has anyone had a bad experience with this?

I've just had to remove it because the evaluation expired, and from the main Protection Pilot console I un-installed it from every PC. Just selected the group and clicked uninstall. Nice & Simple!

Now that I've evaluated e-trust, Trend Micro & McAfee, I've had to uninstall 3 times, and McAfee was so easy. I could not successfully remove e-trust or Trend Micro centrally. But then, I guess un-installing isn't one of the main features you look out for.

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone had a BAD experience with McAfee as it now between Trend Micro and McAfee (I was really impressed with McAfee).

I've got to look at prices yet so maybe that will help me choose.

markdmac.. you said (RE Trend Micro):

Just be careful when you install to not allow it ot install into the default web site or it messes up Companyweb

During the evaluation, Trend Micro’s web based central admin page stopped working. Would this be why?

Thanks

keV

 

[kulhanek]

We use Trend Micro Server Messaging Suite and have been quite happy with it. Trend has been our software of choice for about the last 3 years and we have feel confident that it adequately protects our network.

 

[markdmac]

Personally I have had nothing but problems with McAfee and steer clear of them like the plague.

Regarding the console not working it could be that or you would need to look at the link. I have seen installs where it creates the link to the FQDN of the server rather than server name and you need to edit the URL.

So instead of

http://servername.company.com/TrendMicro

You would use

http://servername/TrendMicro

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[58sniper]

Yeah, I stopped using McAfee several years ago because the management pieces were problematic when supporting a large enterprise (40+ locations, 35,000+ users). We had to have a dedicated person dealing with all the issues it caused.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[dotobi]

Actually - During the installation of Trend Micro.. it automatically uninstalls any Anti-Virus app on the client PCs (well at least CA/e-trust's AV).. nice

 

[LWComputingMVP]

I would suggest checking out Sophos. I just got back from training on their products which include PureMessage (Exchange capable product for AntiSpam) and their Antivirus product is virus + spyware protection. In addition, they have the most frequent updates of any AV provider and often have detection updates far quicker than anyone else. Lastly (that comes to mind) they are the ones reporting new viruses first MOST of the time - just check out

http://www.secunia.com

- MOST days, the top 10 latest viruses identified are identified by them.

 

[LWComputingMVP]

Quick note - prior to my experience with Sophos, I preferred McAfee (and DESPISE Symantec) - I don't know about environments of 35000+ clients, but in the environments of 1000 and fewer that I've worked in, it worked pretty good for me. (Note: I refer to the enterprise class product).

 

[J741]

I see nobody has mentioned AVAST SBS Suite. I too am looking for a simple yet complete antivirus solution for a SBS 2003 environment with Windows XP workstations. I looked at the Alwil website and found that AVAST SBS Suite is quite inexpensive. The problem is that I have no information about how good / reliable / easy / unobtrusive / manageable it is. Does anyone have any experience with this product suite?



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