Are You Using the Right Antivirus and Spam Solution for Your Business?
December 14, 2010 – 7:30 amWe all know that antivirus software and anti-spam protection are a necessity in today’s business world. No matter how secure your network is, no matter what steps you take to protect your computer system, and no matter if your network is hosted on a cloud infrastructure or onsite, viruses, Trojan horses, malware, and spam can bypass your firewalls and creep their way into your employees’ inboxes.
There are many products to choose from when considering the best antivirus solution for your business, but not all are created equal. Before you invest, investigate the options and understand the key differences between products made for consumer use and their more robust cousins aimed at keeping business networks safe.
The Problem
Although commercial computers experience infection rates half as much as consumer PCs, that doesn’t mean your company’s network is safe. Even with a staff of IT professionals working diligently to close off access points in your system, today’s virus developers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, figuring out new ways to attack. When attackers find one hole plugged, they simply move on to the next unprotected area. The tools of the trade are easier to get, and quicker to deploy, making it nearly impossible to keep up with the increasing number of threats.
The creators of malware often run illegitimate business that are more profitable than legitimate models. And when there’s a market, there’s sure to be any number of providers eager to get their share of it. Malware isn’t expected to be going away anytime soon – if ever.
The Fix
The biggest weapon a company has against malware is a late-release antivirus program that is continually updated with the latest security patches.
Most of us have heard of the common antivirus providers that offer a free basic product, such as Avira and Avast! along with upgrade options from McAfee, Symantec Norton, and Panda. Unfortunately, the majority of products aimed at the consumer market aren’t sufficient to protect a vast network integrated with mobile computing devices and a variety of platforms. Nor are these solutions truly scalable.
A better solution is to go with a product specifically created to provide more robust security in the commercial environment. Look for such features as quarantine management, fine level control, comprehensive reporting, deep level searching, and end user summaries.
Where your antivirus program resides is another consideration. Cloud technology is becoming an increasingly popular option for many businesses although some executives fear the removal of physical data from their onsite premises. Rest assured that most the cloud vendors use highly functional security patches. If you are still worried about the safety of your data on a cloud, ask the vendor to provide a copy of their SAS70, which shows exactly what measures are in place and how often the security updates are installed. Some cloud vendors include robust antivirus solutions in the price of their hosting packages, making it very affordable to keep your data safe and secure.
Whatever antivirus solution you choose, be sure that it will provide maximum protection. There are few things worse than losing your company’s records to malware or infecting the computers of everyone who logs onto your website.
Dana Prince writes for GetSync’d. Learn more about GetSync’d, Kerio Connect Hosted Email services, and find out about GetSecure — free antivirus protection and spam protection offered by http://www.GetSyncd.com.
