Staff Writers

Preventon Secure Internet Desktop or PSID for short, is an amalgam of all of the company's products in a multi-function suite. The software is available in two versions - an ISP edition that relies upon the subscription service for ISPs in order to maintain, update and interact with the client software on the user's desktop, and a desktop version that functions on a standalone basis. The ISP version of the Personal Firewall PRO is already available to subscribers of Planet Internet in the Netherlands, at a subscription price of just over a pound a month (€1.95) and other ISPs are expected to sign up to the service in due course.

In the past we have looked at pcAnywhere, which has been a consistent runner in past telecommuting group tests. This time around Symantec has supplied its Client Security.

At the heavy duty end of the market, SSH Secure Shell for Windows Server offers enough security for even the most paranoid network administrator. Already recognized as one of the most popular applications for creating secure sessions in Unix, it is now available for Windows, replacing such protocols as Telnet or FTP with a hardened connectivity solution for those businesses that require more than usual security for data transfer.

NOD32 can be initiated for server or workstation use, making it very flexible for the SME market. The range of features is also good. Automatic updates are provided, and it also offers updates via CD or floppy disk for non-networked machines. Central configuration can be rolled out to workstations and a silent alert can be achieved for admin use.

Not all users want to resort to single user products to protect their SME business systems, and often the corporate editions are just not geared to the smaller business model. But McAfee Active Virus Defense Small Business Edition offers the level of security required for the SME market without compromising on any vital areas of virus protection. It delivers a suite of products that enables the SMEs amongst us to manage, update, and police our systems before any damage is done.

OfficeScan gives the administrator some real choices when it comes to network deployment, from centralized roll out to imaging, remote installation and an uninstall of other anti-virus products to facilitate an OfficeScan install. These are not options that many of the other solutions are offering, and for the larger SME or it may prove a real boon.

Access control comes in many flavors, depending on what you want or don't want users to have access to. Now it's the turn of other documents to get some added protection with Adhaero's business document security solution. This protection extends beyond the network, and documents under its aegis can only be read by authorized eyes. It allows Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook objects to be encrypted, and then assigns digital rights that dictate what can be done to them.

Baltimore has produced one of the best access control products currently on the market. Select-Access is a welcome step forward in access control.

We are back in the world of passwords for Computer Associates' offering. Part of the eTrust suite of products, eTrust AccessControl is another policy-based application, fully integrated with the other eTrust products, as well as with CA's UniCenter network management software. It is designed to operate in Windows, Unix and Linux, and interoperates with (surprising, but not unwelcome), mainframe environments.

Novell is no stranger to access management; such functionality was built into its NetWare operating system from day one, and is an integral part of its Directory Services offering. So, it comes as no surprise to see a standalone Novell product in this Group Test.

One potential security loophole that is frequently overlooked is access to removable media. Many access control products will bar your way into the file server, log your attempts to look at the payroll database, and prevent you from using certain applications, but this is all at the system level.

If you think Unix houses have been ignored in this test, Symark's PowerBroker is just for you. Supporting multiple flavors of Linux and Unix - including IBM S390 Linux - PowerBroker ensures Unix administrative privileges can be safely managed and delegated.

This solution is probably more suited to the smaller business model as it requires separate installation at every workstation, unless you utilize the separate deployment console BitDefender Enterprise. This allows the installation, scanning, uninstall or the change of settings on all machines in the network. It can also be deployed across the larger network using wireless application protocol (WAP).

For the larger SME that requires server protection which also covers workstations throughout an organization, eTrust AntiVirus can be called upon.

Most vendors deliver a variety of packages for different needs, but F-Secure puts one solution into a host of business models. Whether you are looking for a single user license, SME or enterprise, F-Secure AntiVirus version 5 delivers the whole shooting match.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus supports a number of environments, which include Linux, Unix (Free­ BSD, BSDi, OpenBSD, Solaris), Novell NetWare, MS Exchange, Lotus Notes, Domino, Sendmail, Qmail, Exim, Postfix and all the Windows versions.

Not all users want to resort to single user products to protect their SME business systems, and often the corporate editions are just not geared to the smaller business model. But McAfee Active Virus Defense Small Business Edition offers the level of security required for the SME market without compromising on any vital areas of virus protection. It delivers a suite of products that enables the SMEs amongst us to manage, update, and police our systems before any damage is done.

NOD32 can be initiated for server or workstation use, making it very flexible for the SME market. The range of features is also good. Automatic updates are provided, and it also offers updates via CD or floppy disk for non-networked machines. Central configuration can be rolled out to workstations and a silent alert can be achieved for admin use.