RE: What should be protected with anti-virus software?

Your ops manager needs a head check.  If they are computers, they have
files that can be infected, simple as that.  

A/V should be on every system in your environment IMO.  Exclude the
on-access scanner from scanning folders that hold stuff like your mail
stores, databases, IIS metabase, etc., and let the rest of the system be
protected.  Use the on-access scanner, any port blocking and
scriptblocking the software you use may offer, etc.

It's common sense, I don't think a document is required.  Does the
operations manage have ANY IT experience? My guess is no.



-----Original Message-----
From: Erdahl, Larry E [mailto:[email protected]] 
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 8:06 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: What should be protected with anti-virus software?

Long time reader, but  first time poster, so please be gentle ;-). 

I am in the middle of a risk assessment of our current anti-virus
practice and need a little help.

I am finding servers without any anti-virus software installed and
others that are only configured as on-access detection. I am not sure if
the reasoning for not having anti-virus installed or only running
on-access holds water or is sufficient for today's needs.

The operations manager believes that not all servers need anti-virus
software. He believes his application servers are safe because they
don't receive e-mails and they don't have files that would become
infected. He also feels his Novell file and print servers are
sufficiently protect by using on-access detection only.

Can anyone give me a "best business practice" recommendation or point me
to documentation on what should be protected with anti-virus software
and why?

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks....

Larry

 
 


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