AV software for Windows 2003 R2 Server

[TechguyUK]

Windows 2003R2 Server running as a simple file & print server.

Can someone recommend a decent AV package that isn't silly money - free is best .

I was looking at Bitdefender fileserver edition but its £175/10 users which seems like overkill.

 

[JustInspired]

GFI Max with MAV?
If it's for a client you can put together a nice little package or if it's yours you can use the NFR option...

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

To the best of my knowledge, the only "free" AV licensed for Server OS is ClamAV (useless, no real time, manual scan only), and Forigates AV product (which combines a software firewall with it...messy!).

Why not use a business grade AV that can manage the workstations too? That way the client has a single site license to manage for their AV. Eset NOD32 Business Edition, or a similar product by another brand. Ends up being more cost effective this way. And it's more professional.

 

[Metanis]

Server AV or edge devices?

I'm probably out of the mainstream here but I don't believe in a file server running real-time AV unless it's also a Terminal Server.

I always thought that the edge devices were responsible for their own AV process and adding it to a file server was both redundant and could result in a bottleneck on the server. Not to mention the fact that a bad definition file could kill the server. (Yes, it's rare but has happened with several AV products.)

Of course this is predicated on the requirement that the server was in fact truly a server and that administrators didn't use it for their own surfing or day-to-day activity.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I always thought that the edge devices were responsible for their own AV process and adding it to a file server was both redundant and could result in a bottleneck on the server. Not to mention the fact that a bad definition file could kill the server. (Yes, it's rare but has happened with several AV products.)

You never experienced an outbreak on a network huh? Lots of malware out there which will detect the presence of a network (after it's come in from a workstation)...and proceed to spread itself across the LAN.

Learning how to correctly configure an antivirus on a server (something most beginner techs never both with..they just install it like a desktop AV) is what results to bottlenecks.

 

[RedFoxComp]

Learning how to correctly configure an antivirus on a server (something most beginner techs never both with..they just install it like a desktop AV) is what results to bottlenecks.

Yep, for me it's very common to inherit a network where the previous tech did no AV exclusions or setup on the server. Install and done is not ok.

 

[bits-n-bytes]

Having just set up a endpoint protection product, can you tell me more?
I dont scan SQL, nor PDF, anything else i should be aware of?

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

To the best of my knowledge, the only "free" AV licensed for Server OS is ClamAV (useless, no real time, manual scan only), and Forigates AV product (which combines a software firewall with it...messy!).

Why not use a business grade AV that can manage the workstations too? That way the client has a single site license to manage for their AV. Eset NOD32 Business Edition, or a similar product by another brand. Ends up being more cost effective this way. And it's more professional.

Theres that one with the lion...starts with an R i think? its detection rates suck though.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Having just set up a endpoint protection product, can you tell me more?
I dont scan SQL, nor PDF, anything else i should be aware of?

Yes...there are lots, especially if it's a DC, and even more if it has Exchange.
Also if you're hosting applications, like Quickbooks, or other accounting, or other line of business software.
And there is the default extension type to scan, you don't want to scan all file types.
Tons of infrastructure file types and directories

Easy to find...Microsoft has several guides...and of course there is the documentation from the brand of antivirus that you're reselling/installing (that you should be familiar with if you're a reseller).

Here's a link to a thread I made
http://www.technibble.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36936&highlight=antivirus+exclusion

 

[bits-n-bytes]

Reseller,, haha, I'm just a guy that got hooked into doing this, because no one else wants to come up here.
I'll scour thru the net, to find the docs.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Theres that one with the lion...starts with an R i think? its detection rates suck though.

Wow....you're right! I'll have to update my "free AV" thread with this info.
http://www.rising-global.com/Download/Rising-Free-Utilities/Rising-Free-Antivirus.html

However...I dunno how "confident" I'd be with an odd brands free product like that. I've dealt with "free" AV products botching up some critical Windows system files on desktop computers (anyone recall those 911 days from AVG when it mistook something like userinit. or some other system32 file)