Wrapping up with LANDesk AV
Well, after a few weeks of reading, setting up and installing LANDesk AV, I have to say I am quite impressed with it. It really seems to do a better job than our current solution, while being much easier to manage and install across campus. I have 18 test machines all running it and so far we haven't had any show stopping issues.
One of the most impressive features is it's ability to be managed centrally inside of LANDesk. At all times I get to up to date information on all quarantined files, virus, spyware, etc. This give me an overview of the campus health, alerts me to possible outbreaks, and puts me in a position to cut them off before they happen. An example of this cropped up today when a couple machines with the Pharos print system joined the test group. Apparently Pharos uses some Windows exploit to run and both our current product and the LANDesk product pick this up and quarantine it. With the current solution we would have to exclude this file on each machine from the check. With LANDesk, it was a simple change in the AV setting at the core and then syncing the clients with the core.
I have to submit my final opinion on the LANDesk product by noon on Thursday, but I have to say that right now it is looking very impressive. Add to that the script Admin Systems got us to automate the removal of our current AV product, and we may be on our way to switching this July. Hopefully I can have some concrete answers by next week.