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Problems with antivirus on Exchange

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by eddie030663

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We are migrating to MS Exchange 2000.
The party contracted to do the work is pretty adamant we should use only the Exchange anti-virus agent and not anti-virus software for the OS (W2K) as this is claimed to cause unacceptable response issues - is this generally the case or have they just not sized the server properly?

5 replies

by timwalsh

Your contractor is correct; he just didn't do a good job of explaining the issue.
While most current AV software will scan email, they only scan it as it arrive in a user's mailbox on the local computer. Thes packages will not scan email arriving on the Exchnage server. Therefore, you need a software package specifically designed to scan Exchange and its information stores. It's not so much a response issue (excessive time to do the job) as it is a design issue (not designed to do the job).

by eddie030663

Tim - I understand your comments. However my stance would be we should protect BOTH the OS and Exchange.
The contract co argue that OS does not need protection as viruses are stopped at the desktop level and by MailSweeper.
They are definitely also suggesting it's a performance issue on the server as well.

by timwalsh

This contractor is not thinking straight when he says 'OS does not need protection as viruses are stopped at the desktop level and by MailSweeper.' Yes, Mailsweeper will scan all incoming email. Yes, individual desktops will stop any viruses at the individual desktop level. Is he assuming that the server is not connected to the network, or that you never install any software by floppy or CD-ROM? Viruses can be introduced to the system by many means, and the server needs to be afforded the same protection as individual desktops.

My original answer was not meant to suggest otherwise. If this contractor is worried about rsponse issues on your server, I would take a serious relook at its specs. If running an anti-virus program will cause server overload, I suspect that the server isn't properly sized.

by eddie030663

This backs up my own view but as I am not as 'hands-on' as I used to be I thought it worthwhile to get other views from neutral parties i.e. not the support team hiring the contract co and not a av vendor.
Thanks
Eddie...

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