MicroWorld's eScan: One-Stop Virus Shop

EScan offers one-stop shopping for eliminating undesirable content, by adding key features such as pop-up blocking, parental control, URL filtering and e-mail scanning to a powerful antivirus product.

Billed as an antivirus and content security package, eScan 2003 brings a plethora of options to networks,both large and small,and combines the normally diverse elements of protective security applications under a comprehensive umbrella.

EScan 2003 comes in a variety of packages, ranging from an edition tuned for Microsoft Small Business Server 2000-based networks to a basic eScan 2003 Virus Control edition. VARs may find the many offerings difficult to navigate and choose from, but a configuration tool on MicroWorld's Web site helps quell some of the confusion.

CRN Test Center engineers reviewed eScan 2003 Corporate Edition, which offers realtime virus scanning, realtime content scanning and filtering, spam control, browser productivity controls, pop-up filters, remote-access file controls, Internet privacy protection and several other security-related options.

The package is deployed in two pieces. VARs must decide which machine will act as the server and install the remote management console on it. The console allows administrators to control the product's options and schedules on any client machine from most anywhere. That functionality allows solution providers to build a managed-service model around both antivirus and content control.

Solution providers will find initial installation straightforward and the process of pushing the client portions of the software out to various network-attached PCs easy. When it comes to realtime scanning, eScan basically takes on the role of a proxy server, so all network traffic, including Web browsing, e-mail and FTP, pass through the server portion of eScan. Although the proxy method often adds latency to network operations, Test Center engineers did not find any readily apparent problems on the small test network, which consisted of a Windows 2000 server and four client PCs. Solution providers will want to weigh overhead and latency against security when selling a solution such as eScan, and in most cases, the productivity gained by reducing spam and preventing viruses will more than make up for any perceived performance hits.

Like most antivirus products, eScan relies on signature files. Those files assist the software in identifying potential viruses, but to be effective, signatures need frequent updates. The person installing the software can automate that process via a configurable schedule that allows updates as often as every day. In many cases, virus outbreaks can occur before signatures can be updated. To handle those potential disasters, eScan employs complex heuristics, which help to identify and prevent abnormal activity.

Since viruses can arrive in many forms such as spam or illicit content, combining spam and content filtering with an antivirus solution just makes sense. EScan's content filtering engine also relies on a proxy-like deployment, but that offers the advantage of examining every packet in realtime for inappropriate content, bringing flexibility and intelligence to filtering requirements. Administrators can filter based upon URLs, detected content and even a schedule. Scheduling allows businesses to offer unfiltered or enhanced Web access to workers during breaks and lunch hours, which is often a good balance between playing Big Brother and protecting productivity for many business owners.

In today's e-mail-centric environment, most knowledge workers are inundated with unsolicited spam. MicroWorld's answer to that challenge comes in the form of integrated spam filtering found in the eScan product line. By leveraging eScan's inherent ability to filter all network traffic, controlling spam became the next logical step in content control.

The product's spam filter works hand-in-hand with either a company's mail server or with a client PC's mail client. In short, eScan looks at every packet of e-mail data to determine if that e-mail should be delivered, offering additional effectiveness by combining content control with virus scanning and common antispam techniques.

VARs offering an effective antispam solution will most likely win the hearts and minds of customers, making additional content control services an easy upsell. Solution providers will find that eScan 2003 Corporate Edition offers a comprehensive feature set, ease of management and service opportunities.

CHANNEL PROGRAM SNAPSHOTS
>MICROWORLD TECHNOLOGIES ESCAN 2003
PRICE: $59.99
MARGIN: 30 percent
DISTRIBUTORS: INgram Micro, Navarre, Poland Prichard and Crane
TECH RATING:

CHANNEL RATING:

CHANNEL OVERVIEW: Old Bridge, N.J.-based MicroWorld Technologies recently entered the solution provider channel and is still working out the details of its channel program and deciding whether to sell eScan solely via retail stores or also via solution providers. The ISV provides 5 percent co-op advertising funds, along with basic sales training. Technical support is available 24x7 via e-mail and phone.

Note: Vendors can earn up to five stars for technical merit and five for their channel program. If the average of these two scores is four stars or greater, the product earns CRN Test Center Recommended status.