Security Basics mailing list archives

Re: Why NOT to disable Real Time Antivirus on Servers


From: Brian Loe <knobdy () gmail com>
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2005 16:05:10 -0600

No case studies but there are other steps you can take at the Exchange
Server level , and before it, to limit the need of a real-time AV. You
do take a pretty serious performance hit, in my experience.

On 2 Nov 2005 17:34:12 -0000, george.peek () gmx net <george.peek () gmx net> wrote:
Greetings,

An Engineer and I are having an argument about keeping Real Time Antivirus disabled on servers.

His point is keeping Real Time Antivirus Enabled on servers such as the Exchange Server takes a huge performance hit 
on the server.

My argument is that keeping real time antivirus software disabled defeats the purpose of PREVENTING a server from 
being infected in the first place. Once it is infected, it is all too late already. The antivirus software is enabled 
on the workstations.

He argues that since all of the workstations have the antivirus enabled, then there is no way for the virus to get in.

Mine argument that a virus can still get in through other means. I need examples and case studies to refer to.

I would like to find different case studies or scenarios where the real time antivirus was disabled on the servers, 
enabled on the PCs, and the company still got infected. Also, would like to find solutions to enabling real time scan 
and stream lining it so it does not affect the Exchange Server as bad.

Would someone point me in the right direction or post potential case studies.

Please post or email me.

George.peek () gmx net

Thank You



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