F-Secure's Client Security v9.0 provides automatic, centrally managed, real-time protection against online threats, such as browser exploits, viruses, spyware, riskware, zero-day attacks, rootkits and other forms of malicious code across Windows platforms and Linux distributions.
The F-Secure Policy Manager is comprised of three components: the Policy Manager Console, Policy Manager Server and Policy Manager Web Reporting. The Manager Console provides a centralized management console for the security of the managed hosts in the network. The Policy Manager Server is the repository for policies and software packages distributed by the administrator and for status information and alerts sent by the managed hosts.
The server installation is a simple executable that installs the management components. Once complete, the policy manager can be run from the start/programs menu. The Manager launched in anti-virus mode with options to change to advanced mode for managing other F-Secure products. The complete security package offers seamless integration of several protection technologies, such as anti-virus, anti-spyware, web traffic scanning, firewall, email scanning, intrusion prevention and DeepGuard application rules monitoring. Additional protection includes server queries to a real-time protection network, advanced heuristics, sandboxing and behavioral blocking that work tightly together with signature-based virus protection to offer greater protection against all malware.
Reporting, alerting and logging are all available through the user interface. There is also a web reporting module for easily browsing to basic report information. Alerting is solid, tunable and deliverable via email integration. The user interface is tab-based and very easy to use. User management was handled through either an import from a Windows domain or through polling the network. Creating initial policies was very easy using the editor in the Policy Manager.
Some enhancements added in v9.0 include new virus definitions, update channels and remote quarantine management.
Basic support includes eight-hours-a-day/five-days-a-week phone and email support and upgraded support options are available for a fee. This is a strong product in the malware space.
