CA simplifies implementation of security measures

CA has announced the release of two threat mitigation solutions that unify and simplify the implementation of essential security measures.

The solutions enable customers to better protect their IT environments while reducing administrative overhead.

CA Threat Manager r8.1 is designed for larger enterprise accounts. It combines best-of-breed CA Anti-Spyware r8.1 with CA Anti-Virus r8.1 to provide an integrated Web-based management console that streamlines tasks such as monitoring, scanning and delivering updates.

The new version also offers broad platform support - including Windows Vista and earlier Windows versions, as well as non-Windows platforms such as Unix (Linux and Sun Solaris) and Macintosh Intel OS X.

CA Protection Suites r3.0 - developed for small and mid-sized businesses that have minimal IT support - are available in five specially priced and packaged versions to support various Microsoft platforms.

The suites provide SMBs with the industry's most complete and fully integrated anti-virus, anti-spyware, backup and desktop migration technology, so that SMBs can easily protect themselves against a full range of potential business risks while minimising IT costs. Improvements based on customer feedback include simplified installation, a more powerful management reporting console, an improved desktop control centre and optional anti-spam functionality.

Both products work with the new CA Host-Based Intrusion Prevention System (CA HIPS), which blends standalone firewall and intrusion detection and prevention capabilities, to provide customers with multiple layers of defence for maximum threat protection.

"Security technology must be properly deployed and administered," said David Luft, senior vice-president at CA. "By enabling customers to implement and manage their diverse data protection solutions in a common manner, CA helps them raise their security level and confidence while also reducing their IT costs."

CA Threat Manager r8.1 scans all applications and processes as they load in real-time to prevent malware and spyware from installing and/or running. It can also stop unwanted processes that are already running in memory. An optional agent GUI enables users to run scans and reports on their workstation as needed, depending on company policy. This allows users to play a more active role in the defence of their desktops and eliminates a common source of help-desk calls.

CA Threat Manager automatically alerts security technicians as soon as any new threat is detected in their environment. Seventy-five detailed, graphical reports - including a "Top 10" virus and spyware list - enable security teams to quickly isolate problems and respond to emerging changes in threat activity.

CA Threat Manager r8.1 supports Network Access Protection (NAP), Microsoft's security architecture, complementing its existing support for Network Admission Control (NAC), the Cisco-sponsored industry initiative that uses network infrastructure to enforce security policy compliance on all networked resources. Administrators can deploy CA Threat Manager via Unicenter Software Delivery, Microsoft SMS and other third-party solutions.

"CA Threat Manager 8.1 is a powerful, scalable solution that enables us to centrally manage anti-virus and anti-spyware security measures across our entire 15 000-node network," said Bruce Wignall, chief information security officer of Teleperformance, a global leader in contact centre management. "Its real-time scanning features are particularly attractive to us as we cope with constantly evolving malware threats."

CA Protection Suites 3.0 use a common Web-based management console that provides a comprehensive, graphically intuitive display of all relevant information about users, policies, updates and events. This enables IT staff to effectively and efficiently administer protection across the business. The suites deliver multiple layers of protection that help safeguard SMBs from viruses and spyware, backup and restore critical business information, and ensure that user settings, preferences and data are transferred easily and accurately to upgraded or new PCs, helping to preserve employee productivity.

Enhancements to installation, configuration and ease-of-use make CA Protection Suites r.3.0 easy for SMBs to implement, helping them to fulfil their security and business continuity requirements regardless of IT staff limitations. New licensing policies also make it easy for SMBs to cost-effectively add users in increments.

"CA Protection Suites deliver robust security and protection functionality, yet are extremely easy to install and require minimal ongoing administration," said George R Brown, owner, George Brown, CPA, P.C. "This makes them ideal for use in smaller organisations that don't have large IT staffs, but still have to be diligent about defending their critical information assets."

CA Threat Manager and CA Protection Suites are supported by the CA Security Advisor Team, which operates a worldwide network of rapid response centres that are staffed 24 x 7 by expert security researchers and certified support professionals who identify and automatically isolate the latest viruses, malware, spyware and vulnerabilities.