Netcare selects Trend Micro

SecureData, a member of the JSE-listed ERP.com Group, and the southern African distributor for Trend security software, today announced that Netcare had selected the latest client-server solution from Trend Micro to help manage today's key Internet security threats.

"When an organisation relies on its IT infrastructure to help organise critical tasks within its healthcare establishments, it is easy to understand the need to protect it against computer malware and other Internet threats at all times," commented Dean Brazier, MD of SecureData. "Network failure could potentially cause severe disruption, and in the worst-case scenario, even put lives at risk."

"Netcare's hospitals care for some 800 000 patients every year," explained Brett Hairbottle, Network Manager of Netcare, SA's largest hospital and doctor network.

"We depend on our IT infrastructure to help us with the admission, discharge and billing of patients. We also rely on it for day-to-day tasks, which are essential to the well-being of our patients and the smooth-running of hospital business, such as stock control and both internal and external communications. As network manager, I am responsible for the security of our IT infrastructure that consists of a wide area network with over 120 sites and comprising some 4 000 machines, operating on a mixed Microsoft Windows environment. I need to ensure that our network does not fall victim to a computer virus or Internet security threat. As well as the obvious practical considerations, such an event would also entail business implications.

"The greatest threats we face today are from network worms, due to their potential speed and extent of propagation; from spyware, that can enter PCs when browsing the Internet; and from viruses that exploit faults within the operating system," continued Hairbottle.

"We have used Trend Micro solutions, including the previous version of OfficeScan, for quite some time. The results have always been good, so it made sense to deploy the latest version of OfficeScan. Its extended functionality to protect against network viruses and spyware, together with its in-built personal firewall, really helps address the nature of the key challenges facing network managers today."

OfficeScan 6.5 was first rolled out on a limited number of machines, but when one of Netcare's key sites was hit by the Korgo worm, Hairbottle made the decision to deploy the solution across the whole network, using the firewall feature within OfficeScan 6.5 to stop the spread of the virus.

"The Korgo worm propagates by exploiting the Windows LSASS vulnerability," added Hairbottle. "Once the PC is infected, the attacker can gain full control of the system. By deploying OfficeScan 6.5 across the network, I was able to use its built-in firewall to contain the spread of the worm to infected PCs only, rather than spreading across our network."

"The spyware detection feature in OfficeScan 6.5 enabled us to successfully detect and remove many spyware. We have also noticed several other benefits with this latest version of the product. It is very user-friendly, installation was very easy, and the new layout on the management console is simple to operate. The cleanup feature enables users to cleanup viruses at the touch of a button."

Trend Micro OfficeScan Corporate Edition 6.5 is a proactive, collaborative solution for enterprise desktops, servers and mobile systems. Deployed and managed from a central Web-based console, OfficeScan Corporate Edition integrates a range of security technologies designed to combat evolving mixed threats. These include: anti-virus, personal firewall, anti-spyware. intrusion detection, network session monitor, outbreak prevention services, damage cleanup services and policy enforcement via Cisco Network Admission Control (NAC)-enabled access devices. This all-in-one solution employs a flexible distributed architecture to ensure comprehensive automatic update performance no matter how many machines are in need of protection.

"OfficeScan 6.5 has already proved extremely effective within our organisation," concluded Hairbottle. "It really helps deal with the type of threats we are seeing more and more often today. Spyware can be stopped, the network virus detection features help contain network worms, and the firewall enables companies to protect themselves against operating system vulnerabilities quickly, as well as being able to stop unwanted network traffic, it is a product I would recommend."

Netcare also deploys Trend Micro InterScan VirusWall for Linux. InterScan Messaging Security Suite, ServerProtect and Trend Micro's management console, Trend Micro Control Manager (TMCM).

For further information, please contact Dean Brazier at telephone +27 11 257 8600; fax +27 11 257 8699; e-mail deanb@securedata.co.za