Letters to the Editor
Connecting state and local government leaders
In your review of antivirus solutions, 'Four Antivirus Programs Depth-Charge Viruses Before They Can Infect', I was disappointed to see Symantec's corporate edition antivirus solution being inappropriately compared with competing vendors' consumer-focused antivirus solutions.
In your review of antivirus solutions, 'Four Antivirus Programs Depth-Charge Viruses Before They Can Infect', I was disappointed to see Symantec's corporate edition antivirus solution being inappropriately compared with competing vendors' consumer-focused antivirus solutions.When Symantec provided its Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition 7.6 to participate in this review, it was with the understanding that the focus of the review was on desktop solutions for an enterprise environment.Most upsetting is that the very qualities that Symantec's enterprise customers seek, for example, manageability and automatic scanning and quarantining, are the areas where the solution was criticized and, ultimately, given a lower rating. The Symantec Security Center was referred to as 'superfluous,' and incorrectly referred to as having the sole purpose of keeping track of all Symantec software installed. Symantec System Center is designed to manage the functions within the corporate antivirus solution, not additional Symantec solutions.Also, regarding the automatic scanning, quarantining and cleaning or deleting of files, those functions are available because Symantec's customer discussions and research shows that enterprise customers want those very features. The review states that generally the automation is good, but 'some users want more choice about what goes on in their systems.' Again, to the point of comparing an enterprise solution with a consumer solution: In an enterprise environment, IT administrators set the policies and monitor the network, not the users.And, in cases where the IT administrator wants the end user to have more control, Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition 7.6 allows the end user to have full control to interact with the software.Symantec's Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition 7.6 was also unfairly rated for 'bundling,' stating that makes it difficult to install only one solution. In fact, Symantec's antivirus technology is available in a variety of offerings, depending on the specific needs of enterprise customers. For example, Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition 7.6 is available as a standalone solution. It is also available as part of the Symantec Antivirus Enterprise Edition 8.0 that offers a bundle of antivirus protection at all network tiers. But even as a solution within this offering, Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition 7.6 can still be installed independently.Symantec's Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition 7.6 deserved a fair chance to be compared against similar enterprise antivirus solutions.I did enjoy your special issue on Sept. 11. I'm old enough to have been an adult when Pearl Harbor happened and lost lots of friends but, thank goodness, no immediate family. My brother was in the water for hours when his ship, the USS Helena, was torpedoed. I have visited the site of the USS Arizona and cried for all those young men and women.More recently, we've seen the Oklahoma City bombing where an American killed hundreds, and I have laid flowers on the site. And now Sept 11. People who lived through those two events will never forget them.I have had two sons killed in accidents, and if I had to see those accidents every day on television I couldn't have handled it. I hope now that the anniversary has come and gone, the news media will let those poor families and friends have a little peace from the horrible pictures.Again, thank you for your issue, and now let's look back but move forward.
Antivirus software review compared apples and oranges
Eric Winsborrow
Senior Director, Product Management
Symantec Corp.
Cupertino, Calif.
'Look back, move forward'
Vinita B. Morse
Hispanic Recruitment Initiative,
Forest Service
Albuquerque, N.M.
Eric Winsborrow
Senior Director, Product Management
Symantec Corp.
Cupertino, Calif.
'Look back, move forward'
Vinita B. Morse
Hispanic Recruitment Initiative,
Forest Service
Albuquerque, N.M.
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