What is Enserve

EnServe - plug in an ADSL (or ISDN) internet connection to the Unix host, it then allows:

• Mail server
  • Each user has their own account
  • Automatically blocks spam
  • Blacklist/whitelist to let/deny specific addresses
  • Scans incoming mail for Virus(es)
  • Web Mail - no need to set any mailer options (about to be released)

• Web Proxy
  • Uses a proxy server to reduce bandwidth
  • Logging to see who is looking at what
  • Access control to 'lock out' users/Terminals by time if required

• Remote Access
  • Security to only allow certain users in
  • Home access - high speed same as in-house access
  • Full access to shares - Windows Link
  • VPN for secure branch access
  • We can use it for support - free's up the support modem line

• Shared Areas
  • Each user has own shared area
  • Users and Common area scanned for virus(es)

• Audit
  • Report each week on who has been accessing what
  • Which sites have attempted to get in, who has been blocked
  • Administrator mailed if any virus's detected and from whom.
  • General monitor of what has been happening.

• Updates
  • Virus defintion files updated every night
  • Upgrade your backup software via one menu option
  • Pick up OS upgrades (Yes we will get round to cutting a new cd and sending - but that does take time - EnServe sites can download the patches a lot quicker and easier than waiting for a new util cd).

Not to mention sync'ing time so all the clocks are correct, for branch surgeries you can cross update every 5 mins if you want - or run everything over the link - keep in mind there is a fixed cost for 7x24 access - no large phone bills - it's all capped.

Internet access has the headache of protecting the system from unauthorised access but at the same time letting in the staff - that's where EnServe comes in - it handles the security involved.

I have a PC in the office connected to the net - I don't need this

Correct - you don't

BUT

You have just added a bottleneck to the practice - only one person can use it at once. Only one person at a time can check E-Mail - the chances are this PC is also running some 'office software' - if that's being used you are denying others from doing their work.

I have a ADSL router that all my exisiting PC use - I don't need this

Correct - you don't

BUT

You have, for example, 6 PC's using the router. You have to buy 6 copies of a 'Internet Security Package' e.g. Norton, McAfee. You have to configure these 6 pc's to make sure the Virus definition files are up to date, you have to ensure that the PC's are used at suitable times, you have to setup mail filters on all six PC's - you have to Administer 6 PC's - almost on a daily basis - if you have the time and resources to do this then - correct you don't need EnServe.

Does EnServe protect everything?

No.

EnServe will virus scan and spam filter E-Mail - it will NOT scan a web download in real time - it will not look at programs that have been introduced via a CD or Floppy on a specific Microsoft Windows PC - yes it will scan anything copied over to the central fileserver.

It is recomended you still have one of the basic virus scanners on any Microsoft PC that will be doing Web Downloads (or loading software/updates via removable media). EnServer is doing 95% of the work - the other 5% needs to handled by Windows Specific software. If you are using Mac's or Linux desktops then this is not required.