Ontario Ministry of Education Chooses NOD32 to Protect 350,000 Computers against Malware and Spyware

WebKnowHow
Tuesday, September 5, 2006; 05:05 AM

ESET, provider of proactive threat protection solutions, announced that the Ontario Ministry of Education (OME) has selected ESET NOD32 Antivirus software to protect more than 350,000 networked computers that are under the direct responsibility of the school boards from malware, spyware and other emerging online threats.

School districts face unique challenges when it comes to ensuring all networked systems are safe from Web-based threats. Typically, elementary and secondary school IT departments are small and overworked, with limited time and resources for ongoing maintenance of desktops and laptop computers. In addition, computer resources at schools are heavily used by diverse audiences--including administrators, teachers and students--who access very different Web resources, presenting particular challenges in controlling exposure to spyware and other forms of malware. During the evaluation process, the OME sought a solution that would be easy to deploy and manage and one that was distinguished by its ability to protect against new forms of online threats.

ESET NOD32 represents the third antivirus product licensed by the OME. Technology and threats to the classroom desktop have evolved, and for the first time, desktop security calls for software that includes not only antivirus protection but also protection against malware including spyware. The classroom environment in Ontario includes desktops running Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP and Macintosh OS 9 and OS X. ESET NOD32 is able to provide a secure solution for the entire range of Windows operating systems, at the same time making a minimal impact on the normal operation of the computers. The centralized management tool allowed technicians to deploy the product quickly and effectively and to manage updates.

"We performed a rigorous analysis of antivirus products based on malware detection, manageability and performance, and ESET's NOD32 was the clear winner," stated Doug Peterson, Computers in the Classroom Consultant of the Greater Essex County District School Board and member of the Ontario Software Acquisition Program Advisory Committee (http://www.osapac.org). "ESET's solution met our key criteria for ease of use and provides a superior level of protection required for our schools to keep online threats off the network."

The Ministry of Education administers the system of publicly funded French and English school boards in the province of Ontario, Canada, in accordance with the directions set by the provincial government. Seventy-two school boards oversee a total of approximately 6,000 schools with approximately 350,000 networked PC-based computers that are used by over 120,000 teachers and school administrators, and 2 million students each day.

ESET NOD32 Antivirus version 2.5 utilizes ThreatSense technology, a detection system based on advanced heuristics, to proactively identify previously unknown viruses, Trojans, spyware and phishing attacks in real-time. ThreatSense is built into NOD32's single scanning engine to provide comprehensive protection so users do not need to rely on additional point solutions for spyware and adware protection.