ESET Smart Security Business Edition Review

ESET's award-winning Smart Security Business Edition brings high functionality, simple administration and lightning fast performance in a single package. Recommended for business with 10+ servers/workstations, Smart Security offers high-horsepower protection with minimal impact on resources.  The Smart Security Business Edition includes all of the features of ESET's Smart Security product with remote management capabilities added for easy of administration.

Featuring anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam and advanced personal firewall features makes this product a comprehensive solution for endpoint and server security.  Basic configuration doesn't require a computer expert and the software is scalable to enterprise-wide usage through separate remote administration and reporting server software. Some competitive programs require purchase through a middle-man VAR (value-added reseller), which normally raises costs on solutions.  Some competitors offer similar features in the same price range but often hog system resources and can make PCs more sluggish after installation.  The fact that this solution is aimed towards workstations and servers

alike allows for a homogeneous security application for all Windows-based systems.

The installation file for the entire suite is 17 MB, making for a fast installation over any media type.  Footprint after installation was around 80 MB.  The installation process requests the licensee's user name and password, which is provided at time of purchase.  This prompt can be skipped but updates will be disabled until legitimate credentials are supplied.  Oddly, the installation prompted to enable advanced scanning, which may confuse some users.  Overall, the process was simple enough to be completed by end users if needed.

The performance on my laptop was extremely minimal. My laptop features Windows XP with all current updates running on an Intel Core 2 Duo 2 GHz processor and 2 GB of RAM. Execution of a standard scan took 10 minutes and 20 seconds for 167,459 files. CPU utilization peaked to 60% a few times during the scan, averaging 49% utilization for the ekrn.exe process. The scan found zero threats on my freshly imaged machine. Typical CPU utilization during normal usage was 1% and memory usage was 36,528 Kb.

The user interface is layered, presenting the appropriate options based on the expertise of the user.  The simple interface allows the user to see protection status, perform easy-to-use on-demand scans and updates and configure very basic parameters.  The advanced view adds easy access to log files, quarantined objects and the job scheduler.  An advanced setup dialog box presents the entire configuration in the familiar tree view, allowing technical staff easy access to all options.

Comprehensive help and support is available in the program, providing access to the help documentation and quick links to an on-line knowledge base (kb).  Providing the workstation has internet access, users can create a service request from the GUI without registration or authentication.  User forums on the Eset web site allow users to discuss issues and features amongst themselves, and give Eset a pulse into the discussions and concerns of it's customers. 

For large deployments, 24x7 live telephone support is available through Premium Service contracts.  Premium Service gives enterprises access to dedicated support engineers and guaranteed response times.

ESET's Smart Security Business Edition product is highly recommendable for businesses that need to remotely manage endpoint security.  Keep in mind that you will not need the Business Edition unless you plan on implementing remote management servers.  With a comprehensive set of features, affordable price tag and unbeatable performance, ESET's Smart Security is a no-brainer.

Trend-Micro OfficeScan, Symantec Endpoint Security