> -----Original Message-----
> From: Granatella Adam J [mailto:Adam.Granatella@;Sentry.com] 
> Sent: 15 November 2002 14:15
> To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'
> Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] AD and Network Core Services & Anti-Virus
> 
> 
> That wasn't the point.  The point was that if there was a 
> virus like Code Red that was able to infect without a client 
> opening a file or downloading something, there will be 
> another virus like that again.  It doesn't matter what 
> patches are out for the Code Red vulnerability now.  
> Something like it will come along and that will be that.  
> Arrogance does not a good policy make!

With all due respect that wasn't arrogance. And I apologise if I missed
your point but I think you missed mine too.

No matter how much your workstations are controlled and locked down you
need to take some risks with them in order to allow your users to work.
Servers, however, should be locked down to the max, are up 24x7 (so are
easy to automatically/remotely install patches on out of hours), and you
can very tightly control who has permission to do what on them. All of
which mitigate against getting a virus actually executing (rather than
sitting inert on a fileshare a user has access to) on the server. 

You are correct to say that it's a risk. Roger was very correct to say
that these days one would be foolish not to protect them. But the risk
is easy enough to reduce to a low level and manage, and all the cases of
virus code actually being executed on a server that I have ever seen -
and believe me, I've seen a lot - can be traced back to at least some
degree of operator error.

The point is we manage, reduce and contain these incidents because its
our job. We don't worry about things "because if it happened once it
could happen again" we make a professional assessment of the risks
involved in each situation, balance it against the needs of the
client/users and we take appropriate action.

Robert Moir MSMVP
IT Systems Engineer
Luton Sixth Form College
Ciderspace: An online 3D virtual reality environment for tramps.
Ciderspace Cafe: A park Bench.
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