Formerly from Sybari (acquired by Microsoft in 2005) Antigen provides server-based anti-virus, anti-spam, and content filtering capabilities specifically for Microsoft E-mail server environments; including Windows 2000/2003 SMTP gateways and Exchange servers. Additionally, the Antigen line includes components targeted specifically to SharePoint (Antigen for SharePoint) and Live Communications Server (Antigen for Instant Messaging), as well as the Enterprise Manager, for centralized, browser-based control of all the Antigen components; and Antigen Management Pack for MOM, providing integration to Microsoft Operations Manager.

A key feature of the product line is its support for the management of multiple anti-virus scanning engines (in the anti-virus products). Both inbound and outbound messages can be scanned, with each of the Antigen for Exchange and Antigen for SMTP Gateways supporting the management of Microsoft, CA InoculateIT, CA Vet, Norman, and Sophos anti-virus engines. Additionally, with the purchase of Microsoft Messaging Security Suite (which includes Antigen for Exchange, Antigen for SMTP Gateways, Antigen Spam Manager, and Antigen Enterprise Manager), users can select from four additional scan engines from Authentium, Kaspersky, VirusBuster, and AhnLab. Microsoft recommends the use of no more than five engines as a best practice. The Microsoft Anti-virus engine option was added with the first Microsoft branded release of the products.

Individual components of Microsoft's Antigen product line include:

- Antigen for Exchange: Anti-virus scanning and content filtering for Exchange 2003 and 2000 servers. Antigen for Exchange provide real-time message scanning (inbound/outbound) of the SMTP message stack, as well as the Exchange Information Store. Additionally, the Information Store can benefit from on-demand or scheduled scans. In addition to its ability to manage multiple anti-virus engines, Antigen for Exchange can also apply content filtering to examined messages; via administrator-defined content filtering rules for subject-lines and message body text and enforcement of file filtering rules.

- Antigen for SMTP Gateways: Provides multi-engine anti-virus management and content filtering for SMTP gateways on Windows (2000/Server 2003). Features are similar to Antigen for Exchange and include an automated and verified (digitally signed) signature update process that does not require the stoppage of the scanning engines, support for the addition of disclaimer messages, and multi-threaded scanning.

- Antigen Spam Manager: Combines signature-based anti-spam scanning (Spam Cure from Mail-Filters) and content-filtering for Exchange Server 2000/2003.

- Antigen Enterprise Manager: A browser-based central console facilitating the contral and management of all Antigen components in the Enteprise. The product relies on an agent-based architecture (the console communicates with agents on the individual Antigen-enabled servers) and provides features including remote deployment, distributed quarantine management, central signature updates, reporting, and SMTP/SNMP alerting. Other capabilities include the ability to retrieve remote log files, apply upgrades and patches, and manage either individual or groups of servers.

- Antigen Management Pack for MOM: Provides Antigen management integration with Microsoft Operations Manager.

Other products in the Antigen Arsenal include Antigen for Instant Messaging (Multi-engine anti-virus and content filtering capabilities for Microsoft Live Communications Server) and Antigen for SharePoint.

The first Microsoft-branded versions of the Antigen product line are expected to be available on July 1st; with new features including the aforementioned addition of the Microsoft Anti-Virus scanning engine; enhanced signature updates and quarantine management; and cluster support. Available on July 1 will be Antigen for Exchange, Antigen for SMTP Gateways, Antigen Spam Manager, Antigen Enterprise Manager, Antigen Managament Pack for MOM, and the Antigen Messaging Security Suite (which includes the Exchange, SMTP Gateway, Spam Manager, and Enteprise Manager components and supports four additional anti-virus scanning engines). The remaining products (Antigen for Instant Messaging and Antigen for SharePoint) are still available as a Sybari-branded offering; with the Microsoft-branded versions expected to be available in the first half of 2007.

Visit the Microsoft Web site for further information.

product submission by EITPlanet Staff

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