Features:

avast! features automatic updates that are incremental, so they don’t take long because you only have to download new/changed data. avast! Standard Suite also includes PUSH updates, which are started from the avast! end when necessary to quickly get an essential update out to your company. These PUSH updates utilize SMTP (email message) protocol for simple and smooth deployment.

avast! includes protection technologies to help secure Instant Messaging clients and files transferred through them. avast! also includes protection for peer-to-peer (P2P) networks.

Another exclusive feature of avast! Standard Suite is the ability to completely customize the user interface appearance. The default interface is pretty sleek in itself, resembling a music player with volume (security level) and play (run scan) buttons and controls. Several other unique skins and layout schemes are available for download to customize the interface, while still maintaining core functionality and access to all the features.

Effectiveness:

With several features, advanced technologies and timely updates, avast! has proven effective at protecting endpoint computers as well as accompanying servers. The avast! antivirus kernel has been certified by the Virus Bulletin, Westcoast labs and ICSA labs. 

avast! Standard Suite is secure against threats specifically designed to disable security. It also includes a network shield that acts like a lightweight-firewall Intrusion Detection System (IDS) for all network traffic.

The Standard Suite is equipped to protect from viruses spread through email. The email scanner works with SMTP, POP3, IMAP, NNTP or MS Outlook protocols. The software has heuristic behavioral analysis of email to protect against unknown threats.

avast! scans deep into your systems, scanning for hidden malware in compressed files and a number of archive files (ARJ, ZIP, MIME, MAPI, RAR, TAR, GZIP, CAB, BZIP2, ZPP, ACE, ARC, CHM, ISO). The scanners also work with alternate data streams with NTFS volumes.

Scalability:

avast! Standard Suite is for companies with 10 to 200 workstations. The packages are set up to support 10 workstations for every 1 server (plus 1), so a 24-license subscription can cover 3 servers and a subscription of 100 covers 11. 

The Standard Suite of avast! antivirus is specifically designed to work on standard Microsoft Windows servers. For Windows Small Business Servers, Microsoft Exchange Servers and Sharepoint Servers, you should use the avast! SBS (Small Business Server) Suite. For protection of mail servers, you may consider the Advanced and Enterprise Suites.

Management:

avast! antivirus Standard Suite features centralized management and administration through the avast! Distributed Network Managers (ADNM). IT personnel should have no problem running the system across the company. The administration manager is composed of three parts, the Management Server, SQL Databse and Administration console. 

Administrators also have access to advanced reporting and customizable alerts. Alerts/notifications can be set up to be delivered directly using a Windows popup, or through e-mail, physical printing, SNMP traps or as an Instant Message. Graphical reports can be created to display a variety of statistics and events. The reports can be scheduled to run at given times and exported to a number of more usable formats such as HTML, DOC and PDF.

Help & Support:

The online avast! support center offers a number of useful resources for additional product help, including a knowledgebase, FAQs section, support forums or support through email. In-depth user guides and an installation guide are available.

When you’re securing all your business resources, including servers and all endpoint users, you need a system that can handle today’s advanced threats and doesn’t require another team of IT professionals. avast! antivirus Standard Suite is one of the best.