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Novell ZENworks

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ZENworks Endpoint Security Management v3.5 is targeted to protect against lost or stolen equipment, third parties or outsourcers, malicious insiders, hacked systems and malicious code. ZENworks provides personal firewall, wireless security, encryption, port security, application control, posture and integrity integration, client policy enforcement, and device control - all with centralized policy management, monitoring reporting and alerting.

The application required the .NET Framework, SQL server and IIS to be loaded. The application did take some time to load all of its components, but it was a smooth process. We loaded ZENworks on our Windows 2003 server. It supports both AD and eDirectory integration. We integrated it with our test AD. The management interface was easy to use. The client deployments used Windows, a MSI file build and AD to distribute the clients.

With other solutions, we have seen a focus on one or two of the endpoint categories. ZENworks provides a true cross-section of services across the entire endpoint spectrum. I would not say that any set of features is superior to other solutions, but the breadth of the offering is impressive. At the network level, ZENworks provides a personal firewall. It does not provide anti-virus or anti-spyware, but it does police these products for compliance with centralized policy. It will also police OS patches for compliance. ZENworks did police communications for devices, such as LAN, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FireWire and Infrared. Also, ZENworks provides encryption for the drive and removable media. The port management is also supported for USB devices, and CD and DVD devices with whitelist options for corporate-approved devices.

Reporting on policy effectiveness and status is available on the dashboard. Customized alerting is also tunable through the dashboard.

The documentation was good, although not detailed enough for more complicated deployments. Numerous support options are available for an additional fee. The base support includes 24/7 access to a knowledge base, patches and support forums.

ZENworks is a very nice solution if you are looking for a good across-the-board offering with reporting and alerting at a reasonable price.
Product title
Novell ZENworks
Product info
Name: ZENworks Description: Price: MSRP starting at $69.00 (Current Promotion $37)
Strength
Features across multiple endpoint categories.
Weakness
Nothing to note.
Verdict
Not superior at any one thing, but a very solid offering covering many of the endpoint categories. It’s a well-rounded solution with good bang for the buck.

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