RICHMOND, Ky. and BELMONT, Calif. - May 12, 2008
- Eastern Kentucky University has standardized on FaceTime
Communications' perimeter Web security solution to keep spyware and
malware from infiltrating its campus-wide network. The appliance
supports extensive use of real-time communications such as Skype
and instant messaging applications as well as Web-based e-learning
systems. The system has been deployed to 2,000 faculty and staff as
well as the 5,000 students currently living in on-campus
housing.
"FaceTime gives us the perimeter protection and manageability we
need to prevent spyware from getting onto our network, taking care
of the problem before it can turn into a labor-intensive clean-up
operation for the helpdesk," said Ed Riley, assistant director,
networking, telecommunications and systems, Eastern Kentucky
University.
Although every student is supplied with a copy of Symantec's
Norton Anti-Virus when they first arrive on campus, IT and helpdesk
personnel had seen a significant rise in spyware infiltrating the
network during 2006 and 2007. It became clear that the user-based
anti-spyware software that had been the sole defense against these
attacks was no longer effective.
"I'm a firm believer in perimeter-based defense systems," said
Riley. "By relying on a user-based approach, we were essentially
relying on people, and I think anyone in IT would agree that people
are the weakest link in any security system."
The extent of the university's reliance on web-based systems for
distance learning means that, not only was it essential to keep the
network spyware-free to deliver teaching programs effectively, but
any viable anti-spyware solution had to offer zero-latency to
maintain an effective transmission speed.
Riley's team evaluated a number of edge-defense anti-spyware
solutions, focusing on those that had received high ratings in
independent reviews and tests. FaceTime was an immediate front
runner, exhibiting effective spyware blocking and no network
latency. For acceptance in an academic environment, it was also
important not to censor communications channels. It offered a good
foundation for future management of real-time communications, which
would allow an element of control without intruding on the freedom
of those communications.
Riley is pleased with the results of the deployment "but I'd
guess my colleagues in the helpdesk department are even happier,"
he says. "Not only are they not getting calls complaining about
system slow-downs and other performance-related issues directly
attributable to spyware, but they're not spending time fixing the
problems the user-based anti-spyware couldn't deal with. They're
able to work on more productive tasks like rolling out new PCs and
making sure everyone's patched and up-to-date."
An additional benefit Riley discovered was the ability to
monitor real-time communications usage and come up with some of
those important "back-end" controls to keep the network humming.
"By combining the use of Cisco packet-shaping products to curtail
P2P traffic on our Resnet network with FaceTime's Web security
product to block most P2P traffic, we are able to establish broad
operating controls for bandwidth-sapping P2P networks.
Large data packet transfer could indicate music or video file
sharing that may constitute a breach of copyright. Notable legal
action by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for
illegal music downloading in violation of copyright laws has
prompted concern among many IT professionals at colleges and
universities. Identifying and preventing such transfers keeps both
institution and individuals on the right side of the law.
Riley also appreciates the reporting and analysis tools.
"Anti-spyware programs can generate a huge amount of data, some of
which is extremely useful in configuring the protection to best
effect. When we were using client-based protection, that data was
essentially unavailable to us, but with FaceTime's Web security
solution we can get a number of different reports to help us
optimize the system."
About Actiance, Inc. (Formerly FaceTime Communications, Inc.)
FaceTime Communications became Actiance, Inc on January 11, 2011 following an agreement to
transfer the FaceTime trademark to Apple.
FaceTime Communications enables the safe and productive use of Unified Communications and Web 2.0,
including instant messaging, blogs and social networking. Ranked number one by IDC for five consecutive
years, FaceTime's award-winning solutions are used by more than 1,500 customers for the security,
management and compliance of real-time communications. FaceTime supports or has strategic partnerships
with all leading IM, unified communications providers and social networks including AOL, Google, Yahoo!,
Skype, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
FaceTime is headquartered in Belmont, California. For more information visit
http://www.facetime.com or call 888-349-3223.
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