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Antivirus and firewall for Windows 2003 Server - WHICH?

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18 years 10 months ago #12487 by oldstudent
Hi all,

I'm using Windows 2003, but I can't install antivirus and firewall on my computer cause they're not support Win2k3 Server. Anybody who's used this OS pls give me some advises about this.

Thanks!

Never late to begin
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18 years 10 months ago #12489 by DaLight
Windows 2003 has a built-in firewall which is OK for most needs. If you need to have an alternative firewall on the server itself (as opposed to an external firewall), you will need to get a firewall product designed for servers. ISA 2004, Kerio Winroute Firewall are possible solutions. The same applies for antivirus software. You will need to use the server versions of the relevant antivirus software.

BTW are you using the PC as a workstation or as a server?
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18 years 9 months ago #12491 by oldstudent
Hi DaLight,

I'm setting up my pc as a server. This server may act as LAN server and Web server. By this purpose, firewall must be possible to control LAN traffic, well respondes to bad request from local clients and can protect my system from Internet. As your advises, I will use included firewall of Win 2003, but there's still a question about antivirus programs.

Which can be use for antivirus purpose?

Thanks!

Never late to begin
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18 years 9 months ago #12492 by ping
You can try norton antivirus server edition. Also try MCafee.

Cheers..:D

~Pranav

The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you can not do..!!
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18 years 9 months ago #12686 by Ozzy_98
You need newer versions of software to support 2K3. Most of them will work.

How exactly are you setting this up? Sounds like you want it to be a firewall it's self, AND a web server to the outside. That's not a good setup.

Generally you want to use a DMZ (Demilitarized zone) setup. You have one firewall, the external one, that filters connections from the outside to the inside. And it connects to any servers that can be accessed from the internet, such as a web server. Then you have a SECOND firewall that protects your interanet from the DMZ network. This way, if the exposed servers become compromised, then you protect your internal network. Placing the firewall *ON* the web server isn't a good idea, because a web server is a way into the network. If it becomes compromised via the web server, then the firewall can not stop it. Indeed, the firewall is now under the attackers control. If you just had one firewall, the web server, and it was compromised, then they have a direct connection to your whole network. That's why any firewall that protects your whole network should be just that, a firewall, and nothing else. Have as little of an attack surface as you can.
In general, a good way to think, protect the networks from attacks from the internet, protect your clients from attacks from each other. Windows built-in firewall, Zone Alarm, and all these others are labeled as client firewalls, and that’s what they should do. Protect clients from internal threats, such as viruses spreading inside the network. Use a dedicated firewall to protect the whole network then.
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