4-page Case Study - Posted 2/11/2008

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Meredith Corporation

Publishing Company Improves Efficiency and Protection with Client Security Solution

Meredith Corporation, a media and marketing company, used a client security solution that slowed systems and reduced employee productivity. The company wanted client computer protection that would respond faster to Internet-based threats without disrupting business applications. To improve efficiency and security, Meredith implemented a solution based on Microsoft® Forefront™ Client Security, part of the Forefront line of business security products. Now, faster detection and removal of malicious software and other threats help keep the company’s business applications and client operating systems running smoothly. As a result, employees are more productive and systems are more secure. Meredith expects continued efficiency and improved protection through tight integration with client operating systems.

Situation

Employees are contacting the help desk less often for assistance in cleaning their systems of malware. They also report that applications are no longer slowed by virus scans.  John Gaspari Project Deployment Lead Meredith Corporation

Approximately 2,500 of Meredith's employees work with client systems that are at risk of exposure to attack from viruses, malicious software (malware), and other Internet-based threats. The employees, who work in the company’s corporate administration and publishing groups, had leading antivirus software installed on their computing devices. Although the publishing company was generally satisfied with the software’s performance, Meredith noticed that it tended to work against rather than with the operating systems on the client devices.

For example, antivirus scans often ran while users were performing other tasks, slowing applications and reducing productivity. The antivirus product also often required employees to restart their computers to completely remove threats. Not only was this a further drain on productivity, but it also affected security because employees were sometimes reluctant or unable to immediately stop current operations.

The antivirus software’s licensing agreement with Meredith was close to expiring, and the company decided to seek another solution rather than renew its existing one. Meredith wanted a client security solution that would work better with operating systems on client devices.

Solution

In early 2007 as its licensing agreement with its existing security solution was coming to an end, Meredith Corporation took a closer look at the security products that were available through its existing Enterprise Client Access License with Microsoft.

Meredith decided to evaluate Microsoft® Forefront™ Client Security, part of the Forefront line of business security products. The company wanted to provide protection against Internet-based threats with minimal impact on employee productivity.

Forefront Client Security often removes malware and other potential problems without further intervention or without the user having to restart the computer.  John Gaspari Project Deployment Lead Meredith Corporation

In three weeks time in April 2007, BT INS installed Forefront Client Security on 2,500 client devices running the Windows® XP Professional operating system. John Gaspari, Project Deployment Lead for Meredith Corporation, says that “working with BT INS was an excellent experience, and after they helped get our infrastructure in place, deployment went very well.”

The deployment team used Windows Server® Update Services to download and install security agents directly from Microsoft Update. Forefront Client Security agent software deploys as a single client package that includes all protection and management capabilities.

The Meredith IT group, which uses Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 and Microsoft Operations Manager 2005 to help manage other systems, required little training in using the familiar interface of Forefront Client Security. The group uses the Summary Report for general reporting and management.

The group has also configured security alerts to notify users of potential threats to their systems. Employees are instructed to notify the IT service center when they receive a security alert. However, Gaspari says that the security solution usually removes the threat before more action is required. “Forefront Client Security often removes malware and other potential problems without further intervention or without the user having to restart the computer.”

Benefits

By implementing a solution based on Forefront Client Security, Meredith Corporation has helped its systems to run more smoothly and has made it possible to remove malware faster. As a result, employees are more productive and the company’s systems are more secure. Tight integration with the operating system that is running on client devices helps ensure continued operational efficiency and advanced protection against Internet-based threats.

Implementing Forefront Client Security was the right thing to do. As operating systems get more complicated, it makes sense to use an integrated solution from a single vendor.  John Gaspari Project Deployment Lead Meredith Corporation

Improves Productivity

Forefront Client Security integration with client device operating system helps Meredith employees stay productive. Improved detection and removal of viruses before they run minimizes disruption and keeps system resources free for business applications. Critical operations are no longer slowed by security scans, and IT systems and corporate data have better real-time protection.

The security solution also helps improve the efficiency of IT staff. IT managers are now able to spend more time on IT planning and strategy such as ways to upgrade their IT infrastructure. “Employees are contacting the help desk less often for assistance in cleaning their systems of malware,” says Gaspari. “They also report that applications are no longer slowed by virus scans.”

Strengthens Protection

Meredith has improved client security because the Forefront security solution removes threats before they can attack other computers and networks. Automated malware definition updates also help to ensure that the company’s systems are installed with the most current protection. “Our success rate for stopping potential attacks is higher,” says Gaspari. “For example, we are removing malware faster.”

Helps Ensure Future Security

Meredith believes that advanced security technologies from Microsoft, in conjunction with its operating systems, deliver better protection, both now and in the future. “Implementing Forefront Client Security was the right thing to do,” says Gaspari. “As operating systems get more complicated, it makes sense to use an integrated solution from a single vendor.”

Partner Involvement

BT INS, a Microsoft Certified Partner with worldwide operations, helped Meredith implement Forefront Client Security. The team designed server architecture and installed Forefront Client Security on 2,500 client systems across Meredith.

For More Information

For more information about Microsoft products and services, call the Microsoft Sales Information Center at (800) 426-9400. In Canada, call the Microsoft Canada Information Centre at (877) 568-2495. Customers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can reach Microsoft text telephone (TTY/TDD) services at (800) 892-5234 in the United States or (905) 568-9641 in Canada. Outside the 50 United States and Canada, please contact your local Microsoft subsidiary. To access information using the World Wide Web, go to:
www.microsoft.com

For more information about BT INS products and services, call (408) 330-2700 or visit the Web site at:
www.ins.com

For more information about Meredith Corporation products and services, call (515) 284-3000 or visit the Web site at:
www.meredith.com

Microsoft Forefront Product Portfolio

The Microsoft® Forefront™ comprehensive line of business security products provides greater protection and control through integration with your existing IT infrastructure and through simplified deployment, management, and analysis. Forefront is a comprehensive solution that helps provide protection for the client operating system, application servers, and the network edge.

For more information about the Forefront product portfolio, go to:
www.microsoft.com/forefront

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.

Document published February 2008