Microsoft Security Essentials for a business

Question

This is 2 questions really -

1. Am I allowed to install Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0 in a business of 200 - 300 users?

2. Is Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0 adequate protection (real-time scanning, updates etc)?

Answer 1

Answer 1: Unfortunately, no. The license specifically states in the first bullet point in section 1

You may install and use any number of copies of the software on your devices in your household for use by people who reside there or for use in your home-based small business.

Answer 2: It sounds good to me, though I haven't looked at any lab comparisons yet. I have started recommending it to co-workers for their home computers -- it's a lot better than nothing!

Answer 2

In addition to the other answers given her, just a small remark:

From benchmarks that I've seen MSE seems to give a very good level of protection, almost as good as any other anti-virus product on the market. Apparently you need have no fears on that account.

Answer 3

"Microsoft Security Essentials is NOT supported for businesses of any kind. Not only that, but it is licensed for consumer use only, and carries similar license wording to Office Home & Student. Commercial or for-profit institutions must pay for the software. AVG and Avast have similar licensing."

I will ask MSFT if he is right. For now, all I can say is the person who sent is a MS partner and usually has good info to pass along... MJ

Source: http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-12558-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=69120&messageID=1320939

Answer 4

I just want to bring some precisions regarding the licensing and correct what I think are erroneous statements from other answers (e.g. "Microsoft Security Essentials is NOT supported for businesses of any kind"): Microsoft Security Essentials may be used in a business environment under the following condition:

"b. Small Business. If you operate a small business, then you may install and use the software on up to ten (10) devices in your business."

The above sentenced is quoted from the below article:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security_essentials/eula.aspx

Answer 5

1. Yes
2. Depends on your definition of 'adequate'. It does real-time scanning and auto-updates, and is reportedly very good on not reporting false positives. For 200-300 desktops you might want something with more centralised control over rollouts and so on.

Answer 6

You can install MSE on whatever computers you want, as long as it meets the minimum requirements. However, it does not work with any Windows Server flavors. MSE seems good enough for me; all the reviews I have read have given it nothing but praise.

The disadvantage of MSE is that you have no centralized management of the antivirus, like you'd have with Forefront Client Security. With such a large number of PCs it might be a problem.

Answer 7

Just to address question #2 - I have been running MSE with religious updates and was infected last week with a GDI vulnerability attack that nearly forced a total wipe. I'm re-evaluating the whole thing.