alaskasmith: Kaspersky Small Office Security (KSOS 2): Specially design to ...

Kaspersky Lab recently announced the release of the second version of Kaspersky Small Office Security (KSOS 2), a solution specially designed in response to the security needs of small businesses. These are companies that have at least five PC users and above that may not have dedicated IT personnel but need a high level of customizable security.

The updated solution is so simple to configure that it can be set-up and administered from a single PC without prior training. It also provides optimal security for small business computer infrastructure and data, with minimal impact on system resources while being affordable even for companies with tiny IT budgets.

Why SOHOs need KSOS 2
According to a research done by B2B International in collaboration with Kaspersky Lab, 41% of companies surveyed globally are not prepared for cyber-threats and 31% of its IT specialists are not fully aware of today?s Trojans.

This survey serves as a wake-up call for micro and small enterprises in the Philippines as the sector makes up more than 99% of registered businesses in the country, which contributes 61.2% of the country?s total employment and 35.7 % of total value added. Small office/home office (SOHO) businesses have also started to use technology as a means to improve efficiency, especially as they scale up their operations.

According to Kaspersky Lab SEA Channel Sales Director Jimmy Fong, there has been a disconnect in products available for small businesses and the needs, challenges and resources within these companies themselves which makes the introduction of Kaspersky Small Office Security 2 timely.

?For too long, small companies have been offered security products that are scaled down from enterprise level versions, which while providing excellent protection often required a trained IT resource person to manage the network.

Kaspersky Small Office Security 2 is the most complete security product for SOHOs in the Philippines. We?re providing a solution that would put small entrepreneurs at ease especially as their business grows. The KSOS 2 solution is priced within range of even the smallest companies and should be well-received,? he said.

?As local SOHOs innovate, protecting their proprietary data and intellectual properties from being stolen or leaked becomes as important as keeping their network protected from external malware attacks. Keeping data backed up and secured takes on greater importance. Couple this with the death of IT resource personnel, and it becomes clear that SOHOs require a solution that is easy to manage without training, comprehensive, customizable and that gets the job done, making KSOS 2 a perfect choice,? Fong explained.

Kaspersky Small Office Security 2?s Wider Distribution
?We are making it easier for small businesses to get Kaspersky Small Office Security 2 by widening our distribution channel through the B2B channel. This is because small businesses in this region usually purchase based on recommendation and advice from distributors. The first edition was only offered online, a model that worked well in Europe and the United States, but was not as popular in the South East Asian region. With the new distribution model, we expect to see healthy demand for the Kaspersky Small Office Security 2,? Fong detailed.

What?s New in Kaspersky Small Office Security 2
Kaspersky Small Office Security 2 delivers award-winning antivirus and Internet security adding server protection, back-up, encryption, web-use policy and password management for critical small business safety. The solution protects servers and workstations running on Windows OS, which is the operating system of choice for many small businesses.

Back-Up Tools
?Flexible backup tools, which have been integrated into the product for the first time, help to prevent the leakage of financial data, client information and other valuable records in the event of computer failures and employee errors. Any file that was lost or erroneously modified can be retrieved from the storage with just a couple of mouse clicks,? Fong said, adding that the backup feature offered protection against human error as well as software and hardware problems.

Encryption
?It is not just external threats, small businesses also need to be prepared for leakage and loss of information from within. KSOS 2 includes an effective encryption system: all confidential corporate information can be encrypted using a strong algorithm to provide reliable data protection which can be securely transferred using a USB device or email and can be opened provided the correct password is inserted,? he said.

Password Manager
Kaspersky Small Office Security 2?s includes a Password Manager to keep the user?s digital identity secure, while a tune-up feature optimizes the system?s performance.

?With Kaspersky Small Office Security 2, the entire small business network can be managed from a single networked PC. Using the administration console, the security status of any corporate computer can be checked, detected problems can be resolved remotely, the Wi-Fi can be monitored and recommendations can be received on fixing vulnerabilities. Additionally, product license management, backup tasks and malware scanning of one or more computers can all be performed without the user having to leave their desk through wizards. This is what we mean by ease of use ? no training required,? Fong explained.

Get off Facebook and Back to Work!
The University of Maryland?s Smith School of Business and Network Solutions carried out a survey in 2010 that revealed that employees at small companies spend up to 24% of their working hours on social networks.

Fong pointed out that the loss of productivity due to time spent on social networks would be especially evident in small businesses.

?With KSOS 2?s Web Policy Management feature, employers can make their team more productive by setting internet, computer and messaging policies that can help employees focus on work rather than be distracted through social networks. It can also be useful for preventing confidential data disclosure,? he said.

?We have developed this product specifically to cater to the needs of smaller businesses, some of which may not have a dedicated IT specialist,? said Fong.

Kaspersky Small Office Security 2 ensures complete protection, uses only negligible system resources and requires minimal system management time. The updated solution offers affordable protection without the need to be an IT expert.?

Manage to Manage
?It is all about efficiency and manageability. Employers can now control file downloading in order to manage their internet connection bandwidth, block pages with inappropriate contents and ensure that all policies are compliant to legal requirements,? he added.

Pricing and Availability in the Philippines
Types of license package available will be:

10-user license + 1 file server license ? PHP 14,700.00 (1 yr) | PHP 22,700.00 (2 yrs)
15-user license + 2 file server licenses ? PHP 20,700.00 (1 yr) | PHP 31,300.00 (2 yrs)
25-user license + 3 file server licenses ? PHP32,800.00 (1 yr) | PHP 49,400.00 (2 yrs)