Saint Anselm College faculty and staff can now get antivirus software on their personal computer through an agreement the Office of Information Technology has reached with Symantec Corp.

Under the agreement, staff and faculty are licensed to install, free of cost, a single copy of Norton AntiVirus Corporate Edition software on a single home computer. Symantec is the current provider of anti-virus software for the campus.

"We realize that members of the community use their home computers and laptops for business purposes and we encourage them to connect to the campus network through Citrix.  It only makes sense for us to protect the campus network from worms and viruses by providing this software for home use," said Adam Albina, Chief Information Officer for the College.

The IT department has been battling an unprecedented assault of computer worms and viruses in recent months. The invaders have caused temporary slowdowns and shutdowns of parts of the campus network.

Complicating the security efforts is the common practice by some staff and faculty members of bringing personal laptops to campus and connecting them to the campus network. Home computer users can unwittingly infect the college's network if their own computers are not protected.

"Although there is no specific policy that prohibits staff and faculty from connecting personal laptops to the campus network for business purposes," Albina said, "it does present some serious security concerns.  One of the ways we can limit our exposure to virus threats is to require Anti-virus software be installed and operational on any device connected to the campus network.  The Use of Information Technology Resources Policy does specifically cover the introduction of viruses into the campus system."

The Symantec license agreement will provide staff and faculty a cost-free method of protecting their computers and the campus network.

Additionally, degree seeking fulltime commuter students will also be provided coverage under the Symantec license agreement. 

Staff and faculty can bring their machines to IT for assistance in loading the software from the campus server free of charge or IT will provide a personal CD for a $5 fee to cover media production costs.

"We hope to insulate the campus community and our extended network from worms/viruses that impact our ability to successfully meet the mission of the college," said Albina.