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Policy and Guidelines

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 2:05 pm
by mzundel
Being new to my calling as assistant stake clerk, I thought I would review policies that are posted on lds.org. An area that sparked my interest was antivirus. According to the policy (http://www.lds.org/Static%20Files/PDF/S ... 5B2%5D.pdf) the computer are to be using Command Virus software. So, wanting to perform a DAT file update, I tried to download it. The user name and password supplied in the policy do not work.

Is anyone else keeping up on antivirus for their ward/stake machines? If so, how?

I almost wonder if the agreement with Command Virus has expired and the policy has not been updated to reflect this change.

Desktop 5.5 Uses Symantec Antivirus

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 2:37 pm
by aebrown
mzundel wrote:According to the policy (http://www.lds.org/Static%20Files/PDF/STS/Troubleshooting%20PDFs/00262_000_Mar05_notice%5B2%5D.pdf) the computer are to be using Command Virus software.

Is anyone else keeping up on antivirus for their ward/stake machines? If so, how?

I almost wonder if the agreement with Command Virus has expired and the policy has not been updated to reflect this change.

Since the 27 March 2005 Policy document you referenced came out, a new directive came out that has overridden the antivirus section of that policy. In instructions dated 1 November 2006, we were instructed that all administrative computers should eventually move to Desktop 5.5, which incorporates Symantec Antivirus protection.

As far as I know, almost all administrative computers in the US and Canada are now on Desktop 5.5. If you are not yet on Desktop 5.5, then I would advise you to check with your Stake Technology Specialist to find out how you can move to that platform. If he needs help, he can contact Clerk Support.

As far as I know, the Command Antivirus agreement the Church once had with Authentium has expired. As for updates to the new Symantec antivirus software, the Desktop 5.5 instructions state: "Member Services Support Group asks that you update the Symantec AntiVirus software manually once a quarter to ensure effective virus protection." Those instructions explain how to download and install these updates.

You do raise a good point that the official Policy statement has not been updated to reflect this change.

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:13 am
by mzundel
Thanks for the reply. I find it interesting that the directive you are speaking of is not listed on the Letters & Policies section on lds.org (http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?v ... D&locale=0). As for contacting the Stake Technology Specialist (STS), I am the STS as of November. The previous STS turned over his documentation and letters. The directive was not included.

Our ward machines are all DT5 but the family history machines are too old and not in the standards for DT5. I am still at a loss for these machines.

Family History AV

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:30 am
by srweight
mzundel wrote:Thanks for the reply. I find it interesting that the directive you are speaking of is not listed on the Letters & Policies section on lds.org (http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?v ... D&locale=0). As for contacting the Stake Technology Specialist (STS), I am the STS as of November. The previous STS turned over his documentation and letters. The directive was not included.

Our ward machines are all DT5 but the family history machines are too old and not in the standards for DT5. I am still at a loss for these machines.

The Help Desk told me that all computers should be using the Symantec AntiVirus software. (if the OS will support it)

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:07 pm
by russellhltn
mzundel wrote:Our ward machines are all DT5
Then you should have the Corporate Edition of Symantec Anti-virus on those machines. Just keep the virus definitions upto date and you should be fine. Look over the paperwork you got that references mls.lds.org and the password needed for access. There you will find more up-to-date information.
mzundel wrote:but the family history machines are too old and not in the standards for DT5. I am still at a loss for these machines.
Uh, don't put Desktop on the FHC machines. Administrative computers and FHC computers are handled by different departments and are handled in different ways. (Yes, you are serving two masters. :D) You can get a image from SLC, but you may prefer to simply start from where you are. Go to remote.familylsearch.org for the LANDesk download to manage the FHC machines. Once you have that installed, you can download a LANDesk package that will load Symantec (and other goodies) on those machines.

Also, I'd suggest joining the yahoo groups ldsfhctech as that's where the FamilyHistory computer support folks hang out.

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:38 am
by mzundel
RussellHltn wrote:Then you should have the Corporate Edition of Symantec Anti-virus on those machines. Just keep the virus definitions upto date and you should be fine. Look over the paperwork you got that references mls.lds.org and the password needed for access. There you will find more up-to-date information.
Easy to say, but how do you update the definitions? The one that I have at work updates through landesk. I don't believe the ward machines update through Afaria. The only "paperwork" I received was the same policy I pointed out earlier which seem to be out of date by the responses I have received.
RussellHltn wrote:Uh, don't put Desktop on the FHC machines. Administrative computers and FHC computers are handled by different departments and are handled in different ways. (Yes, you are serving two masters. )
I understand the policy for FHC machines is a seperate document. Both the MLS and FHC policies that are listed on the STS site reference the same antivirus software. The FHC machines do not have internet access so if I want to install anything (including updates), I have to burn a CD. The last think I want to happen is some ward member infecting any of the machines in the stake. To prevent this, I have to be up on the definitions which doesn't work for the posted instructions.

I guess I am asking for help in 2 ways:
1. What are other STS doing to keep their machines up to date?
2. A request from CHQ to post the new policies quickly to the STS site when they are created.

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:23 pm
by russellhltn
mzundel wrote:Easy to say, but how do you update the definitions?
That's covered in the Desktop 5.5 Install instructions. It's a download from the Symantec website. No password required. How you transport it to the machines is your choice, but CD or USB Thumb drive will work.

mzundel wrote:The FHC machines do not have Internet access so if I want to install anything (including updates), I have to burn a CD. The last think I want to happen is some ward member infecting any of the machines in the stake. To prevent this, I have to be up on the definitions which doesn't work for the posted instructions.
Uh, you mean the Administrative computers don't have Internet access, right? All FHCs are to have Internet access.

I suggest you go to mls.lds.org and read the Desktop 5.5 Install instructions. If you don't have the login, look though what you have been provided and look though the messages on the stake MLS system. Failing that, send a message though the stake MLS machine asking for instructions.