Main Components - F-SECURE POLICY MANAGER 9.0 Administrator's Manual

10 | F-Secure Policy Manager | Introduction

Main components

The power of Policy Manager lies in the F-Secure management architecture, which provides high scalability
for a distributed, mobile workforce.
Policy Manager
Console
Policy Manager
Server
Management
Agent
Web Reporting
Update Server &
Agent
Policy Manager Console provides a centralized management console for the security of
the managed hosts in the network. It enables the administrator to organize the network
into logical units for sharing policies. These policies are defined in Policy Manager Console
and then distributed to the workstations through Policy Manager Server. Policy Manager
Console is a Java-based application that can be run on several different platforms. It can
be used to remotely install the Management Agent on other workstations without the
need for local login scripts, restarting, or any intervention by the end user.
Policy Manager Console includes two different user interfaces:
• Anti-virus mode user interface that is optimized for managing Client Security and
Anti-virus for Workstations.
• Advanced mode user interface that can be used for managing other F-Secure
products.
Policy Manager Server is the repository for policies and software packages distributed
by the administrator, as well as status information and alerts sent by the managed hosts.
Communication between Policy Manager Server and the managed hosts is accomplished
through the standard HTTP protocol, which ensures trouble-free performance on both
LAN and WAN.
Management Agent enforces the security policies set by the administrator on the managed
hosts, and provides the end user with a user interface and other services. It handles all
management functions on the local workstations and provides a common interface for
all F-Secure applications, and operates within the policy-based management infrastructure.
Web Reporting is an enterprise-wide, web-based graphical reporting system included in
Policy Manager Server. With Web Reporting you can quickly create graphical reports
based on historical trend data, and identify computers that are unprotected or vulnerable
to virus outbreaks.
Update Server & Agent are used for updating virus and spyware definitions on the
managed hosts, and are included in Policy Manager Server. The Automatic Update Agent
allows users to receive virus definition database updates and data content without
interrupting their work to wait for files to download from the web. It downloads files
automatically in the background using bandwidth not being used by other Internet
applications. If Automatic Update Agent is always connected to the Internet, it will
automatically receive new virus definition updates within about two hours after they have
been published by F-Secure.