From: ian@vnet.ibm.com (Ian Stirling)
Newsgroups: comp.virus
Subject: IBM Anti-virus Service (PC)
Date: 3 Apr 92 09:30:44 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

I just picked up this announcment on our internal board and have been
given permission by both IBM and the newsgroup moderator to post it here.

If anyone has any questions there is
an 800 number given at the bottom of the message or contact me and I
will try and get some answers for you.  I am not part of the program.

This announcement is for US only.  If it is announced in any other
countries I will post again.

Cheers,
Ian Stirling                      Internet: ian@vnet.ibm.com
CICS/ESA Systems Facilities         Bitnet: ian at vnet
IBM UK Labs Ltd, Hursley, England IBMIPnet: ian@stirling.hursley.ibm.com

Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not those of IBM

************************ Posting Follows *************************
     A new "IBM Anti-Virus" services offering for PC's and Personal
Systems is available.  It is currently available in the U.S. only,
although it may be marketed to U.S. multinational firms.  It is
currently available by special bid and is planned for announcement as a
regular services offering in the future.

     Basically, the offering makes available to customers the software
and techniques that IBM has been using internally to combat viruses for
the past several years.

     The service consists of:

     o  Access to all of the anti-virus software used by IBM (VIRSCAN,
        VSTOP, Verifiers, Disinfectors, CHECKUP) plus any new software
        developed on any platform during the contract period.

     o  Access to the Anti-Virus Bulletin Board where the latest versions
        of the tools are available, virus alert information, access to
        IBM Virus Expert Assistance.  The Bulletin Board is available
        via an 800 number   and is available 24 hours/day.  It is
        monitored during prime shift and the board has the capability to
        alert the virus personnel via a pager of a virus incident
        24 hours/day.

     o  Personnel to provide advice and consulting in cleanup of a virus
        incident.

     o  Capability to reverse engineer any new viruses to add signatures
        to our tools.  This service, performed in conjunction with the
        Watson Research Lab in Hawthorne, usually can respond within
        48-72 hours.

     The service is priced on the number of PC's/PS2's protected by the
service.

     The service is just starting and has a great deal of interest from
the customer accounts.  It is marketed by the Branch Marketing Reps and
revenue flows to the Trading Areas, while the service is performed by my
group.  The biggest problem we have had is explaining the service to the
branches.  We are NOT marketing software such as Dr. Soloman and Norton,
but are offering a service to our customers which include tools
necessary to perform the service.  The software remains the property of
IBM and the customer has a license to use the code.  Our advantage is
our ability to respond quickly, assist the customer in cleanup of a
virus incident, and the access of new tools (potentially on other
platforms if a virus is discovered, i.e. AS/400).

     U.S. customers who want to learn more about IBM Anti-Virus Services
can call 800-742-2493.