HIT: MAC Security software

[Peter Salesses <salesses@NECA.COM>]

Here are the responses I received from my request for MAC security
software. OnGuard seems to have taken the challenge, hands down!    Thank
you for your many responses.  Peter

>I have been asked to contact you for your recommendations as the
>appropriate secrity software for a MAC lab.   We want to secure a 30
>position lab.  Site licensing is so expensive. (I know it is the right way
>to go)
>We have tried:
> At Ease        which may be destroyed by Dis Ease (a software program)
>Fool Proof      which also has its idiosycracies
>File Guard      which seems to be one of the best.
>We have not tried FolderBolt.
>
>Are there any better applications (programs) that have helped you achieve
>success?
>
> If needed I will post a HIT-because I believe in sharing.       TIA
>Peter
>
>Peter Salesses,  Library Media Director and Computer Educator

responses:

Hi Peter,  Our district did quite a bit of research and settled on On Guard
for Security.  There are related programs called Screen to Screen that
allows the teacher to see thumbnails of all computers in the lab and Lan
Commander that allows the lab manager to load all computers at once and
moniter them.  Site licences for all three are a total of about $1500 (or
$500 each).
John Homme
jhomme@eta.k12.mn.us
Plymouth Middle School
10011 36th Ave No
Plymouth, Mn 55441
--------------------------------
We have been using a product called OnGuard. We have liked it very well. It
has 'grown' in sophistication over the last two years to where I am pretty
confident of its resiliency. The homepage is www.poweronsw.com. You can
download 30 day trials of all their products. If you need more detailed info,
let me know.

Mark Ray
Information and Media Specialist
Discovery Middle School
mray@vannet.k12.wa.us
-----------------------------
I have a friend that is a technology coordinator at a elementary school
in our district that has used several security systems and really likes
On Guard.  Our school has a site license for FoolProof but too many
students know the password and I have found that even when I have
changed them in the library the tech coordinators password opens
everything so i am thinking of switching to OnGuard just for the media
center.

Let me know if you find anything better.  TIA
   Sue A. Orth, Media Specialist
                            Southwest Middle School
                  6450 Dr. Phillips Blvd, Orlando, FL  32819
                      407-363-4822 x263  FAX 407-363-5108
          e-mail -- orths@ocps.k12.fl.us or sueorth@aol.com
-------------------------------
Sorry, I don't have a recommendation for a networked security system. I
have MacControl on some stand alones and I HATE IT. I have Fool Proof on my
new Power Mac and so far, I am very pleased with it. I also am very
satisfied with technical service. They spent a lot of time with me over the
phone and that means a lot to me too.

Judyth Lessee, Curator
Rhino Museum
PO Box 40503
Tucson, AZ  85717-0503
520.327.9048
-----------------------------
We have been using ON Guard!  It works pretty well in that you can assign
authority for folders and applications to different users.

It seems to work pretty well if you have standard Mac equipment but when
you have a DOS card installed or a non-Mac printer on the network that you
are trying to use, it can give some problems.  We do have it on every
computer in our district (maybe 500) and have not had major problems.

You can go to their web site   http://www.poweronsw.com/   and download a
free trial version of the software.

Alan Olson, Media Specialist                   319-653-2143 Voice
Washington Sr. High School                     319-653-6751 Fax
P.O. Box 271
alan.olson@washington.k12.ia.us
Washington  Iowa  52353

-------------------------------


Peter Salesses,  CMS      Library Media Director
Edwin O. Smith HS      (860)-487-0877, ext. 219

FAX 860-487-1106    salesses@neca.com
Storrs, CT 06268