Management tradeoffs in anti-virus strategies

This study evaluates current management and security practices with respect to computer virus infestations in business computer systems. Given the rise in macro viruses within recent years many business ®rms have adopted either a restrictive or proactive management approach to the problem. It is unclear whether there is a signi®cant difference between the approaches in terms of user satisfaction and future virus outbreaks. The lack of consistent computer backup procedures tends to exacerbate a virus outbreak. The cost structure used to address virus management tends to escalate depending on the severity of a virus episode. # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.