Tasks

This section describes tasks used by Kaspersky Security Center.

About tasks

Kaspersky Security Center manages Kaspersky security applications installed on devices by creating and running tasks. Tasks are required for installing, launching, and stopping applications, scanning files, updating databases and software modules, and performing other actions on applications.

Tasks for a specific application can be created using Kaspersky Security Center 13.1 Web Console only if the management plug-in for that application is installed on Kaspersky Security Center 13.1 Web Console Server.

Tasks can be performed on the Administration Server and on devices.

The tasks that are performed on the Administration Server include the following:

• Automatic distribution of reports
• Downloading of updates to the repository
• Backup of Administration Server data
• Maintenance of the database

The following types of tasks are performed on devices:

• Local tasks—Tasks that are performed on a specific device

  Local tasks can be modified either by the administrator, using Administration Console tools, or by the user of a remote device (for example, through the security application interface). If a local task has been modified simultaneously by the administrator and the user of a managed device, the changes made by the administrator will take effect because they have a higher priority.

• Group tasks—Tasks that are performed on all devices of a specific group

  Unless otherwise specified in the task properties, a group task also affects all subgroups of the selected group. A group task also affects (optionally) devices that have been connected to secondary and virtual Administration Servers deployed in the group or any of its subgroups.

• Global tasks—Tasks that are performed on a set of devices, regardless of whether they are included in any group.

For each application, you can create any number of group tasks, global tasks, or local tasks.

You can make changes to the settings of tasks, view the progress of tasks, and copy, export, import, and delete tasks.

A task is started on a device only if the application for which the task was created is running.

Execution results of tasks are saved in the operating system event log on each device, in the operating system event log on the Administration Server, and in the Administration Server database.

Do not include private data in task settings. For example, avoid specifying the domain administrator password.

About task scope

The scope of a task is the set of devices on which the task is performed. The types of scope are as follows:

• For a local task, the scope is the device itself.
• For an Administration Server task, the scope is the Administration Server.
• For a group task, the scope is the list of devices included in the group.

When creating a global task, you can use the following methods to specify its scope:

• Specifying certain devices manually.

  You can use an IP address (or IP range), NetBIOS name, or DNS name as the device address.

• Importing a list of devices from a TXT file with the device addresses to be added (each address must be placed on an individual line).

  If you import a list of devices from a file or create a list manually, and if devices are identified by their names, the list can only contain devices for which information has already been entered into the Administration Server database. Moreover, the information must have been entered when those devices were connected or during device discovery.

• Specifying a device selection.

  Over time, the scope of a task changes as the set of devices included in the selection change. A selection of devices can be made on the basis of device attributes, including software installed on a device, and on the basis of tags assigned to devices. Device selection is the most flexible way to specify the scope of a task.

  Tasks for device selections are always run on a schedule by the Administration Server. These tasks cannot be run on devices that lack connection to the Administration Server. Tasks whose scope is specified by using other methods are run directly on devices and therefore do not depend on the device connection to the Administration Server.

Tasks for device selections are not run on the local time of a device; instead, they are run on the local time of the Administration Server. Tasks whose scope is specified by using other methods are run on the local time of a device.

Creating a task

To create a task:

1. In the main menu, go to DEVICES → TASKS.
2. Click Add.

   The Add Task Wizard starts. Follow its instructions.

3. If you want to modify the default task settings, enable the Open task details when creation is complete option on the Finish task creation page. If you do not enable this option, the task is created with the default settings. You can modify the default settings later, at any time.
4. Click the Finish button.

The task is created and displayed in the list of tasks.

Starting a task manually

The application starts tasks according to the schedule settings specified in the properties of each task. You can start a task manually at any time.

To start a task manually:

1. In the main menu, go to DEVICES → TASKS.
2. In the task list, select the check box next to the task that you want to start.
3. Click the Start button.

The task starts. You can check the task status in the Status column or by clicking the Result button.

Viewing the task list

You can view the list of tasks that are created in Kaspersky Security Center.

To view the list of tasks,

In the main menu, go to DEVICES → TASKS.

The list of tasks is displayed. The tasks are grouped by the names of applications to which they are related. For example, the Uninstall application remotely task is related to the Administration Server, and the Find vulnerabilities and required updates task refers to the Network Agent.

To view properties of a task,

Click the name of the task.

The task properties window is displayed with several named tabs. For example, the Task type is displayed on the General tab, and the task schedule—on the Schedule tab.

General task settings

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This section contains the settings that you can view and configure for most of your tasks. The list of settings available depends on the task you are configuring.

Settings specified during task creation

You can specify the following settings when creating a task. Some of these settings can also be modified in the properties of the created task.

• Operating system restart settings:
  • Do not restart the device

    Client devices are not restarted automatically after the operation. To complete the operation, you must restart a device (for example, manually or through a device management task). Information about the required restart is saved in the task results and in the device status. This option is suitable for tasks on servers and other devices where continuous operation is critical.

  • Restart the device

    Client devices are always restarted automatically if a restart is required for completion of the operation. This option is useful for tasks on devices that provide for regular pauses in their operation (shutdown or restart).

  • Prompt user for action

    The restart reminder is displayed on the screen of the client device, prompting the user to restart it manually. Some advanced settings can be defined for this option: text of the message for the user, the message display frequency, and the time interval after which a restart will be forced (without the user's confirmation). This option is most suitable for workstations where users must be able to select the most convenient time for a restart.

    By default, this option is selected.

  • Repeat prompt every (min)

    If this option is enabled, the application prompts the user to restart the operating system with the specified frequency.

    By default, this option is enabled. The default interval is 5 minutes. Available values are between 1 and 1440 minutes.

    If this option is disabled, the prompt is displayed only once.

  • Restart after (min)

    After prompting the user, the application forces restart of the operating system upon expiration of the specified time interval.

    By default, this option is enabled. The default delay is 30 minutes. Available values are between 1 and 1440 minutes.

  • Force closure of applications in blocked sessions

    Running applications may prevent a restart of the client device. For example, if a document is being edited in a word processing application and is not saved, the application does not allow the device to restart.

    If this option is enabled, such applications on a locked device are forced to close before the device restart. As a result, users may lose their unsaved changes.

    If this option is disabled, a locked device is not restarted. The task status on this device states that a device restart is required. Users have to manually close all applications running on locked devices and restart these devices.

    By default, this option is disabled.

• Task scheduling settings:
  • Scheduled start setting:
    • Every N hours

      The task runs regularly, with the specified interval in hours, starting from the specified date and time.

      By default, the task runs every six hours, starting from the current system date and time.

    • Every N days

      The task runs regularly, with the specified interval in days. Additionally, you can specify a date and time of the first task run. These additional options become available, if they are supported by the application for which you create the task.

      By default, the task runs every day, starting from the current system date and time.

    • Every N weeks

      The task runs regularly, with the specified interval in weeks, on the specified day of week and at the specified time.

      By default, the task runs every Monday at the current system time.

    • Every N minutes

      The task runs regularly, with the specified interval in minutes, starting from the specified time on the day that the task is created.

      By default, the task runs every 30 minutes, starting from the current system time.

    • Daily (daylight saving time is not supported)

      The task runs regularly, with the specified interval in days. This schedule does not support observance of daylight saving time (DST). It means that when clocks jump one hour forward or backward at the beginning or ending of DST, the actual task start time does not change.

      We do not recommend that you use this schedule. It is needed for backward compatibility of Kaspersky Security Center.

      By default, the task starts every day at the current system time.

    • Weekly

      The task runs every week on the specified day and at the specified time.

    • By days of week

      The task runs regularly, on the specified days of week, at the specified time.

      By default, the task runs every Friday at 6:00:00 PM.

    • Monthly

      The task runs regularly, on the specified day of the month, at the specified time.

      In months that lack the specified day, the task runs on the last day.

      By default, the task runs on the first day of each month, at the current system time.

    • Manually

      The task does not run automatically. You can only start it manually.

      By default, this option is enabled.

    • Every month on specified days of selected weeks

      The task runs regularly, on the specified days of each month, at the specified time.

      By default, no days of month are selected; the default start time is 6:00:00 PM.

    • When new updates are downloaded to the repository

      The task runs after updates are downloaded to the repository. For example, you may want to use this schedule for the find vulnerabilities and required updates task.

    • On virus outbreak

      The task runs after a Virus outbreak event occurs. Select application types that will monitor virus outbreaks. The following application types are available:

      • Anti-virus for workstations and file servers
      • Anti-virus for perimeter defense
      • Anti-virus for mail systems

      By default, all application types are selected.

      You may want to run different tasks depending on the anti-virus application type that reports a virus outbreak. In this case, remove the selection of the application types that you do not need.

    • On completing another task

      The current task starts after another task completes. You can select how the previous task must complete (successfully or with error) to trigger the start of the current task. For example, you may want to run the Manage devices task with the Turn on the device option and, after it completes, run the Virus scan task.

  • Run missed tasks

    This option determines the behavior of a task if a client device is not visible on the network when the task is about to start.

    If this option is enabled, the system attempts to start the task the next time the Kaspersky application is run on the client device. If the task schedule is Manually, Once or Immediately, the task is started immediately after the device becomes visible on the network or immediately after the device is included in the task scope.

    If this option is disabled, only scheduled tasks run on client devices; for Manually, Once and Immediately, tasks run only on those client devices that are visible on the network. For example, you may want to disable this option for a resource-consuming task that you want to run only outside of business hours.

    By default, this option is enabled.

  • Use automatically randomized delay for task starts

    If this option is enabled, the task is started on client devices randomly within a specified time interval, that is, distributed task start. A distributed task start helps to avoid a large number of simultaneous requests by client devices to the Administration Server when a scheduled task is running.

    The distributed start time is calculated automatically when a task is created, depending on the number of client devices to which the task is assigned. Later, the task is always started on the calculated start time. However, when task settings are edited or the task is started manually, the calculated value of the task start time changes.

    If this option is disabled, the task starts on client devices according to the schedule.

  • Use randomized delay for task starts within an interval of (min)

    If this option is enabled, the task is started on client devices randomly within the specified time interval. A distributed task start helps to avoid a large number of simultaneous requests by client devices to the Administration Server when a scheduled task is running.

    If this option is disabled, the task starts on client devices according to the schedule.

    By default, this option is disabled. The default time interval is one minute.

• Devices to which the task will be assigned:
  • Select networked devices detected by Administration Server

    The task is assigned to specific devices. The specific devices can include devices in administration groups as well as unassigned devices.

    For example, you may want to use this option in a task of installing Network Agent on unassigned devices.

  • Specify device addresses manually or import addresses from list

    You can specify NetBIOS names, DNS names, IP addresses, and IP subnets of devices to which you want to assign the task.

    You may want to use this option to execute a task for a specific subnet. For example, you may want to install a certain application on devices of accountants or to scan devices in a subnet that is probably infected.

  • Assign task to a device selection

    The task is assigned to devices included in a device selection. You can specify one of the existing selections.

    For example, you may want to use this option to run a task on devices with a specific operating system version.

  • Assign task to an administration group

    The task is assigned to devices included in an administration group. You can specify one of the existing groups or create a new one.

    For example, you may want to use this option to run a task of sending a message to users if the message is specific for devices included in a specific administration group.

• Account settings:
  • Default account

    The task will be run under the same account as the application that performs this task.

    By default, this option is selected.

  • Specify an account

    Fill in the Account and Password fields to specify the details of an account under which the task is run. The account must have sufficient rights for this task.

  • Account

    Account under which the task is run.

  • Password

    Password of the account under which the task will be run.

Settings specified after task creation

You can specify the following settings only after a task is created.

• Advanced scheduling settings:
  • Activate the device before the task is started through Wake-on-LAN (min)

    The operating system on the device starts at the specified time before the task is started. The default time period is five minutes.

    Enable this option if you want the task to run on all of the client devices from the task scope, including those devices that are turned off when the task is about to start.

    If you want the device to be automatically turned off after the task is complete, enable the Shut down device when task is complete option. This option can be found in the same window.

    By default, this option is disabled.

  • Turn off device after task completion

    For example, you may want to enable this option for an install update task that installs updates to client devices each Friday after business hours, and then turns off these devices for the weekend.

    By default, this option is disabled.

  • Stop task if it has been running longer than (min)

    After the specified time period expires, the task is stopped automatically, whether it is completed or not.

    Enable this option if you want to interrupt (or stop) tasks that take too long to execute.

    By default, this option is disabled. The default task execution time is 120 minutes.

• Notification settings:
  • Store task history block:
    • Store in the Administration Server database for (days)

      Application events related to execution of the task on all client devices from the task scope are stored on the Administration Server during the specified number of days. When this period elapses, the information is deleted from the Administration Server.

      By default, this option is enabled.

    • Store in the OS event log on device

      Application events related to execution of the task are stored locally in Windows Event Log of each client device.

      By default, this option is disabled.

    • Store in the OS event log on Administration Server

      Application events related to execution of the task on all client devices from the task scope are stored centrally in Windows Event Log of the Administration Server operating system (OS).

      By default, this option is disabled.

    • Save all events

      If this option is selected, all events related to the task are saved to the event logs.

    • Save events related to task progress

      If this option is selected, only events related to the task execution are saved to the event logs.

    • Save only task execution results

      If this option is selected, only events related to the task results are saved to the event logs.

  • Notify administrator of task execution results

    You can select the methods by which administrators receive notifications about task execution results: by email, by SMS, and by running an executable file. To configure notification, click the Settings link.

    By default, all notification methods are disabled.

  • Notify of errors only

    If this option is enabled, administrators are only notified when a task execution completes with an error.

    If this option is disabled, administrators are notified after every task execution completion.

    By default, this option is enabled.

• Security settings.
• Task scope settings.

  Depending on how the task scope is determined, the following settings are present:

  • Devices

    If the scope of a task is determined by an administration group, you can view this group. No changes are available here. However, you can set Exclusions from task scope.

    If the scope of a task is determined by a list of devices, you can modify this list by adding and removing devices.

  • Device selection

    You can change the device selection to which the task is applied.

  • Exclusions from task scope

    You can specify groups of devices to which the task is not applied. Groups to be excluded can only be subgroups of the administration group to which the task is applied.

• Revision history.

Starting the Change Tasks Password Wizard

For a non-local task, you can specify an account under which the task must be run. You can specify the account during task creation or in the properties of an existing task. If the specified account is used in accordance with security instructions of the organization, these instructions might require changing the account password from time to time. When the account password expires and you set a new one, the tasks will not start until you specify the new valid password in the task properties.

The Change Tasks Password Wizard enables you to automatically replace the old password with the new one in all tasks in which the account is specified. Alternatively, you can change this password manually in the properties of each task.

To start the Change Tasks Password Wizard:

1. On the DEVICES tab, select TASKS.
2. Click Manage credentials of accounts for starting tasks.

Follow the instructions of the Wizard.

Step 1. Specifying credentials

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Specify new credentials that are currently valid in your system (for example, in Active Directory). When you switch to the next step of the Wizard, Kaspersky Security Center checks if the specified account name matches the account name in the properties of each non-local task. If the account names match, the password in the task properties will be automatically replaced with the new one.

To specify the new account, select an option:

• Use current account

  The Wizard uses the name of the account under which you are currently signed in to Kaspersky Security Center 13.1 Web Console. Then manually specify the account password in the Current password to use in tasks field.

• Specify a different account

  Specify the name of the account under which the tasks must be started. Then specify the account password in the Current password to use in tasks field.

If you fill in the Previous password (optional; if you want to replace it with the current one) field, Kaspersky Security Center replaces the password only for those tasks in which both the account name and the old password are found. The replacement is performed automatically. In all other cases you have to choose an action to take in the next step of the Wizard.

Step 2. Selecting an action to take

If you did not specify the previous password in the first step of the Wizard or if the specified old password has not matched the passwords in the task properties, you must choose an action to take for the tasks found.

To choose an action for a task:

1. Select the check box next to the task for which you want to choose an action.
2. Perform one of the following:
   • To remove the password in the task properties, click Delete credentials.

     The task is switched to run under the default account.

   • To replace the password with a new one, click Enforce the password change even if the old password is wrong or not provided.
   • To cancel the password change, click No action is selected.

The chosen actions are applied after you move to the next step of the Wizard.

Step 3. Viewing the results

On the last step of the Wizard, view the results for each of the found tasks. To complete the Wizard, click the Finish button.