File Reputation Services checks the reputation of each file against an extensive in-the-cloud database. Since the malware information is stored in the cloud, it is available instantly to all users. High performance content delivery networks and local caching servers ensure minimum latency during the checking process. The cloud-client architecture offers more immediate protection and eliminates the burden of pattern deployment besides significantly reducing the overall client footprint.

Clients must be in smart scan mode to use File Reputation Services. These clients are referred to as smart scan clients in this document. Clients that are not in smart scan mode do not use File Reputation Services and are called conventional scan clients. OfficeScan administrators can configure all or several clients to be in smart scan mode.