Thursday, 16 November 2006

Microsoft Moves Corporate AV into Beta

Microsoft is all set to compete with security providers McAfee and Symantec in the enterprise security market by releasing a beta version of its Forefront Client Security desktop software.

According to people in the know, Forefront Client Security could be described as the enterprise version of OneCare, the consumer package that Microsoft introduced earlier this year. It comprises antivirus, antispyware and tools for detecting and removing various other types of malicious code, the company said.

"This is the first time we'll be in widespread beta of Forefront Client Security," said Paul Bryan, a director in Microsoft's security and access product group.

He said the software will be commercially available by June 2007, six months behind the actual targeted date.

Though Microsoft is yet to determine the price for Client Security, judging from its track record with consumer security software, prices may be lower than competitive products from Symantec and McAfee, the company said.