Last week's announcement of Microsoft's Client Protection software marks the company's long-anticipated entry into the market for desktop security products for businesses.
Microsoft faces a tough battle as it competes with established players, including Symantec, McAfee and Trend Micro.
Analysts have criticised Microsoft for being vague about its security product plans. The software maker said on Thursday over the past couple of years, it has focused on securing its existing products and improving patching for customers. "Now the effort is shifting to deliver a new generation of security products," said Debby Fry Wilson, director of security engineering and communications.
So what is Client Protection? We'll try to tackle that question below.
What is Microsoft's new security software?
Microsoft Client Protection is software for business PCs and file
servers that's designed to offer, in one application, protection
against spyware, viruses and root kits. The company says its software
will offer system administrators central management capabilities and
that it will work with the company's Active Directory and Windows
Server Updates Services patch management tool.
How is it different from Windows OneCare?
Windows OneCare is the consumer equivalent of Microsoft Client
Protection. OneCare has been available to beta testers since earlier
this year and will combine antivirus and anti-spyware protection with
PC health tools. The consumer product lacks enterprise necessities such
as central management. Microsoft said on Thursday a final version of
OneCare is due in 2006. It will be sold on a subscription basis.
Pricing has not been disclosed.
What is the security technology behind Microsoft Client Protection?
The upcoming product will be built on an enhanced version of the GeCad
antivirus software Microsoft acquired in 2003 and the Giant Company
Software anti-spyware product it bought in late 2004.
What about Windows AntiSpyware?
Windows AntiSpyware is software that's designed to protect consumers
against, of course, spyware. It's based on technology Microsoft
acquired from Giant. Windows AntiSpyware has been available in beta
test version since January, and the company is expected to deliver a
final version in 2006. Microsoft has said the tool will be free.
What does Microsoft Client Protection compete with?
The new product will be up against enterprise security products from
established players such as Symantec, McAfee and Trend Micro.
Microsoft's product is unproven, and it will take time to allay years
of scepticism among business users before the market will accept the
offering, Merrill Lynch analysts said on Thursday.
What systems will Microsoft Client Protection run on?
It will run on Windows XP and its successor, Windows Vista, which is due late 2006, and was previously known as Longhorn.
How much will it cost?
Microsoft has not yet disclosed pricing or licensing details. Client
Protection is likely to be sold on a licence basis, as opposed to a
subscription model.
When will it be available?
A limited beta is due by the end of the year. Microsoft is sending
mixed messages about when a final version of the product will ship. Fry
Wilson declined on Thursday to specify a delivery target for Client
Protection, but a document published to the Microsoft Web site on Thursday shows a 2006 ship target.
When will more details be available?
Microsoft says it expects to be able to provide more information in the coming months.
Talkback
Well, Microsoft put Netscape out of business (among others), and now it's the anti-virus companies' turn. If Symantec, McAfee, et al. haven't already been questioning their windows-only business strategy, this is certainly an alarming wake-up call. They should've seen this coming; i know i did. MS is still a big bully, despite the government's hollow pretenses at consumer protection. Is that another anti-trust suit i smell brewing?
Given Microsoft's monopoly in WindowsUpdate. Does this mean that Microsoft customers will have a choice between the freebie WindowsUpdate and all of the hazzles that come with that. Or the purchased WindowsUpdate that happens to come with yet unproven anti-virus and anti-spyware (and please ditch your current vendor, thank you) functionality?
Or am I overlooking something?
Because when I read that, quote, "Microsoft Client Protection will be optimized for use with Active Directory and Windows Server Updates Services for distribution of client configuration and signature updates...", unquote, I sooner think of WindowsUpdate then of anti-virus.
And might this have something to do with the big overhaul to version 6 and MicrosoftUpdate that's still causing blood, sweat and tears the world over judging from various forums?
I won't be suprised if this will turn out into yet another bundle of lawsuits.