Ballmer unveils Microsoft's security roadmap

Microsoft has unveiled plans for a range of new corporate security services and products aimed at providing better virus, spam and spyware protection for businesses.

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer and Microsoft's corporate VP of security, Mike Nash, unveiled the new products in Munich this morning.

A subscription-based Client Protection service will provide a management console that IT managers can use for reports and alerts on spyware, viruses and other forms of malware on their corporate networks. An early beta version of the service will be made available to some customers later this year.

Client Protection is similar to the Windows OneCare security service Microsoft is developing for consumer customers.

Nash said: "To help our customers combat the evolving threats and to have those rights protected, we are taking a holistic approach to security that includes developing new technology, partnering with the industry and keeping customers as educated as possible about how to stay ahead of the latest threats facing them."

Early next year Microsoft will also release a beta version of a new antivirus and anti-spam product for corporate email systems based on the Antigen technology from its Sybari acquisition earlier this year.

Microsoft has added its own antivirus scan engine to the Sybari technology and will make the updated product available to existing Sybari customers at no additional charge for the rest of their contract.

This morning Ballmer also announced a new security industry partnership called the SecureIT Alliance, which includes Trend Micro, Symantec and VeriSign among the 15 founding members. The aim of the alliance is for the companies to work more closely with Microsoft to make sure their products work on the Windows platform.

Ballmer said: "With the continuing onslaught of malware, viruses, phishing attacks and other kinds of internet fraud, creating a more secure computing environment requires a concerted, long-term effort on the part of all technology companies, as well as customers and governments."