Beta Starts for New Microsoft Security Product

Published: October 4, 2006

by Alex Woodie

Microsoft last week announced the start of a beta test program for its new Forefront Security for SharePoint product, which will provide antivirus protection for the upcoming new versions of Microsoft's Web portal server and portal development tools, Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0.

Microsoft's Forefront Security products, which are based on the antivirus products it acquired from Antigen last year, are not your typical antivirus engines. The products utilize multiple antivirus engines from other security providers to protect against viruses, as well as unwanted files and inappropriate content.

It's important for Microsoft to protect SharePoint, considering the exposure that users of the product face as they collaborate over the Internet, according to Margaret Arakawa, senior director of security and access product marketing at Microsoft. "Forefront Security for SharePoint facilitates these new collaboration scenarios by providing a layer of advanced protection against the rapidly evolving threat landscape," she says.

The launch of Forefront Security for SharePoint will coincide with the general availability of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, which are scheduled to be available to businesses by the end of 2006 and generally available in early 2007, Microsoft says.

For more information or to download the beta, visit www.microsoft.com/forefront.

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