RSA 2008: Beta of Microsoft Forefront security solution

Microsoft announced the availability of the public beta release of its next-generation Microsoft Forefront security solution, currently code-named “Stirling.” It’s an integrated security system that is designed to deliver comprehensive, coordinated protection, making it easy to control, access and manage security capabilities across an organization’s IT infrastructure. The solution is scheduled for release to market in the first half of 2009.

Forefront “Stirling” includes a central management console for security configuration and enterprise-wide visibility, combined with the next-generation Forefront products that span the client, server and network edge. They include Forefront Client Security, Forefront Security for Exchange Server, Forefront Security for SharePoint and the next generation of Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server (ISA Server), Forefront Threat Management Gateway.

A central element of Microsoft’s infrastructure integration approach is Dynamic Response, an innovative Microsoft technology built into each component of Forefront “Stirling” that allows the entire system to share and use security information to automatically respond to and resolve threats across multiple layers of the IT infrastructure. With such threats continuing to increase in frequency, Dynamic Response is designed to help businesses proactively protect their IT environment and respond more quickly. In fact, Microsoft’s June 2007 Security Intelligence Report found that the latest malware families were spawning tens of thousands of variants each year.