Microsoft unleashes five service packs for its enterprise security wares

In the past week, Microsoft has unleashed five service packs for its enterprise class security software. These service packs include the beta 2 of its identity management framework "Geneva," the SP3 of Forefront Security for SharePoint, the SP2 of Forefront Security for Exchange Server and trial versions of Antigen Spam Manager for Exchange and Antigen for SMTP Gateways.

All of this activity comes in addition to the much-publicized release of the beta of its freebie consumer anti-malware software, Microsoft Security Essentials. Additionally, during the past week, Microsoft released seven technical documentation papers offering advice on everything from how to configure the AppLocker feature in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 to a master blueprint for rolling out enterprise security.

Could the frenzy of activity be in preparation for Microsoft's appearance at the annual Black Hat security conference, to be held in Las Vegas July 25-30?

Of this large group of new software releases, one of the more interesting downloads is the Beta 2 of "Geneva." This release aims to improve the deployment of the Geneva platform for the enterprise with new features like Group Policy-driven provisioning of Information Cards or the administrative policy of card usage. It has also improved support for X.509 certificate credentials in Information Cards.

Also of interest is the new declaration Microsoft made this week that its Forefront security wares will standardize on a set of five anti-malware engines moving forward. Forefront had been using 10 anti-malware engines, but as of December 1, it will retire five and stick with antivirus engines made by Authentium, Kaspersky, Microsoft, Norman and VirusBuster. It will yank out engines made by CA, Sophos, AhnLab, Cloudmark and MailFilters.

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