HP and Microsoft also announced the availability of the HP ProtectTools Suite for Microsoft software, which adds to the functionality provided by standard Microsoft products, such as Microsoft Exchange Server, Outlook and Windows Mobile. HP's global security practice provides an array of security services that enable enterprise customers to make faster, more confident business decisions.

Microsoft is enlisting hardware vendors to push its Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004 software, and Hewlett-Packard says it will integrate the technology in its machines.
HP said the company's ProLiant DL320 firewall server will run ISA Server 2004, and that it will offer the HP ProtectTools software suite for Microsoft products, such as Exchange Server, Outlook and Windows Mobile.

Focus on Appliance Vendors

Other vendor partners announced by Microsoft include Celestix Networks and Network Engines , both of which will integrate the application-layer firewall, VPN (virtual private networking) and Web-cache software offered in ISA.

HP and Microsoft also announced the availability of the HP ProtectTools Suite for Microsoft software, which adds to the security functionality provided by standard Microsoft products, such as Microsoft Exchange Server, Outlook and Windows Mobile. HP's global security practice provides an array of security services that enable enterprise customers to make faster, more confident business decisions.

Noting that Microsoft has struggled to attract a following for its security software, Forrester Research analyst Michael Rasmussen told NewsFactor that focusing on appliance vendors is a step in the right direction.

"Enterprises are moving away from installing firewalls on top of existing servers, so by packaging this software in a hardware format, Microsoft is addressing the demands of customers," Rasmussen said.

ISA has been adopted for outbound traffic filtering and Internet authentication, but generally is not recognized as a "true" security package, the analyst said.

"Offering ISA Server 2004 through both software and hardware provides customers with multiple options for addressing their particular IT security requirements," said Mike Nash, corporate vice president, Security Business and Technology Unit at Microsoft. "Today's announcement between Microsoft and HP furthers our mutual commitment to make IT environments more secure."

ISA Server 2004 Standard Edition software is expected to be available in the third quarter, at a cost of US$1,499 per processor for deployments of up to four processors per server.

You can view the original article here...
http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_title=H...4218&category=netsecurity