When Microsoft announced its foray into anti-virus (AV) technology, it hastened to position this as part of its Trustworthy Computing initiative, a push for greater security, and highlighted the benefits to customers. But competing vendors, to whom it has always ceded security, despite their mixed responses, must be shaking in their boots.
Will they disappear forever? How long will it take for this development to have any effect on the market?
Competing vendors [...] must be shaking in their boots
Carel Alberts, technology editor, ITWeb
A statement from Microsoft reveals that it will not only offer AV products and services, but also focus on "enhanced security of the Windows platform and extend support for third-party AV vendors."
In this lies the first fearsome statement of intent, depending on how you interpret it, but also the first assurance. The first possibility is that Microsoft may decide to code the protection right into the operating system, making it unnecessary to buy more security.
This is a fair question, given AV vendors` admission that their software alone, sans integration with underlying operating systems, regular post-implementation updates and responsible users, is not enough.
To be fair to Microsoft, this may be jumping the gun, given the fact that it is new to this game, one characterised by long-standing trust relationships with vendors, and unprecedented levels of educated user participation.
When compared with other technologies in which Microsoft has driven out competitors, anti-virus is probably a different kettle of fish altogether.
Carel Alberts, technology editor, ITWeb
And even if one says, as some have, that Microsoft came late to this party and doesn`t yet understand the magnitude of the task of providing effective AV protection, we must acknowledge its stated intention to support other vendors. Not even Microsoft will venture into this market without heeding the danger signals.
"(We) ... made a broad commitment to improving the trustworthiness of ... customers` computing experience, and will continue to enable partners to build and deliver solutions for ... customers," a statement reads. This appears to be a Microsoft with its eyes on the ball, rather than the opposition, and if followed through, is to be applauded.
Symantec makes a cautious statement in this regard, withholding further comment for the moment other than to praise Microsoft`s efforts to make its operating system accessible for development of effective security solutions.
A closer look at the company`s individual undertakings, which go beyond partner support, reveals four areas that competitors will have their eye on. Microsoft plans to install and maintain AV solutions, "improve the reliability and performance of solutions", extend protection to new applications and data repositories, and posting updates.
In the second instance, improving reliability of solutions, Microsoft refers to third party vendor drivers, written by themselves, and if defective, affecting the user experience. Collaborative development will therefore stand AV vendors in good stead. As regards the third issue, Microsoft again puts forward collaboration as a means to overcome the difficulty of protecting a growing application profile. It stands to reason that any company in this position would face a choice between partner collaboration, or developing or buying the technology itself. It would be an interesting area to watch as time goes on.
To be trend-wise
One analyst went so far as saying Microsoft appears to be behind the trend, which is to move AV off desktops and onto the network. This being a cogent argument against the move, Microsoft will nonetheless push ahead, stung as it has been over the years by criticism of its software`s security.
But will this shake up the industry? When compared with browser software, graphical user interfaces and other technologies in which Microsoft has driven out competitors, anti-virus is probably a different kettle of fish altogether. The trust element will make any educated user think twice about a solution from a newcomer, when tried and trusted solutions and update services have worked for them.
Doom prophets make the unsettling comment that when renewal with third party AV software comes up for consideration, scrutiny will be tougher than before. Why pay for more if the functionality is already there?
This cost consciousness, the convenience and assurance of embedded solutions and home use may conspire to work in Microsoft`s favour. As much as in the future there will probably be a peaceful coexistence between desktop and network security, one could predict coexistence of some Microsoft and some third party software on the desktop.
And Microsoft`s performance in the post-implementation phase - posting new virus updates, will probably be the most important determinant of its success and future decisions in this area.
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