News

'Stirling' Beta Security Solution Released

Microsoft's released a public beta version of an integrated security solution, code-named "Stirling."

• By Kurt Mackie
• April 08, 2008

Stirling aims to simplify security across the enterprise, according to Microsoft's descriptions of it.

Network administrators typically need to manage security at multiple levels, including at the client, server and network-edge levels. Stirling will integrate those levels of security, which are now handled by Microsoft's current sprawling set of Forefront security products. There are about 10 or so Forefront products currently available.

The Stirling beta includes a centralized management component on top of Microsoft's next-generation Forefront security products. Those next-gen products include "Forefront Client Security, Forefront Security for Exchange Server, Forefront Security for SharePoint" as well as the Forefront Threat Management Gateway.

Forefront Threat Management Gateway is the future version of Microsoft ISA Server. It "will be built on Windows Server 2008" and Microsoft plans to release further details about it later this year.

Tying together each Forefront security product is a technology that Microsoft calls Dynamic Response. It enables Stirling to share security information and automatically resolve threats, according to Microsoft's announcement.

Further details about the Stirling beta and a download link can be found here.