Security Third Parties Displeased

Microsoft's relationship with third parties is a bit like a high school romance, full of love, conflict and talking behind each others' backs. In the virtualization space, Microsoft is laying on the charm, trying to woo partners away from VMware. It ain't so pretty in security, an area that's been testy for years.

Now, I happen to be a fan of many of Microsoft's security initiatives; monthly patches, more secure software and a general openness all leave me impressed. But I also respect the third parties who are actually manning the trenches, doing battle with hackers and, increasingly, fighting Microsoft itself. Case in point: Microsoft and third-party bloggers are doing battle through some increasingly emotional blog postings.

Here's a rundown of the issues: Many vendors who discover Microsoft flaws feel they don't get enough credit and, often, not enough response. More specifically, Sophos believes that adding XP Mode to Windows 7 offers a whole new vector of attack, one that hackers understand well. As someone about to install this software, I plan to heed these words and rethink XP Mode.

Are you pleased with how Redmond handles security? Yeas and nays equally welcome at dbarney@redmondmag.com.

Posted by Doug Barney on September 09, 2009 at 11:53 AM