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Microsoft Announces SP1 for Forefront Client Security

The software giant this week released its first service pack for Forefront Client Security, a member of its Forefront family of security products.

• By Herb Torrens
• 08/28/2008

The Client Security app helps protect against nasty bugs that can come from the Internet or various client attachments.

"Forefront Client Security helps organizations better protect users against malware and spyware across multiple Microsoft platforms -- from small businesses to large enterprises," Microsoft explained in a press release. The app uses a single console to help IT administrators manage the security of "enterprise deployments of more than 10,000 clients," it added.

Service Pack 1 helps address client protection across the following network elements, according to Microsoft's Forefront team blog:

• "Agent protection on Windows Server 2008 -- Server and Core
• Server role support and protection for Windows Server 2008 (except Core, which is Client only)
• Agent protection and server roles on Hyper-V
• Agent protection on cluster servers
• Agent protection on Home editions of Windows Vista or later, Windows XP SP2 or later, Windows 2000 SP4, and Windows Server 2003 SP1 or later
• NAP Integration"

Forefront Client Security was first released in May of 2007. As agent software, it runs on PCs, laptops and various other client devices. It features anti-virus and anti-spyware solutions that can run in real time or on a schedule.

In addition, Forefront Client Security scans the security posture of managed devices to determine if they need to be reconfigured or need a patch. It is deployed from a single management console for reporting and alerts and to manage policies for client security.

Microsoft offers a trial evaluation copy of Forefront Client Security that will automatically prompt the user to install Service Pack 1. The evaluation copy can be accessed here.

The Forefront family of tools includes as many as 10 products, all of which work exclusively within the Microsoft environment and integrate with Microsoft's operating systems and software.

The Forefront family of products is poised to make another splash with the anticipated release next year of an integrated security solution code-named "Stirling." The new suite will integrate multiple levels of security -- client, server, network, and edge -- using next-generation Forefront security products.