Malicious Software Protection and Firewall Overview

Microsoft has released its corporate antivirus and antispyware client product and further integration is planned for 2009. Forefront Client Security, released in July 2007, is a unified malware scanning product for PC viruses, worms, Trojans, adware, and spyware. Forefront Client Security provides centralized configuration using Active Directory and Group Policy, distributes malware signatures through Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), and monitors operations through an included version of Operations Manager.

The Forefront name will eventually apply to all of Microsoft’s enterprise security products, and several products acquired with Sybari have been updated (and given the Forefront name) in connection with late 2006 product releases. Specifically, the former Sybari Antigen e-mail antivirus products (now called Forefront Security for Exchange Server) have been updated to support Exchange Server 2007, and Exchange Server 2007 incorporates the capabilities of Antigen Spam Manager. The Antigen antivirus software for SharePoint also has been updated to support SharePoint Server 2007 (and is now called Forefront Security for SharePoint Server). A similar update is due for the Antigen instant messaging (IM) product in conjunction with the release of the Office Communications Server IM and voice platform in 2007.