Company Delivers on Promises; Keynote Details Commitment and New Product
Security Features
SAN FRANCISCO, April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- David Thompson, vice president for
the Windows(R) Product Server Group at Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT), today
delivered a keynote speech at the 10th annual RSA Conference at The Moscone
Center in San Francisco, describing the progress the company has made in
security leadership over the past year and what Microsoft customers can expect
next.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
Thompson announced several new security features for the Windows family of
products that will be rolled out next year and detailed how Microsoft has
delivered on the promises made to customers in last year's RSA Conference
keynote. Thompson highlighted the Microsoft(R) Windows 2000 operating system,
an improved security response process, the company's Safe Internet consumer
security and privacy Web site, and the SafeNet 2000 security and privacy
summit as security milestones for Microsoft over the past year. He also
announced that Microsoft would host the 2001 security and privacy summit this
fall.
"In an increasingly interconnected world, Microsoft is delivering the
products, technologies and services that empower safe, secure and trustworthy
computing for customers," Thompson said. "Today's announcements illustrate
Microsoft's continuing commitment to keeping our customers' information safe
and secure."
The War on Hostile Code
Thompson characterized the upcoming releases of new security features in
products across the Windows family -- including Windows XP and the next
version of the Windows Server product, code-named "Whistler" -- as part of the
company's "declaration of war on hostile code." He noted that over the past
year the threat from hostile code, highlighted by an assortment of recent
high-profile computer viruses, is of increasing concern to customers. He
pointed to current product features such as the Outlook(R) E-mail Security
Update, launched last July, as one example of steps Microsoft is taking to
address this problem.
Thompson also announced that the next versions of the Windows operating
system, Windows XP and "Whistler Server," would include a new security
feature, Software Restriction Policies. This feature, designed to track and
stop hostile code like the ILoveYou and Anna Kournikova viruses while allowing
administrator-approved mobile code to run, will place restrictions on where
and how programs can run on a user's computer.
Secure Windows Initiative
In his keynote address, Thompson gave an overview of the Secure Windows
Initiative, a key part of Microsoft's ongoing commitment to building more
secure software and just one way the company is continuing to improve the
security of its software. The Secure Windows Initiative is focused on
providing Microsoft engineers companywide with ongoing education, tools that
improve over time, security-focused development processes, and the rigorous
internal and external testing needed to deliver the high-quality, secure
software that customers demand.
Security Leadership: Promises Made, Promises Kept
Building on last year's RSA Conference keynote address, Thompson pointed
to Microsoft's security vision and the promises made and kept by Microsoft
last year. At last year's conference, he noted, Microsoft outlined a security
vision and commitment to delivering secure products, customer service and
industry leadership on all fronts. Thompson singled out Windows 2000, the most
secure operating system Microsoft has ever shipped, as the first step in a
year of security milestones for Microsoft. Other milestones included launching
Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, expanding security and
privacy resources for consumers and expanding the industry-leading Microsoft
Security Response Center. Thompson also announced that Microsoft would
continue to lead the security charge and build on the success of SafeNet 2000
by hosting the second annual security and privacy summit this year at the
company's Silicon Valley campus.
The RSA Conference, which is expected to attract more than
10,000 attendees this year, is the industry's premier data security and
cryptography event. This year's event, described as the largest network
security exposition in history, includes keynote addresses and technical
sessions covering a range of issues, from the latest in cutting-edge
cryptographic research to the most current implementations of enterprise
security and secure electronic commerce.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company
offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people
through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.
NOTE: Microsoft, Windows and Outlook are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
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