Vendor Spotlight:

MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF ISA SERVER 2004 BETA 2

Microsoft Corp. announced that the public beta version of Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004 is available for download. ISA Server 2004 offers advanced application layer firewall, VPN and Web caching features that enable customers to maximize existing IT investments by improving network security and performance. Customers can download the beta version or order CD kits from http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/.

"Customers have told us they need an integrated firewall solution to help them address the growing number of application-based security threats," said Jonathan Perera, senior director of Product Management in the Security and Business Technology Unit at Microsoft. "With ISA Server 2004, beta customers can immediately evaluate one of the most powerful, easily integrated and simple-to-use solutions for helping protect Microsoft applications such as Exchange, Internet Information Services and SharePoint."

Built on an enhanced architecture and user interface, ISA Server 2004 is ideal for organizations looking to more simply and cost-effectively fortify their business applications against new and emerging threats.

Customers will find that the beta version of ISA Server 2004 delivers significant improvements in three key areas:

• Advanced protection. ISA Server 2004 raises the bar on application layer security capabilities through enforcement of comprehensive and flexible policies, and customizable deep-content inspection of protocols and network routing relationships.
• Ease of use. Simplified management tools and an enhanced user interface make the product easier for security administrators to learn and, ultimately, help customers avoid security breaches that can occur due to firewall misconfiguration.
• High performance. ISA Server 2004 is designed to provide the highest levels of security and application layer protection -- without sacrificing performance.

"Hackers tend to target the point of least resistance in a network, and lately that's been the application layer because network firewalls are not traditionally designed to detect and prevent these types of threats," said Charles Kolodgy, research director at IDC. "While network firewalls are starting to add such capabilities, Microsoft is among the first to provide a security solution that is dedicated to addressing application layer threats."

"The great thing about ISA Server 2004 is that it offers a level of application layer protection that we needed in our enterprise to defend against Internet attacks," said Jonathan Saultz, principal information systems analyst for the City of Colorado Springs. "With its simplified management, seamless integration and new security architecture, ISA Server 2004 is going to be a powerful tool for protecting our network."

About Windows Server System

Microsoft Windows Server System is an integrated and interoperable server infrastructure that reduces IT complexity to enable IT professionals to deliver innovative solutions that meet the changing needs of business. With Windows Server 2003 at the foundation, Windows Server System is engineered from the ground up for XML Web services based on Microsoft .NET technologies to connect information, people, systems and devices. Based on a common software architecture that spans all facets of IT from design, development and deployment through ongoing management and usage, Windows Server System provides comprehensive IT infrastructure for operations (security, systems management, networked storage), applications (data management and analysis, e- business) and information work (messaging, communications and collaboration). More information on Microsoft Windows Server System can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/.

About Microsoft

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.