Schedule Update for Forefront “Stirling”

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Today Microsoft announced an update on release timing for Forefront code name “Stirling,” an integrated security suite that combines the next-generation Forefront solutions for endpoint, messaging and collaboration, and network protection with a central management console for easy administration and enterprise-wide visibility.

  • Microsoft will begin the release of the “Stirling” security suite with the delivery of Forefront Server Security for Exchange and Threat Management Gateway (the next generation of ISA Server) in the fourth quarter of 2009.

  • The "Stirling” management console, Forefront Client Security 2.0 and Forefront Security for SharePoint will be released in the first half of 2010.

  • The company will ship a public beta 2 of “Stirling” and a release candidate prior to final release.

Previously, Microsoft communicated that “Stirling” was targeted for release in the first half of this year. They have been working closely with customers in the Technology Adoption Program to gather their feedback about how to deliver the best experience and value with “Stirling.” One of the top customer requests was adding interoperability with third party security solutions. To this end, Microsoft plans to increase its focus on one of the unique features of “Stirling”, Security Assessment Sharing (SAS.) SAS correlates security events from different Forefront products and third party solutions, enabling administrators to quickly investigate and remediate security events. We will provide information about interoperability partners in the near future.

In addition, Microsoft is investing significantly in a behavior-based technology called Dynamic Signature Service. This will complement the "Stirling" suite's advanced heuristics, dynamic translation and real time application scanning for kernel level malware with a sophisticated approach to on-demand threat mitigation, helping deliver more comprehensive endpoint protection for zero day attacks.

Customers investing in Forefront solutions today will have an easy migration path to “Stirling.”