In an about-face, Microsoft is now preparing to give its absolutely free Microsoft Safety Essentials (MSE) antivirus/antimalware software program to little companies, and not just customers.
Starting in early October, Microsoft will permit small companies to put in MSE on up to 10 PCs for absolutely free. If they require antimalware/antivirus for far more than ten PCs, Microsoft is still pushing them to give consideration to its Forefront line of items.
Offering MSE to tiny businesses is a change in policy. In May of this yr,
Links London Sale, I had numerous small-business consumers and partners asking me no matter whether Microsoft would assistance them employing MSE, considering that the company;s placement had been that MSE was a consumer-only item. Microsoft execs advised me no, repeating that “Microsoft Safety Essentials continues to be available for buyers and home-based businesses. The Microsoft Safety Essentials OEM Pre-installation Kit (OPK) was made available to OEM partners as a way to provide a pre-installed security solution on home use PCs.”
Microsoft was attempting to push small-business buyers — other than “small-home-based businesses with only some individually managed PCs” — to use its paid Forefront line of products. (I;m unclear what today;s announcement signifies about Microsoft positioning of Forefront and have asked for a comment. No word back so much.) Microsoft officials say the move has nothing to do with its positioning of Forefront.)
So what;s behind today;s change? It;s partially about little businesses being unable and/or unwilling to pay for security software program, the Softies acknowledge. But it;s also about licensing.
“This extended availability to modest businesses centers on a change to the End User Licensing Agreement (EULA) that allows little enterprise customers to legally download the software onto individually managed enterprise PCs,
Links London Charms,” a spokesperson said,
Thomas Sabo Bracelet Pearl, via an e-mailed statement.
The line between MSE and Forefront client (and its still-unfinished successor,
Thomas Sabo Silver Charms, Forefront Endpoint Protection) has been a bit murky, other than the face MSE is cost-free. Microsoft delivered new betas of both the next release of MSE and Forefront Endpoint Protection in June of this 12 months,
Links Of London Sale, with execs committing that both would ship in final form before the end of this calendar year.
The new beta of MSE included Windows Firewall integration (allowing users to turn on or off the Windows Firewall during setup); Internet Explorer integration for extra protection against Web-based attacks; an updated anti-malware engine; and network inspection system functionality to help fend off network-based exploits.