Microsoft pushes into crowded security theater

Microsoft keeps pushing its way into the security space. Last week, it bought Sybari Software, an anti-virus and anti-spam software company, as a key component to its plans for security. 

Much like an elephant that decides to take the last seat in a crowded theatre, Microsoft’s recent moves have already caused ripples in the security market. For example, Symantec recently purchased Veritas, a storage company, for the express purpose of diversifying its product line.

Still, the Sybari acquisition isn’t a complete surprise. Microsoft has been adding to its stable of security software in recent months. In December, the company purchased Giant Software, later releasing a free beta version of Giant’s product, Giant AntiSpyware, under the name Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware.

Microsoft intends to use the Sybari acquisition to provide its corporate customers with technology to protect themselves against malicious software, according to a company statement. And we’ll likely be seeing more from Microsoft about security soon, as Bill Gates is expected to use a keynote speech at this week’s RSA Security Conference in San Francisco to announce plans for a consumer anti-virus product.

A few details about Sybari’s products: The company makes anti-virus, anti-spam, and e-mail content filtering products for large enterprise customers. Sybari’s Antigen anti-virus product is a server-based product that uses multiple anti-virus engines to scan e-mail messages for viruses.

Sybari gives customers a choice of anti-virus engines from companies such as Sophos, Computer Associates, and Kaspersky Labs, but the company does not have its own anti-virus engine. Sybari works with Microsoft Exchange e-mail server, as well as Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003, Lotus Notes, and Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services, which are used to manage and share documents and information across an organization. Microsoft also plans to integrate its own anti-virus software into Antigen at some point, the company said.

Although many have questioned Microsoft’s plans in the security market — including Wall Street, which immediately sent stock prices of Symantec and McAfee down — some security industry officials welcome Microsoft to the market.

According to Chris Kraft, vice president of product management at Sybari partner Sophos, security companies should not fear Microsoft’s entry into the market. “I think this is really a compliment to other anti-virus vendors because Sybari’s products can use most any anti-virus engine,” he said.

Kraft made another good point. He doesn’t believe Microsoft wants to reinvent the computer security wheel. “There is a whole infrastructure that has built up in the anti-virus, anti-spam community. I don’t believe Microsoft has any intention or has any way to build that kind of infrastructure,” he said.

Microsoft’s moves sound fairly benign, at least so far. And everyone knows they could use a security boost. But anytime an elephant carrying buckets of popcorn and extra-large drinks shuffles through a crowded movie theatre, I suspect there will be some spills to clean up and some toes stepped on before this is all over.