Microsoft is extremely close to entering the final stretch with the development process of the evolution of the Internet Security and Acceleration Server (ISA Server). Having released Beta 3 of Forefront Threat Management Gateway just three months ago, the Redmond-based company is now hammering away at the first Release Candidate Build. David B. Cross, Product Unit Manager Forefront TMG, explained that Microsoft had already managed to push Forefront Threat Management Gateway into the RC Escrow stage, and that, in this regard, the fully fledged Release Candidate was just around the corner.

However, Cross revealed that Microsoft needed additional feedback from testers before signing off the RC code. The request for input goes out to all customers that are test driving the third Beta of Forefront TGM, and is related to telemetry associated with the URL filtering capabilities and the Microsoft Reputation Service (MRS).

“We need more data and feedback to improve the coverage and accuracy of our URL filtering offering. This is critical so that we can adjust the service and results to match the wide audience we serve with the Forefront TMG product,” Cross noted. “My ask to the community is the following: If you have installed or deployed TMG Beta 3 and are using the URL filtering capability of the proxy, please take a moment to download and install the URL filtering telemetry package.”

According to Cross, Microsoft plans to include the telemetry by default into the RC of Forefront TGM. Still, for the time being, Beta 3 testers looking to deliver feedback to the Redmond-based company is the only way to ensure that URL filtering will perform in accordance with quality standards that will recommend TGM for implementation into production environments even as RC.

“We have just internally completed our escrow test pass cycle for the upcoming release candidate (RC) version. We have been running TMG under stress conditions, incorporating critical customer feedback and most importantly, ‘eating our own dogfood’. We are putting the final touches on the build and putting it through its final paces to ensure any customer can put this release into production on day one. As soon as it is ready, I will let everyone know,” Cross added.