Windows Server 2008 is barely out the door, and Russian antivirus maker Kaspersky is already good to go when it comes down to protecting the server platform. According to Kaspersky, its antivirus solution Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6.0, for Windows Server Enterprise Edition, is the first to cross the line of the Windows Server 2008 software certification program. As was the case with Windows Vista, Microsoft is offering its partners the possibility to label their products as either Works with Windows Server 2008 or Certified for Windows Server 2008, as a guarantee of the intimate level of integration between third-party solutions and the latest server operating system.

"Microsoft is very pleased that Kaspersky Labs is a leading innovator, developing solutions that take advantage of the advanced security and core functionality of Windows Server 2008. By certifying their anti-virus solution, Kaspersky Lab is helping customers deploy their solutions on Windows Server 2008 with confidence," said Steve Bell, senior product manager of Windows Server marketing at Microsoft.

"Today Windows Server 2003 is the most popular operating system for servers in the world. We believe that Windows Server 2008 will eventually surpass its predecessor and become the new common standard for corporate servers. And we are proud that we are the first IT-security company in the world to offer its clients a solution which is certified for Windows Server 2008," added Alexey Kalgin, deputy product marketing director at Kaspersky Lab.

The Russian security company pointed out that Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6.0 for Windows Server Enterprise Edition is designed to support both the 32-bit and 64-bit editions of the Windows Server 2008. Kaspersky recommends the server antivirus for corporate networks of any size, but emphasizes that the product is optimized for high-performance corporate servers experiencing heavy loads. In order to receive the Certified for Windows Server 2008 label, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6.0 for Windows Server Enterprise Edition had to pass no less than 100 tests, involving everything from compatibility to security and reliability on the new operating system.