Microsoft is injecting steroids into its security muscles and it prepares to internationalize its presence in the industry. And the Redmond Company will need all the resources it can get its hands on because it is going against the likes of Symantec, McAfee, Kaspersky etc. Yesterday, I wrote about the new Microsoft Malware Protection Portal that has gone live as a preview until mid 2007 when the final launch is planned.

The Malware Protection Portal is an integer part of the company's efforts to establish a firm presence on the security market. The portal was showcased by Microsoft's head of Security Research and Response team, Vincent Gullotto, attending RSA Japan. Concomitantly, Microsoft also announced their plans for the Malware Protection Center.

"Some of our customers view this a little controversially, in a sense that if we could solve these problems at the root, why is there a need for extra products," stated Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer. "We do live in a world in which the bad guys are also getting smarter all the time. It is important to be able to lock the core infrastructure and then protect around it in a way that is a bit more dynamic."

And in this context, Microsoft has welcomed security experts from the competition to join in the ranks. And there are three names that will be at the lead of the Redmond Company's security efforts. One, of course is Vincent "Vinny" Gullotto, the other two are Dan Wolff and Katrin Totcheva.

These three names are - to a larger or a smaller degree - connected with Symantec, McAfee and F-Secure. Microsoft is in this manner gathering all resources around a GeCad core and the additional security companies that it consumed since 2003.
"We will expand our Malware Protection Center. This means we will open a branch in Japan as well as Europe (Dublin). This means that we are increasing our capabilities to produces signature and react on threats significantly. Having said this, we are not running these centers with no-names. Vinny himself has a long background with McAfee and Symantec, Dan Wolff - running the team in Japan - joined us from McAfee, and last but definitely not least Katrin Totcheva - ramping up the team in Dublin - is joining us from F-Secure. I personally think that this team definitely will rock," commented stated Roger Halbheer Chief Security Advisor Microsoft EMEA.