Locking down Windows Vista's kernel is a measure that, although detrimental to the implementation of behavior-blocking third party security software, is beneficial to DRM. In order to ensure the digital rights management, and a protected media path, the operating system's kernel must be free of applications that feature media content interception capabilities. In this context, Microsoft was praised by Aladdin Knowledge Systems the leader in Software DRM, identity management and content security solutions.

"We see Microsoft's announcement detailing greater anti-piracy and licensing enforcement for Windows Vista as one of the single most influential drivers to ever affect the software protection industry," said Avi Barir, vice president of Software Digital Rights Management at Aladdin Knowledge System. "We expect to see a significant number of software developers worldwide eventually react in a similar, more protected manner in order to fight unlicensed and pirated copies of their software. Seeing the world's largest software company move to more stringent protection clearly entices others to do the same, and while doing so, work toward decreasing the enormous amounts of unlicensed or pirated software."

"There continues a growing concern and need to prevent software piracy and re-enforce developers' intellectual property rights, but with Microsoft's recent announcement of its own strong anti-piracy policy for Windows Vista, it's likely other developers will adopt technologies aimed at disabling key software abilities or features in unauthorized copies," said Charles Kolodgy, research director for IDC. "It is a bold move, but pirated software is a huge security and economic problem, so IDC would expect to see more demand for software protection solutions."