Microsoft, Foundstone Form Security Alliance

LAS VEGAS–Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday announced a partnership with Foundstone Inc. to provide security services to large financial services companies. The alliance is an extension of Microsofts Trustworthy Computing effort and may eventually extend outside the financial industry.

Foundstones Financial Services Group will work with the Microsoft Consulting Services unit to deliver both services and products.

Foundstone, based in Mission Viejo, Calif., is best known for its high-end vulnerability-assessment and network-scanning services, although the company has recently begun selling software as well. It has worked closely with Microsoft on several projects in the past, including a recent review of all of the .Net code for security vulnerabilities.

“Information security is a critical concern for every company these days, especially those in the financial services industry,” said Joel Greenberg, manager of security strategy for Microsofts FSG Enterprise Services. “Also, Foundstone has from its inception developed deep ties and experience with financial companies. Foundstone understands leading-edge security technology and how it can be best applied to this unique vertical market.”

In related news, Internet Security Systems Inc. on Tuesday announced an agreement to provide a broad range of managed security services for WorldCom Inc. ISS, of Atlanta, will provide network protection, intrusion event monitoring, virus scanning, remote scanning and emergency response services.

WorldCom, of Clinton, Miss., already has a fairly large portfolio of managed security services, including managed firewall, VPN and consulting and training services.

The two companies will aim their new offerings at the entire enterprise market and will be able to customize them according to the size of the customer.