It looks like Microsoft is looking to establish the “Essentials” brand as a label for free and useful, if bare-bones, services for users of the Windows platform. To wit: today sees the availability of Microsoft Security Essentials as a completely free antivirus/malware protection suite for small businesses up to 10 users. Here’s the scoop.
The Windows Security blog claims that Microsoft Security Essentials, in its current form, has acquired over 30 million users in the year or so since its launch. What’s more, new HP Envy notebooks have the suite pre-installed when you open the box, as of last week. That blog entry has other milestones, but the real upshot seems to be that Microsoft is proud of the positive buzz Security Essentials has gotten thus far.
Now it’s available for small businesses with up to ten machines. While it doesn’t sound like it’s a licensing issue behind that limited number of machines, Microsoft recommends upgrading to their Forefront product line if you have more than that.
Just as with the Microsoft Live Essentials 2011 package, this represents a problem to MSPs insofar as it may be harder to upsell customers to bigger and perhaps better, even if their infrastructure or usage habits demand it, because they have a free alternative sitting on their machines.
Sign up for MSPmentor’s Weekly Enewsletter, Webcasts and Resource Center. And follow us via RSS,Facebook, Identi.ca; and Twitter. Plus, check out more MSP voices at www.MSPtweet.com.
Read More About This Topic
Share This Post
Posted In: Managed Security Services | Software as a Service and Hardware as a Service
Tags: antivirus | Essentials | HP Envy | malware | malware protection | Microsoft | Microsoft Forefront | Microsoft Live Essentials | Microsoft Security Essentials | microsoft windows | Security
Interact: Add a Comment | Trackback Link | Permalink
Subscribe: RSS Feed
Take a look at our 
This really will come in handy for alot of smaller clients. I think Comodo Antivirus does something very similar to this but only gives up the licenses for a year. They have a more complete solution then just antivirus/malware though. I like where MS is going with this.
Steve: I’ll be curious to see how the Intel-McAfee potentially addresses similar market challenges/opportunities.
-jp
Hello; I’m a small business very small in fact.I’m using Office/Home and Student. My current security is Norton/Webroot. Our ISP now provides Norton Security Essentials. I have purchased Webroot for approx. 20+ yrs. When ISP used McAfee we had problem after problem as did many others in Western Michigan. We had rootkits and HyJackings after going to Webroot problems went away. I see reading here that you are providing Security Essentials as mininum protection. If I move back to your Security Essentials used with Webroot Security Essentials will my coverage be equal or greater than what I’m currently using? Thank You not to be published
Royal: We will reach out to Microsoft to see if they can answer your question(s).
-jp