Microsoft is working to expand its security response and research operations beyond their current base in Redmond, Wash. Over the next six months, the software giant plans to establish teams in Europe and Asia for round-the-clock coverage of security incidents and to support customers of its security products, Vincent Gullotto, general manager of security research and response at Microsoft, said in an interview at the RSA Conference here Wednesday.
"Clearly, we have to build a global organization," Gullotto said. "We will develop sites to cover the Americas, EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) and Asia, for us to be protecting customers and providing support globally for all the people that use the various security products that we develop." The expansion is meant to make Microsoft, a security industry newcomer, more competitive. The company started selling its Windows Live OneCare consumer antivirus product last year, and its Forefront Client Security software for businesses is set to ship in the second quarter of this year.