Microsoft Security Essential Available for Small Business in October

Microsoft said on Wednesday that it will make Security Essentials, its free anti-virus software, available to small businesses in October.

The announcement is a u-turn in licensing from earlier this year. Microsoft originally insisted that the product was strictly for home use and OEMs building home retail machines. Microsoft�s change of heart means small businesses will be able to download and install the product on up to 10 PCs in early October.

Microsoft says the reason is due to a change in the End User Licensing Agreement (EULA) that allows small business customers to legally download the software onto individually managed business PCs. �This new availability will allow small businesses to take advantage of Microsoft�s no-cost antimalware service that will help them save time, save money and remain productive while protecting them from viruses, spyware and other malicious threats�, wrote Microsoft�s Eric Foster in a blog posting on Wednesday.

Microsoft is currently readying a new version of Security Essentials. An early beta, released in July this year, shows that the future version will include a new protection engine and inspection system. Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is designed to work on Windows XP, Vista and 7 and protects end users against virus threats and spy ware. MSE is Microsoft�s free anti-virus and anti-spyware product that replaced Microsoft�s paid Windows Live OneCare subscription service which was withdrawn last year.