Focus 2010: McAfee overhauls Endpoint Security

McAfee has introduced the latest version of its Endpoint Security platform, targeting what the company sees as a growing range of devices needing protection from security threats.

Brian Foster, senior vice president of product management at McAfee, told reporters that the Endpoint Security 9 update seeks to support a wave of commercialisation sweeping IT.

Foster explained that, as employees bring personal devices such as smartphones and tablets into the workplace, administrators face a growing number of platforms to manage and support.

"You're seeing more and more iPads and iPhones," he said. "Consumer devices are invading IT and they have been invading for some time."

Virtualisation is also making its way into IT environments, and McAfee has launched Management Optimized for Virtual Environments (Move) to help companies cope with increased numbers of virtual machines.

The first version of Move will allow administrators to streamline anti-virus management and performance by establishing a single virtual machine responsible for managing anti-virus tasks.

This eliminates the need for multiple virtual machines to simultaneously run anti-virus updates, speeding up overall server performance, according to McAfee.

One of the most intriguing target markets for Endpoint Security 9, however, could be embedded systems.

Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT, told V3.co.uk that, with more devices being embedded with connectivity, McAfee could partner with Intel for an offering that competitors will have difficulty matching.

"It is a very solid commercial opportunity for McAfee," he said. "I think it is one of the biggest reasons the company was attractive to Intel; they want to sell billions of embedded chips."