McAfee Gets Passport to Microsoft’s .NET

Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) and McAfee.com (Nasdaq: MCAF) Tuesday announced they would work together to put Microsoft’s .NET technologies in a number of McAfee security services.

The deal calls for the integration of Microsoft’s .NET technologies with Sunnyvale-based McAfee.com’s Web-based security services. In addition, McAfee.com will soon launch a security service integrated with Microsoft’s Passport application that will provide single sign-on and registration across multiple Web properties. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

“McAfee.com is one of the largest subscription services on the Internet today,” says Sanjay Parthasarathy, vice president of .NET Platform Strategy at Microsoft.
“They have been delivering these services for nearly two years, and in doing so has helped demonstrate that software can be successfully delivered as a service via the Internet. We are excited about collaborating with such a software-as-service pioneer.”

As the first step on the road to .NET, McAfee is expected to launch a new security service that uses Microsoft Passport to give users a single sign-on and registration across multiple Web properties. The application uses Microsoft’s kernel service, “HailStorm.”

“HailStorm” is a code name for a set of user-centric XML Web services that gives users a single sign-on with Passport authentication, and automatic notification about security and virus alerts on their PCs or other Internet-ready devices.

“Supporting Microsoft Passport and the ‘HailStorm’ initiative and integrating with .NET will offer customers worldwide an unprecedented level of security, ease of use and interoperability,” says McAfee president and CEO Srivats Sampath.

The alliance will initially focus on .NET technologies and .NET Enterprise Servers within McAfee.com’s online services along with a joint marketing and promotional campaign. It also calls for the companies to work together on future HailStorm services.