Microsoft boosts security on Exchange messaging server

Microsoft is to bundle a number of new security features into the next version of its Exchange messaging server.

Exchange Service Pack 2 will incorporate a number of features which were previously part of Microsoft’s separate Exchange Edge Services development programme.

When Service Pack 2 comes out in the second half of this year, an anti-spam and a sender authentication program will be incorporated into the release, along with other security modifications.

The Windows XP platform already incorporates a firewall, and Microsoft recently announced a Windows anti-spyware product, so including anti-spam and mail authentication features into Exchange can be seen as a natural step.

The Exchange Edge Services package was expected as a separate launch some time this year. Microsoft has instead decided to bundle most of the Exchange Edge Services features with the next full version of Exchange - codenamed Exchange 12 - which is expected in either 2006 or 2007.

One of those forthcoming features is expected to be an IP number "safe list".