To read this article in its entirety, please visit eWeek: Microsoft Security Essentials, Forefront Software Betas Released

Microsoft released the beta versions of upcoming editions of Microsoft Security Essentials and Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010.

In Security Essentials, Microsoft has added several new features and enhancements, including integration with Internet Explorer to protect against Web threats as well as a network inspection system to prevent network-based exploits.

According to a spokesperson, the network inspection system (NIS) can be found in the Forefront Endpoint Protection (FEP) beta as well.

"Based on similar technology found in the Forefront Threat Management Gateway Web Protection Service, it is designed to protect endpoints against application-layer threats through signatures and a deep protocol and application analysis," the spokesperson told eWEEK.

In a blog post, Microsoft's Forefront team said the company has built FEP on System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2 so customers can use their existing management infrastructure to deploy and manage the technology. The company has also added new behavioral detection to FEP to protect against zero-day attacks.