Microsoft offers free anti-virus for SMBs

Microsoft India has extended its anti-virus solution, Microsoft Essentials (MSE), for use of small and medium business at no additional cost, on any Microsoft Windows platform.

Microsoft announced this launch in partnership with HP. HP’s Envy series notebooks will come with readily installed MSE on them. Users of any other PC or notebook with Windows installed on them will have to download the solution for Microsoft website.

“Till date, MSE was being used by home users. For the first time, we have extended MSE for small and medium businesses up to 10 personal computers. SMBs will not have to pay additional cost if they are using genuine Microsoft Windows on their PC,” said Pankaj Ukey, Windows Client BG Lead, Microsoft India.

“Our home users have been using MSE since last one year. Based on our experience and observation, we asked Microsoft to take this partnership further to SMBs. By offering MSE through Envy series we have taken care of security concerns that are with SMBs. Many people are not aware of security solutions and its use. With this offering we have given them a secure solution,” said Ketan Patel, Country Category Head, Mobility Business Unit, Personal Systems Group, HP.

Microsoft has limited free use of MSE up to 10 PCs and it is not clarified the way it will act against SMBs if they install MSE on additional PCs with genuine Windows, or they buy additional Envy series notebook from HP.