Microsoft to Improve Enterprise Search, Netscape Ends, Surveys Report

Microsoft Corp. announced it will acquire Fast Search and Transfer ASA (FAST) this week. Elsewhere, AOL LLC declared the end of its support of the legendary Netscape Web browser. Lastly, a new security survey reports some interesting findings.

Focal Points:

• Microsoft has agreed to purchase leading enterprise search tool vendor FAST for $1.2 billion, which is more than a 40 percent premium above its stock price. Based in Oslo, Norway, the company's solutions are used in behind-the-firewall search appliances designed to help employees quickly and easily locate corporate assets. Microsoft hopes to integrate FAST's technology and leverage its engineers to improve the search capabilities of its SharePoint Server and Search Server applications, as well as better compete with offerings from Google, Inc. and IBM Corp.
• The end is in sight for the Web browser that popularized and formerly led the market, Netscape. While Netscape once commanded more than 80 percent of the Web browser market prior to the 1995 launch of Windows 95, Netscape's parent company AOL will stop supporting the Netscape Navigator Web browser on February 1, 2008. Mozilla's Gecko rendering engine now underpins the more popular Mozilla Firefox browser in addition to Netscape Navigator. While Firefox holds an estimated 16 percent of the Web browser market, Netscape Navigator has fallen to less than one percent. Netscape Corp. was a stock market darling and high flyer when it went public in 1995, but Microsoft's inclusion of Internet Explorer within new versions Windows severely stymied the company and Web browser's growth. Netscape opened its source code in 1998 by launching the Mozilla Organization, which became the Mozilla Foundation in 2003 after AOL scaled its development resources back.
• Danish security company Secunia recently released some telltale findings regarding the security levels of the average computer. Using its freely downloadable Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI), 20,000 user systems were tested to determine security and patch levels of various Microsoft Windows operating systems and a multitude of applications. The assessment found that 95 percent of tested systems were insecure, and 41 percent of participants had 11 or more patches that could be applied. From an application perspective, the examination determined that 28 percent of applications were insecure. Secunia PSI is as available as a free download or online exam. A corporate network version is available for a nominal fee with enterprise support. The tool can detect more than 300,000 unique application versions to help with patching update monitoring and management.

Experton Group believes Microsoft desperately needs to update the sophistication of its search management tools – both online and in the enterprise versions. Online and enterprise search are growing markets with good revenue potential, and Microsoft is correct in recognizing that the best way for it to acquire the needed capabilities is through acquisition. FAST is a leading provider of enterprise search capabilities and has an impressive roster of clients across multiple business verticals; however, Microsoft will need to keep acquired talent and improve upon functionality to make a significant dent beyond Microsoft-centric shops. The company has an unfortunate habit of letting acquired technologies stagnate and using its market presence to drive adoption.

AOL's decision to forgo developing future versions of Netscape Navigator comes as little surprise given the company's direction. AOL has morphed into an online information portal over the last few years, and its financial success is tied more to ad revenue than dial-up or Internet access subscribers. Netscape Navigator has received few updates over the last several years, and the Mozilla team is focused on building Firefox, Thunderbird, and other application types rather than Netscape Navigator. Few, if any, enterprises are still using Netscape Navigator as their browser of choice, and this development will push the rest onto alternate Web browsers.

Secunia's security findings should come as little surprise to IT executives, given the challenges of keeping abreast of the ongoing plethora of applications in use and security patches issued. As no single source can be used for monitoring all available patches, corporations should attempt to minimize and standardize software sets to reduce the burden and cost of maintenance. Tools such as Secunia PSI can help identify security holes and ensure compliance, and IT administrators should also subscribe to proactive security notification tools and mailing lists to help keep systems properly updated.