TNW Quick Hit:
Ever since the FISMA spat between Google and Microsoft, we have been keeping an extra close eye on software certifications for either company that could set the stage for larger governmental adoption of their products.
In that vein, Microsoftannounced todaythat Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and SQL Server 2008 SP2 have all completed theCommon Criteria certification process. This certification, according to Microsoft, is the “international standard for ensuring that IT products conform to stringent security requirements, is recognized by the 26 member nations of the CCRA, and used in procurement requirements by governments around the world.”
The products have achieved Evaluation Assurance Level 4 with augmentation, or ‘EAL4+.’
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Microsoft is obviously hoping that this new round of certifications will bolster its sales of the above listed products to the US government. In its post on the matter, Microsoft notes that Common Criteria certification is mandatory for “U.S. defense and national security customers.”
In recent weeks Microsoft and Google have exchanged barbs over Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) certification, with Microsofttouting its cloud productsas having achieved the status, pointing out that Google’s similar offerings haveyet to accomplish the same. Googlesnapped back at Microsoftfor making what it found to be false statements, and claimed that it indeed did have FISMA certification.
The government software sector is hot because mountains of money flow through it every year. Microsoft is determined to not cede ground to Google, and today’s round of new certifications are certainly not going to hurt.
Story byAlex Wilhelm
Alex Wilhelm is a San Francisco-based writer. You can find Alex on Twitter, and on Facebook. You can reach Alex via email at alex@thenextweb(show all)Alex Wilhelm is a San Francisco-based writer. You can find Alex onTwitter,and onFacebook.You can reach Alex via email atalex@thenextweb.com
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