Microsoft makes beta of next release of Forefront security client available for download

Microsoft has made available for download a first beta of a new version of its Forefront Endpoint Protection 2012 security client, as of May 15.

Forefront Endpoint Protection (FEP) -- the product formerly known as Forefront Client Security -- is Microsoft's paid security client aimed at business users. (Microsoft has positioned its free Microsoft Security Essentials offering as primarily, though not entirely, for consumers.)

Microsoft shipped its Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 product in December of 2010. The 2012 version of the product builds on the 2010 release. Like its predecessor, builds on System Center Configuration Manager "allowing customers to implement endpoint protection as part of a unified infrastructure for securing and managing physical, virtual, and mobile client environments."

New in the May 2011 beta is support for System Center Configuration Manager 2012, role-based administration, and "more efficient delivery of security updates," according to the beta download site. The beta supports Windows 7, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows Vista, Windows Vista Business 64-bit edition, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows XP, Windows XP 64-bit, Windows XP Professional 64-Bit Edition (Itanium), Windows XP Professional 64-Bit Edition (Itanium) 2003.

I've asked Microsoft when the company expects to ship the final Forefront Endpoint Protection 2012 product (as we know, a "2012" in the name doesn't preclude a product shipping in late 2011). But hey -- at least the team isn't calling it Forefront v.Next... If I get an answer on the timing, I'll update this post.

In the interim, what else do you want to know about the next Forefront client?

(Thanks to @fmarco_garcia for the pointer to the Forefront beta page.)