Microsoft and Cisco Systems will collaborate to make their emerging products for network security compatible. The vendors had been working independently in the area of PC access to networks but say customers insisted they work together to solve what's become a critical problem for many companies.

Microsoft will match its in-development Network Access Protection software with Cisco's Network Admissions Control technology, introduced in July. Both are intended to tighten security at network end points by checking the status of PCs and laptops to ensure they're virus free, up to date on patches, and compliant with company software policies.

By John Foley at CommsDesign.

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