Welcome to the MSRC at RSA Thanks for checking out the Microsoft Security Response Center blog from RSA. While it's not quite RSA yet, we wanted to take the opportunity to welcome you all and give you a little insight into what you can expect to see on the MSRC blog as we head into RSA. First, we'd like to take this opportunity to introduce the members of the MSRC that will be heading down to RSA this year and who will be contributing to this blog: Debby Fry Wilson , Director...

Meet Debby Fry Wilson, Director with the MSRC As Director of the Security Response Center within the Microsoft Security Business and Technology Unit, I’m really pleased that the MSRC is able to participate in this year’s RSA. Indeed, a year ago, our team didn't travel to RSA because we were deep in midst of implementing process changes improvements post-Blaster – and still refining our management plans, processes and skills in the face of several security incidents last year. Thus...

Simon Conant, Security Program Manager with the MSRC As the newest member of the team, I flew into Redmond on the Sunday before February's "Update Tuesday" (i.e. the release of Microsoft's February security updates). Although originally from New Zealand, I'm moving right now from Germany, where for the past few years I have worked for Microsoft's Product Support Service, looking after Security Program Management for Europe, Middle East and Africa. I'll be bringing with me time in Microsoft...

Stephen Toulouse, Security Program Manager with the MSRC My introduction to security response was the Slammer attack. I’d been on the MSRC team for all of a month, and suddenly this attack on SQL servers appears, even impacting the Internet! I had just moved up to Seattle and was trying to sell my old house, buy a new house, and move all my belongings up here. Suddenly I’m in the middle of a room with a bunch of Vice Presidents and some very smart security people, working non-stop...

Kevin Kean, Director with the MSRC My first impression of RSA this year is - wow RSA has really grown! The scale reminds me of some of the networking shows a few years ago. This morning a huge number of people were signing up for the full conference. For anyone familiar with the Moscone center in San Francisco – think 10 or so lines of pre-registered attendees stretching all the way from the doors down the stairs. I took a quick walk through the convention floor too, and the scale...

Bill Gates Keynote: Internet Explorer 7.0! I am absolutely ecstatic to repeat Bill Gates’ announcement this morning at RSA that there will indeed be an Internet Explorer 7.0! The Internet Explorer team is a great bunch of people who've been watching the interest in new functionality and security intently. Internet Explorer is one of the most popular Windows components for customers, and due to its high level of interoporability it's been a challenge for us security wise. That's why...

The MSRC: "Update Tuesday" Week Prior to RSA Day 2 at RSA has reminded us that we certainly are arriving in San Francisco after a big week in Redmond. Our team, which manages vulnerabilities and releases security updates AND manages security incidents, had an opportunity to exercise all of our expertise last week with the release of 12 security bulletins (8 that were critical). The preparation and management of the 12 bulletins was an enormous task – managing the development and...

Alive and kicking at the end of Day 2! It's almost 6:30 and while the MSRC "Wheel of Fortune" has finally stopped spinning my head has not. I cannot get over how many people are here, and how many stop and discuss Microsoft's security efforts (I am sure it has nothing to do with X-Box game giveaways .) A few people have shown surprise at having actual MSRC staff and management here in front of them. They seem to enjoy discussing their thoughts on security as much as we are enjoying...

MSRC Customer Survey: Win an Xbox game! Wow, what an exciting day yesterday at RSA! Bill Gates actually talked about the Microsoft Security Response Center within the very opening of his keynote address! Bill also outlined Microsoft’s three key focus areas for security, which are technology innovation, guidance and industry leadership. What we do in the MSRC falls squarely within the prescriptive guidance area. Bill talked about the improvements we’ve made to provide deep guidance...

Securi-tini anyone? We had a great time last night at a party Microsoft hosted. It was at the Foreign Cinema, which is an awesome restaurant with enormous white walls everywhere that they play movies on. People mingled, eating fantastic food and drinking the occasional “Securi-tini” or “Harvey Firewall-banger” and movies played on the walls all around us. It was funny to see entire conversations stop as people suddenly watched the bridge shootout sequence from Brian DePalma’s “The...