MS is gearing up its security product push, but is this something we want? The initiative is in its infancy, but would a wholesale expansion into to security space serve MS or its clients well?

Here's why it could be a bad thing: If the MS Forefront line of security goodies becomes the new de-facto standard for protection software, Symantec, McAfee et al can kiss an absolute truckload of easy money goodbye.

That means less diversity and less innovation. And even though most vendors don't innovate -- they just buy smart products -- it's that light at the end of the tunnel (acquisition cash) that keeps the smaller guys working hard and coming up with new ideas.

If MS is spectacularly successful it could also mean we're headed towards a monoculture state in security software.

One thing that's saved the ass (not the donkey kind... the way Americans mean it) of many a CIO is the fact that there's a lot of choice in the security market for AV and client side protection software.

But even that software gets attacked. A few years ago the Witty computer worm infected products made by Internet Security Systems, which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of IBM. The worm deleted random sectors from the hard disks of infected hosts. It was nasty.

We've also seen vulnerabilities in products made by CheckPoint, Symantec, SourceFire (indirectly, I guess, through Snort) and others.

This isn't a big deal -- where there is code there will be vulnerabilities
-- but a bit of diversity in the extra layer you deploy on top of your existing operating system to secure it can only be a good thing.

Microsoft could have the power to dominate the security software market. A worm outbreak that only affects ISS products is one thing, but a worm that affects 80% of Microsoft customers, who choose its software as a bolt-on because it's easy, is quite another.

Furthermore, it's not just vulnerabilities in MS's security kit that could cause concern. What about circumvention measures? Every Tom, Dick and Harry out there will be trying to find ways to outsmart Forefront, and a gambling man would guess MS will come off second best.

The more successful it is in the market, the less useful it will be.

Let's hope Microsoft is aiming to be a bit player, but knowing the company's history, it's hardly likely.