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The technology, called VMsafe, is essentially a series of application program interfaces (APIs).

These allow security vendors greater access to parts of the hypervisor, giving them the ability to integrate their security products with VMware software.

VMware says the software will increase transparency into the memory, CPU, disc and I/O systems of the virtual machine, and that around twenty security companies have committed to building products using the APIs.

One of these companies, McAfee, also took the opportunity to announce a beta version of its new email and web Security virtual appliance, built for the VMware platform using the API.

The announcement follows a recent security scare which revealed that certain VMware users running shared folders could be leaving themselves open to hackers.