Microsoft: 'Linux is not ready for mission critical computing'

By Matt Whipp

Posted on 9 Feb 2005 at 17:58

'We've made serious investments to build dedicated teams of people. We have consistent Windows update services. Microsoft continues to take security as a number one priority. How do we do this? Because we can afford to pay people.'

He added that Microsoft was doing a lot of work around raising education and awareness of security issues to ensure its programmers write secure code from the outset: with a number of high profile academics in its MSDN group and even degree modules on the subject at UK universities.

However, the idea that the likes of IBM, a big Linux proponent, can't afford to pay people seems ludicrous. McGrath claimed that IBM had barely 'handfuls' of developers working in the Open Source community.

He warned that: 'IBM is not doing Linux for philanthropic reasons. It's doing it for commercial gain. Every commercial company looks at its options. And Microsoft continues to work closely with IBM as a strategic partner.'

And McGrath claimed that Microsoft was doing more than its Linux counterparts to address legal as well as security risks.

He claimed Microsoft offers its customers 'the most comprehensive indemnity,' and that its open source rivals 'have significant caveats and clauses that many customers see as an unacceptable risk,' he said.