Write secure code and win a Scorpio Passion!

BANGALORE: Microsoft has announced a new initiative called Security Shootout aimed at promoting secure code writing amongst Indian developers. The initiative is aimed at the 650,000 strong developer community in India and will test their skills at writing secure code by pitting them against the best in the country.

This initiative is part of the company's ongoing security mobilization efforts, under which it works closely with partners and customers to promote software security. With this initiative, it is also making an extensive collection of security resources available to developers such as web casts, blogs, articles, white papers, and books.

The developer with the best secure coding skills will be given a customized Scorpio Passion. Participants in this initiative can also win over 7500 prizes, which include Toshiba Tecra M4 laptops for the runner ups and other prizes like pocket PCs and 80GB USB 2.0 powered external hard disk drives. Besides the top 500 participants will get security certification vouchers, which will help them hone their code development skill over a long term.

Speaking on the occasion, Vaibhav Phadnis, director, Server Business Group, Microsoft India, said, “Our Security Shootout is an initiative designed to provide developers with the opportunity to build and sharpen their skills to develop secure code, and addresses a critical industry need. We are sure developers in India will see immense valued in this initiative and it will go a long way in ensuring greater enterprise security”

Microsoft is making significant investments in the area of security and has initiated Trustworthy Computing initiative towards this. Under this new initiative, Microsoft is working on three specific areas-Technology investments, where in it is committed to providing customers and users with the most secure products by eliminating all security vulnerabilities before a product ships. Prescriptive Guidance-which involves educating and empowering people; and industry partnerships, where the company is working with the government and industry to evolve security laws and standards.