The new Microsoft Windows Vista operating system, as well as the2007 release of Microsoft Office, promises a higher level of datasecurity and user account control–features that will help bothinsurance agencies and their carriers maintain compliance withfederal and state privacy regulations, an executive for thesoftware giant contends.

Microsoft, based in Redmond, Wash., announced the businessavailability of Vista and the Office 2007 release at a major pressevent in New York earlier this year.

According to Bill Hartnett, general manager of the InsuranceSolutions Group at Microsoft, the new platform and software includefeatures designed to foil data breaches that could mean regulatorytroubles for insurance agents, brokers, insurers and others whohandle sensitive information.