Microsoft Corp. plans to increase its ranks in India by 3,000 employees over the next three to four years. Chairman Bill Gates told an Indian industry forum in Delhi that the company's Indian workforce will reach 7,000. It wasn't clear whether the new staffers will all be employed by Microsoft or will include employees at outsourcing companies in India that work for Microsoft.

MCI unveils new security service

MCI Inc. has introduced a security risk management service designed to help large organizations proactively deal with system threats and vulnerabilities. The NetSec Security Risk Management Service uses a scorecard-based approach that lets users prioritize and resolve security risks. The service will be available in the U.S. next month and in Europe late next year.

Juniper, Symantec in development pact

Juniper Networks Inc. and Symantec Corp. have agreed to jointly create software that makes sure remote machines meet security policies before they can access Juniper Secure Sockets Layer virtual private networks. The software will be based on technology Symantec gained through its acquisition of WholeSecure earlier this year that will allow users to create specific policies for separate groups.