Updated: Redmond denies published report that it is axing its Next-Generation Secure Computing Base and insists the technology still will debut in Longhorn.

Microsoft spent much of Day 2 of its Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) here refuting a published report claiming the company has axed its Next Generation Secure Computing Base (NGSCB) security technology. "NGSCB is alive and kicking," said Mario Juarez, a product manager in Microsoft's security and technology business unit.

NGSCB — the hardware/software security system formerly code-named "Palladium" — has been one of the most controversial components expected to debut in the version of Windows that's due out in 2006+. Unlike last year's WinHEC, where NGSCB received top billing, this year, it's just a blip on the radar screen. In fact, there are at only three sessions on the WinHEC docket specifically about NGSCB. But Microsoft is still talking up its NGSCB vision at this week's show. Microsoft is continuing to be vague about exactly how much of its NGSCB code will ship as part of Longhorn. Company officials have gone on record saying that customers would not be impacted by the technology until Microsoft delivered Version 2 of the NGSCB platform. The company has not provided a date for Version 2.

Thanks for the heads up by Tony G.