Microsoft has restructured its Windows Core Operating System Division into five teams in a move designed to better focus on PC hardware and provide a richer set of customer solutions.

The software giant is also making changes on the security front by bringing its security, Trustworthy Computing and Engineering Excellence teams together in one group, known as the Trustworthy Computing Team, Jim Desler, Microsoft's group public relations manager, told eWEEK Oct. 12.

But the division's top management remains unchanged under Jon DeVaan, as senior vice president for engineering strategy, who reports to Kevin Johnson, co-president of the platform and services division.

Click here to read more about how Microsoft shook up its Windows division.

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That executive structure was put in place when Microsoft restructured its platform and services division earlier this year. The company said that move was designed to better align the existing Windows and MSN assets with Microsoft's overall Live strategy.

But sources told eWEEK at the time that the delay in the release of Windows Vista was the catalyst for the move, more so than Microsoft's stated goal of "ensuring the company delivers a full range of software-based services to consumers and businesses around the world."

These latest changes will go into effect after Windows Vista is released to manufacturing later in October, if all goes according to plan.

Read more here about how Vista has entered the home stretch with the release of RC2.

"Microsoft's Core Operating Systems Division was focused on the delivery and quality of Windows products, providing a center of gravity for engineering excellence within Windows, and delivering innovations in the operating system platform that would benefit customers and partners worldwide. These changes are designed to expand on that vision," Desler said.

The Windows Core Operating System Division was originally formed in December of 2003 with the goal of optimizing the Windows platform for customers.

It fell under the leadership of Brian Valentine, who recently left Microsoft to take an executive position at Amazon.com.

The new five-team structure following this latest reorganization includes the Windows Core System Team, which will be led by Ben Fathi on the development side, Darren Muir on the testing front and Chuck Chan on program management.

That team will be responsible for the Windows Core System, including kernel, virtualization, security, networking and deployment innovations.

Click here to read more about the reasons behind Valentine's departure.

The Windows Engineering System and Services Team will be led by Wael Bahaa-El Din and will have responsibility for the Windows engineering system, while the PC Hardware Team will be led by Jawad Khaki and will work closely with OEMs, ODMs (original design manufacturers) and IHVs (independent hardware vendors) to help build solutions for customers, Desler said.

The Trustworthy Computing Team will be led by Scott Charney and will include security engineering, security response infrastructure, security outreach and engineering excellence investments in addition to Trustworthy Computing.

The Windows Core Architecture Team will be led by Richard Ward and will focus on Windows architecture, growing technical design across the division, as well as the growth and alignment of the division with the Windows architect community, Desler said.

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