Microsoft is to offer its suite of Windows Live online services in a single download.

As search giant Google launches its own set of IT applications, Microsoft has released a beta test version of a free software package that includes email, instant messaging, photo gallery, blogging software and a security program.

Increasingly the software war is being fought online, with Microsoft having to adapt from the older model of software installed on individual PCs. In today's world more processes occur online and Microsoft wishes to extend its dominance in this realm.

On the Windows Live Wire blog, the company states: "Starting today, you'll be able to install the entire suite of these downloadable Windows Live services at one time, from one place, instead of going through separate installations for each service. Of course, if you don't want the entire suite, you can still get each application individually."

The growing prevalence of online applications has led to more security worries, and businesses need to ensure they have adequate IT support.

A recent Connect survey found that the two major concerns about outsourcing services like IT support were 'loss of control' (56 per cent) and 'budget over-runs' (43 per cent)