Microsoft announced the beta for its next version of Microsoft Security Essentials today. Among the new features are:

– Windows Firewall integration
– Enhanced protection for web-based threats
– New protection engine
– network inspection system.

The new protection engine provides enhanced detection and cleanup features with better performance, according to the company. The network inspection system offers protection against network-based exploits. As far as web threats, Security Essentials integrates right with Internet Explorer.

The beta can be downloaded here (though some have apparently been having problems doing so). Microsoft offers a workaround here.

The limited beta is available in the U.S., Israel, and Brazil (the beta will also be available in China in Simplified Chinese later this year). It’s available to genuine Windows users on a first come, first serve basis.