Busy week in the security business -- at least three new companies hope it's a busy week. Targeting security software-as-a-service (SaaS), anti-malware needs and cloud security, the companies are launching a variety of ambitious technology strategies.The three new security companies debuting this week are helmed by seasoned security pros and researchers, both from companies such as CipherTrust/Secure Computing, and from university research labs.

The anti-malware product, NovaShield, emerging from labs at the University of Wisconsin, uses a variant of behavioral monitoring -- "specification-based modeling" -- to spot malware as it appears. Try it for yourself with the free 90-day trial (registration required) offered here.

Cloud computing security startup Zscaler will run you between $1 and $5 per user (monthly), and gangs its customers together for threat monitoring and protection in the cloud. The company touts its ability to monitor a quarter million transactions per second. The bMighty ANTenna's take on Zscaler is here.

SaaS firm Purewire stresses its ability to protect against script-based browser attacks; managers can establish either group or individual policies, or used pre-defined policies. The service is priced at $30 per user (annually) with volume discounts available.

Take a look and let us know what you think of these startups and what they have to offer small and midsize businesses -- be interesting to see, over the next few months, which of them soar in the clouds.