Infrastructure Optimization

Not to brag, but we’ve been preaching this message since we were knee-high to a rack full of blades. It’s good though: the more this story gets out there, the more everyone who listens will win.

Tech-Ed Keynote Highlights ‘Dynamic IT’ and Virtualization

June 10, 2008 • by Kurt Mackie

Microsoft’s Tech-Ed North America event for IT professionals kicked off today with a keynote address on enabling “dynamic IT.” That idea was the main concept emphasized by keynote speaker Bob Muglia, senior vice president of Microsoft’s Server and Tools Business unit. The talk, given in Orlando, Fla., also consisted of a number of practical demos that displayed the latest Microsoft IT management solutions.

It turns out that the dynamic IT concept is a ten-year Microsoft plan, which is currently in its fifth year. The aim of dynamic IT, according to Muglia, is to reduce IT maintenance costs and “drive business advantage” via Microsoft technologies. Muglia pointed to Microsoft’s infrastructure optimization models as a first step for IT organizations to become “dynamic.”

Read More: Redmond | News: Tech-Ed Keynote Highlights ‘Dynamic IT’ and Virtualization

Windows Vista has been out for a while now and hardware and software vendors have had time to update their drivers, apps, interface, etc. to the new operating system.

Nevertheless (and this happens all the time) some specialized application vendors still will not support Vista and as a result, Windows XP and 2000 will remain in the environment “forever,” much like a Styrofoam cup in the forest.

Either way, 80 to 90 percent of all workstations can be migrated over to the new, more stable and secure windows Vista.

Oh wait! Windows 7 will be out soon, should we wait? The answer to that is “NO.”

It is time to build a infrastructure that is agile enough to shorten the lifecycle management of operating systems just like it was shortened for applications.

Major application releases happen sooner than 2 years, why shouldn’t OS’s do the same?

Those who develop an environment based on Virtualization and fast deployment of OS’s will rule the day.

Not a sermon just a thought.

Well, the poll numbers are in and it doesn’t look good. 100% of respondents either have a PDA or really, really want one*. And it’s the Wild West out there with all of the different devices, the lack of control and every one of them wants into your network. Business factors demand choice and IT factors drive the need for security and supportability. Is there a compromise here?

Maybe, it’s calledSystem Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 (SCMDM 200 and it gives you the following abilities if your devices are minimally Windows Mobile 6.1:

• Over 130 group policy settings specific to mobile devices.
• The ability to inventory (and view the inventory data in a single application console) every mobile device including their model, make and even which software updates they have received.
• Deploy both software and firmware using standard WSUS 3.0.
• Control which applications are allowed to run on the devices managed by SCMDM.
• Of course you have the favorites: Wipe-and-load, force PIN, etc.

If you want to provide even more security, you can couple this technology with Internet Security and Acceleration 2006 Firewall and Intelligent Application Gateway 2007. I’ll provide more information on these products in a follow up posting soon so check back.

For more information regarding SCMDM 2008, please see http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/enterprise/security.mspx

* Margin of error + or – 3%

Cheers!

Hello, dear readers - I thought some of you might be interested in a free event that our team is putting on, centered around the business value of virtualizing applications. For Infrastructure Optimization wonks like myself, this technology is poised to become the centerpiece of many future IO engagements for me and our team.

The webinar should prove to be a great introduction to the benefits of the technology, both from an administrator’s and IT management perspectives.

Registration is free, and the webinar is an hour long. I’ll be there - and hopefully, I’ll be able to meet a few of you “in person.”

Details:

Desktop Management - The Business Value of Application Virtualization

March 18, 2008 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM EST

This is a FREE event. Registration link is below.

Attendees will understand how organizations around the world have leveraged application virtualization, to realize measurable business value. Both Gartner and Forrester have called application virtualization the technology to watch in 2008. Learn how businesses combined the newest technology, desktop management best practices and support changes to achieve significant savings.

Planned 45-minute agenda follows:

• Introductions
• Business Drivers
• Application Virtualization and Desktop Management Overview
• Business Value
• Demo
• Questions and Discussion

For more information please contact: IOConsulting@getronics.com

Registration page at:
http://www.getronics.com/us/en-us/getronics/events_data/desktop_management_form.htm