Systems Management and Security

In 2007 Microsoft updated its entire line of systems management and security products and introduced its first client antivirus product. The next major release for 2008 is “Service Manager” (formerly code-named Service Desk), a trouble ticketing and problem resolution product that will integrate the company’s monitoring, system configuration, and reporting products. Also planned for 2008 are an update to Microsoft’s Internet Security and Acceleration Server firewall and caching product, and a unified console, code-named Stirling, for all of the company’s Forefront security products.

Configuration, Monitoring, and Backup

Microsoft has several products in the System Center line for computer configuration, monitoring, backup, capacity planning, and other administrative tasks. The product line will expand significantly in the next two years as Microsoft continues to develop its new analysis, backup, and reporting products and enters the arena of trouble ticketing and problem resolution. (For a graphical overview of releases for these products, as well as monitoring and analysis products, see the illustration “Configuration, Monitoring, and Analysis Overview“.)