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 one missing piece in the product line 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. Originally planned for 2008, Service Manager has been delayed to 2010. Microsoft plans to release Forefront Stirling, an integrated suite of security products, in 2009. In the meantime, Microsoft has updated many systems management and security products so that they can manage and run on Windows Server 2008. Some of these products have received updates to support Hyper-V virtualization and SQL Server 2008.

Configuration, Monitoring, and Backup

Microsoft has several products in the System Center line for computer configuration, monitoring, backup, capacity planning, software deployment and installation, and other administrative tasks. Updates to support Windows Server 2008 and virtualization arrived in 2008, while 2009 is likely to be a pivotal year as betas for several System Center products will probably appear prior to major releases in 2010 or later. System administrators will applaud the addition of PowerShell scripting to all the products, while expanded support for virtualization will bring new focus to Microsoft’s virtualization initiatives.