Systems Management, Interoperability, and Security

Products for managing Windows systems overview includes Systems Management Server and Microsoft Operations Manager. Also includes software that supports interoperability between Windows and other platforms, including Identity Integration Server, Services for Unix, and Services for Netware; and network security products such as the Internet Security and Acceleration Server firewall and caching software.

Microsoft’s systems management roadmap for the next two years has become increasingly clear. The company has consolidated all of its systems management technologies and products under a single manager and will integrate those technologies into a single suite (called System Center) that will eventually rely on a uniform client infrastructure for software patching. Meanwhile, interoperability software, such as the free Services for Unix emulation and migration package, will play an increasingly strategic role in competing with Linux for customers moving from proprietary Unix systems and Netware.