Somewhere between the physical and the virtual
More announcements ...
A few short weeks ago the System Center Alliance hosted a showcase event for members of the System Center Alliance and Deployment Partners and Systems Integrators.
The aim of the showcase was similar to 'speed-dating' - giving information on our SCA software vendors to a broad group of Deployment Partners; followed by an informal mixer so people could talk, exchange ideas, make contacts - and ultimately look for new channels to market for software and solutions.
The event was successful - with feedback from software partners showing that this was a valuable event.
Attached is the partner presentation from that event.
We are now looking forward to TechEd Europe held in Berlin in November where we will hold a similar event.
In a bit of a break from our normal System Center topics, today we thought we’d share the exciting news that earlier today it was announced within Microsoft that Brad Anderson has been promoted to corporate vice president, Management and Services Division (MSD). We know that many of you know Brad through videos and posts on the System Center blog or interaction with him at events such as the annual Microsoft Management Summit conference and have come to appreciate his knowledge of the IT management space and customer environments.
Brad took over the helm of MSD about two years ago and has led the division on a path of continual growth and innovation since then. Today, Microsoft is the share leader for Windows management solutions and during the last 12 months the division, under Brad’s leadership, has successfully shipped new versions of System Center Configuration Manager, System Center Operations Manager, Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack and System Center Virtual Machine Manager. The group is also responsible for the Windows Update service and is working on exciting new offerings which will be delivered soon such as System Center Online Desktop Manager.
Brad’s leadership skills, business knowledge and passion for technology are well-known and respected throughout Microsoft as well as by our customers and partners. Please join me in congratulating Brad!
Good morning, today we are officially releasing System Center Configuration Manager Extensions for SCAP. This free add on to ConfigMgr will consume the SCAP data streams, assess a target system for compliance, and report the results back in SCAP format.
The System Center Configuration Manager Extensions for SCAP allow organizations to use Configuration Manager 2007 to scan computers for compliance with the Federal Desktop Core Configuration (FDCC) mandate issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). These extensions enable Configuration Manager to consume Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) data streams, assess systems for compliance, and generate report results in SCAP format.
If you or someone you know works in a US government agency – you are aware that those organizations are required to have an SCAP validated tool for ensuring adherence to the Federal Desktop Core Configuration (FDCC). Through this release, the Extensions for SCAP make ConfigMgr SCAP validated, and able to be considered for FDCC adherence efforts. In addition, our partners who provide services to the Federal offices where FDCC adherence is required often find they too need to be aligned to these requirements. This free add-on to Configuration Manger will provide this capability.
Here are some important links for SCAP downloads, documentation and resources.
Download System Center Configuration Manager Extensions for SCAPAccess the Technet Documentation library content for the SCAP Extensions System Center Configuration Manager siteNIST's SCAP websiteNIST's SCAP Requirements
Jeff WettlauferSr. Technical Product Manager System Center e – jeff.wettlaufer@microsoft.com- jeffwettlaufer
On Thursday morning, 8AM Pacific, please join us for a discussion on reducing costs and improving your backup and recoverability with System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM).
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032412440
Event Overview
In today’s economy, more than ever, IT Pro’s are looking for ways to reduce costs while still improving existing processes or fixing things that aren’t meeting expectations – including backup. In this session, we’ll discuss legacy protection solutions for backup, disk-to-disk replication, and long-distance disaster recovery -- and how you can cut costs while gaining better backups and more reliable recoveries with System Center Data Protection Manager 2007.
Duration: 60 Minutes
Start Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009 8:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada)
-- Jason Buffington / DPM product manager
Hey everyone, I wanted to make sure you are aware of an upcoming webcast I have been invited to join hosted by our Intel friends. See details below. Should be a great presentation, I will join a collection of Intel experts to talk about the benefits of System Center and Intel vPro technology. There is a registration link in the below bit.
Activate Today! Realize ROI with Intel® vPro Technology and Microsoft System Configuration Manager Wednesday, July 15, 2009 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT / 6:00 PM GMT
Join the team from the Intel vPro Expert Center for an informative Webcast on the ROI savings and activation process for PCs with Intel® vPro™ technology and Microsoft System Configuration Manager. This live TechRepublic Webcast, featuring Q&A, will be hosted by James Hilliard and feature special guest speakers from Intel Corporation, Jeff Marek, Director of End User Platform Engineering, Digital Office, and Jeff Torello, Staff Architect, Digital Office and Jeff Wettlaufer, Sr. Technical Product Manager for System Center, Microsoft Corporation. They will discuss the ROI possible with Intel vPro technology usage models activated, a review of the primary usage models supported by SCCM, and an overview of the activation process using SCCM. Q&A will follow. Register here.