Managed Technology Solutions - more info

Mike Peers — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 19:26:00 GMT

To provide some more background to the Managed Technology Solution - below I position how the solution fits in with the Core Infrastructure Optimisation and further detail on the architecture behind the solution.

The infrastructure optimisation model (www.microsoft.com/io) is a way for a customer to review how strategic IT is as an asset to their business. The IO model looks at how customers use technology in relation to the business needs. An example would be if a customer today uses manual install methods (such as a CD) to deploy desktops this is a basic method for deployment. Likewise – what tools do you have in place to respond to security threats or to roll out line of business applications.

The managed technology solution is a way to help customer rapidly move towards a strategic asset. So not only do you get to a strategic asset faster – but also much quicker, bringing much greater benefits in the short and long term. The diagram below shows the basic through to dynamic model.

Turning to the architecture of managed technology solution– this a pure Microsoft solution – but the benefit is this keeps the solution easy to deploy, manage, support and integrates very well. It is in part this reason partners can offer to run the service for an attractive price point.

Below is a diagram that shows what components make up a clustered managed solution.

· Windows 2003 as the core OS.

· Active Directory is used for authentication

· Windows Vista Desktop running Office 2007

· Storage is windows 2003

· Messaging on Exchange 2007.

· live communication server (corporate messenger amongst other things)

· Rights Management Server for securing and protecting documents.

· SMS and Zero Touch – for deployment of operating systems, audit, compliance, application delivery

· SQL – database

· Office Sharepoint Server 2007 – for document storage, search and collaboration.

· The technology is protected by ISA server .

"managed technology solution" from £2.60 per desktop per day

Mike Peers — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:15:00 GMT

Many mid market customers (using the definition of <1500 employees) have been looking at how they can upgrade their infrastructure creating an IT Asset rather than cost overhead. One option is to embark on several projects, such as desktop, messaging or security upgrades. Typically these projects are spread over financial years or take several years to roll out due to cost constraints.

Microsoft has been working with partners to create a Managed Technology Solution. The solution is a flexible framework that is based on a price per seat per month basis. This is financed via Microsoft Financing providing a monthly operational cost rather than capital cost to the customer. The solution is intended for customers from 250-1500 seats and covers an infrastructure refresh, migration as well as desktop deployment, including cost of desktop hardware, all licenses, partner implementation and support over a 3 year term. The flexible framework allows customers to select the level of resilience required, such as clustering, as well as the additional collaboration solutions. The price is dependent on customer requirements and the number of seats, but as an example a 500 seat organisation requiring the highest resilence level and collaboration solutions would pay £3.15 a day per desktop.

The approach allows customers to help elevate their infrastructure into dynamic IO (see www.microsoft.com/io) and move from capital to operational cost whilst taking advantage of the latest technologies to gain operational and efficiency gains.

The solution is offered via Microsoft Partners - To learn more you can view this video where I am joined by Tim Parker from Syntax to discuss the Managed Technology Solution.

http://blogs.msdn.com/ptstv/archive/2007/04/03/partner-spotlight-syntax.aspx

To learn more visit www.syntax.co.uk or send me an email.

Mike Peers talks Infrastructure Solutions : Managed Service

Managed Technology Solutions - more info

"managed technology solution" from £2.60 per desktop per day