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Management Software News from Microsoft

The software giant Microsoft was busy these last few days unveiling new management software and making a new strategic acquisition. The new product is officially titled Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, previously known as Exchange 12. Microsoft is also scheduling for later release, possibility early 2007, new management software for centralized network administration and management.

Bob Muglia, senior vice president of the server and tools business for Microsoft, told a group of IT managers at the Microsoft Management Summit 2006 this week in San Diego, Calif., that the company is preparing a service desk console to provide a foundation for centralized software management. Fitting in with this management strategy is the news that Microsoft will acquire AssetMetrix, an asset and license management solutions company based on Ottawa, Canada. Microsoft said the acquisition would allow it to deliver a more comprehensive asset and license management solution for customers of all sizes. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

One of the most common requests from customers is asset management in the context of license management, said Felicity McGourty, director of product management, Windows enterprise management division at Microsoft. It comes with an agent to probe every computer on a network for all of its software assets and compiles a report. From there, customers can determine how well or badly they comply with their site licenses.