Configuration Manager 2007 gives organizations better control over their IT infrastructure and assets through asset intelligence technologies that provide IT administrators visibility into what hardware and software assets they have, who is using them, and where they are. Asset Intelligence translates inventory data into information, providing rich reports that help IT administrators optimize software and hardware usage.
Configuration Manager tracks nearly all the software assets on a network, providing comprehensive details about both physical and virtual applications installed across an enterprise. An extensive software knowledge base of more than 400,000 categorized applications let IT administrators view details about nearly every application in their environment. Further, a “live” connection enables Asset Intelligence to identify new and changing systems and dynamically update IT administrator knowledge based on the changes.
Asset Intelligence lets IT administrators define, track, and proactively manage conformity with configuration standards. Metering and reporting on the deployment and use of both physical and virtual applications helps organizations make better business decisions about software licensing and maintain compliance with licensing agreements.
After collecting usage data from Configuration Manager clients, administrators can use different features to view the data, including collections, queries, and reporting. This data, combined with data from software inventory, can assist in determining:
Further, IT administrators can easily track Windows Server and Exchange CAL usage. Integration with online functionality provides catalog updates, proactive industry alerts, and comparative reporting for MVLS customers that shows licenses utilized versus licenses purchased
Through Asset Intelligence, Configuration Manager 2007 helps improve the manageability and control of the IT asset lifecycle while helping to mitigate license compliance risks.
