Additional Resources: Tools and Technologies

The following table lists the recommended tools, technologies, and services for moving from the Rationalized to the Dynamic level.

Name

Description

Active Directory

A central component of the Windows platform, Active Directory directory service provides the means to manage the identities and relationships that make up network environments.

Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS)

ADFS is a component in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 that provides browser-based clients (internal or external to your network) with single sign-on (SSO) access to protected Internet-facing applications, even when the user accounts and applications are located in completely different networks or organizations.

Antivirus Software

Antivirus software is specifically designed to detect and prevent viruses.

Application Compatibility Toolkit

The Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) is a life-cycle management tool that assists in identifying and managing your overall application portfolio and help resolve application compatibility issues.

Business Desktop Deployment 2007 (BDD 2007)

A solution accelerator from Microsoft that provides comprehensive guidance and tools to manage large-scale desktop deployment projects, ongoing image management, and new-user desktop provisioning.

Group Policy

Group Policy is an infrastructure used to deliver and apply one or more desired configurations or policy settings to a set of targeted users and computers within an Active Directory environment.

Microsoft Identity Integration Server (MIIS)

MIIS creates and distributes an integrated view of identity information from multiple data sources.

Identity Lifecycle Management Server (ILM)

ILM brings together metadirectory, certificate management, and user provisioning into one solution that works across Windows and other enterprise systems.

Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM)

Provides comprehensive event and performance management, proactive monitoring and alerting, reporting and trend analysis, and system and application-specific knowledge and tasks to improve the manageability of Windows-based servers and applications.

Microsoft Virtual Server

Provides a virtualization platform that runs most major x86 operating systems in a guest environment and is supported by Microsoft as a host for Windows Server-based operating systems and Windows Server System™ applications.

Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS)

SMS is a comprehensive solution for change and configuration management for the Microsoft platform, enabling organizations to quickly and cost-effectively provide relevant software and updates to users from Microsoft and non-Microsoft vendors.

SMS 2003 Desired Configuration Monitoring

SMS 2003 Desired Configuration Monitoring enables you to define customized configuration standards for desktops and servers and then perform automated compliance audits against defined configuration standards.

System Center Operations Manager

System Center Operations Manager 2007 is the next version of Microsoft’s event and performance monitoring solution, Microsoft Operations Manager. Operations Manager 2007 improves on the functionality of its predecessor by extending monitoring to IT services and desktop clients.

System Center Configuration Manager

System Center Configuration Manager 2007 provides a comprehensive solution for change and configuration management for the Microsoft platform, enabling organizations to provide relevant software and updates to users quickly and cost-effectively.

System Center Virtual Machine Manager

System Center Virtual Machine Manager provides centralized administration of virtual machine infrastructure and enables increased physical server utilization and rapid provisioning of new virtual machines by the administrator and authorized end users.

Virtual Private Networks (VPN)

A VPN encompasses links across shared or public networks. VPN connections use the connectivity of the Internet plus a combination of tunneling and data encryption technologies—such as the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) and Layer Two Tunneling Protocol with Internet Protocol security (L2TP/IPsec) to connect remote clients and remote offices.

Windows Mobile

Windows Mobile is software for mobile devices to enable sending and receiving e-mail, browsing the Internet, and mobile use of Office productivity software.

Windows Server

Windows Server is an infrastructure platform for powering connected applications, networks, and Web services from the workgroup to the data center.

Windows Vista

Windows Vista is the latest desktop operating system from Microsoft. Feature improvements have been made to deployment and management, desktop search, mobility, and security.

Windows Vista Hardware Assessment

Windows Vista Hardware Assessment is an agentless tool that makes it easier for customers and consultants to inventory and assess a PCs’ readiness for Windows Vista migration across networks regarding hardware and device driver compatibility.

Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP)

ZTP allows organizations to move to a managed, self-service provisioning portal that allows delegates to perform common provisioning tasks, such as password resets, e-mail provisioning, and elective application installation. ZTP is based on Microsoft BizTalk Server and requires the use of Systems Management Server 2003.