The Provance Data Management Pack is a convenient mechanism
that can be used to connect to your currently deployed Service Manager 2010 CMDB,
apply data selection and transformation criteria, and import the data into your
new deployment of System Center 2012.

All the Configuration Items and Work Items maintained in the
Service Manager 2010 CMDB are stored in Service Manager database tables. The
Provance Data Management Pack supplements the Microsoft System Center 2012
Service Manager connectors with the ability to access data directly from
Microsoft SQL Server. This means you can choose tables in your Service Manager 2010
SQL Server database as a source for import into System Center 2012 using the
Provance Data Management Pack.

To determine the destination for the data in System Center
2012, you simply use forms and wizards to browse the CI classes and properties
in the Service Manager CMDB and select the target destinations for each column
from your source file or database. Furthermore, you see every data element in
your CMDB, including customizations you’ve made using the Service Manager
Authoring Tool or extensions by third party management packs. The Provance Data
Management Pack eliminates guesswork and the need for accurate reference
documentation to fully understand the schema and structure of your CMDB.

The SQL Server query definition you provide when you create
an import template using the Provance Data Management Pack allows you to not only
specify the source tables and columns that you want to import, but also filter
and manipulate the data. For example, you could limit the import of incidents
to a certain date range, or insert string functions to normalize different name
variants to a single, standard reference (think “HP,” “Hewlett Packard” and “Hewlett-Packard” all being standardized to “HP”).

Similarly, the Provance Data Management Pack
lets you specify criteria for update and/or create, and additional data
manipulation at the time of import. For example: You can choose not to create
new objects in the CMDB when the source data has certain values; You can split,
concatenate or extract substrings from the source data; You can add constant
values, and; You can either copy or lookup values from Service Manager enum
lists.

H&D International Group is a German based Provance Partner, specialized in IT Services and IT Management Consulting. With subsidiaries in the US, Mexico and the Czech Republic, H&D International Group provides innovative technology solutions to meet the demands of a renowned international customer base. As a Microsoft Gold Partner with long years of project experience, H&D International Group has excellent know-how in the field of Microsoft System Center Technology.

About CeBit Hannover

CeBIT Global Conferences will take place from 6-1 March 2012 (9:00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. daily) at the Exhibition Grounds in Hannover, Germany. CeBIT is the digital industry’s biggest, most international event. Thanks to its unique combination of exhibition, conferences, keynotes, corporate events and lounges, CeBIT represents an unrivaled tool for doing business and sealing deals. See http://www.cebit.de/home for information about the event, or to register.

Registration is now open, with some early-bird promotions. Let us know if you are planning on attending – we hope to see you there!

About MMS 2012

The Microsoft Management Summit (MMS) is your opportunity to gain expertise through deep technical training, hands-on learning, and valuable interaction with your peers and industry leaders.MMS cuts through the marketing noise so you can learn the latest desktop and device management, datacenter and cloud technologies to help you solve today’s challenges.

From keynotes to sessions to hands-on labs, certification opportunities, and face-to-face access to Microsoft and industry experts, MMS provides a “can’t-miss” opportunity to be among the first to learn about new technologies.Registration is now open, for more information on the event please see http://www.mms-2012.com/default.aspx

Many organizations chose to forgo Windows Vista deployment and wait for Windows 7, there has been a significant time lag from the launch of Windows XP. With Mainstream Support for XP Professional already ended and Extended Support to end in 2014, you will want to prepare for your migration Windows 7 migration if you have not already done so.

Keeping your workforce productive by ensuring application compatibility and ensuring applications will install and operate predictably on Windows 7 is significantly more difficult if you are working with outdated IT asset and software information. Application compatibility can be the root of much of the Windows 7 migration issue, driven by the new changes in features and functions, and the complexity of the diverse set of legacy applications and their architecture (16, 32 or 64-bit). You will need to understand which users are using which applications, whether they are Windows 7 compliant, along with any changes that may be required. Microsoft’s Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) can allow you to operate non-compliant applications in a virtual XP Mode, however you will require a Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) subscription that will also require Software Assurance.

You will want to assess your Software Assurance coverage, which can include Microsoft’s Desktop Deployment Planning Services (DDPS) that will offer significant assistance for your Windows 7 migrations if you are on a Microsoft Volume Licensing agreement with an Open Value, Select/Select Plus with SAM, or Enterprise Agreement, providing varying degrees of assistance. Locating software media, licensing information and usage rights will be required for efficient reinstallation in order to ensure compliance. Compiling all of the licensing details and purchase records will create a strong base for an ongoing Software Asset Management program.

Windows 7 migration will also require analysis of your hardware for suitability, to make sure that it is capable of running Windows 7, including the CPU, memory and the amount of available disc space. Outside of the discovery data, you will want to understand your current contractual positions and timeline until expiration for hardware that may need to be refreshed, which will likely ship which Windows 7 preinstalled, allowing you to demote these devices accordingly.

Windows 7 migration will require significant data gathering that can provide a strong base for an IT asset management program. Gartner found that Clients who successfully execute ITAM programs typically achieved 30% cost savings in the first year, and at least 5% cost savings in each of the following five years(1). An IT asset management program will help to simplify the migration, cut ongoing risk and and allow your organization to further benefit from Windows 7 project investment. Migrating to Windows 7 can be challenging, however there is no better time for your IT Asset Management program to shine.
(1) Alex Bona. “IT Asset Management Key Initiative Overview”. Gartner. ID Number: G00212090. Apr. 18, 2011

About Provance

For over 13 years Provance IT Asset Management software has been used by mid- to large sized enterprises and government organizations to drive down IT costs, increase service management efficiency, and reduce security and compliance risks. The new Provance IT Asset Management Pack is a Process Management Pack that runs within Microsoft System Center Service Manager 2010. It complements the Incident, Problem and Change Management capabilities of Service Manager with powerful IT Asset Life Cycle Management and Software Asset Management.

Supporting ITIL and the Microsoft Operations Framework, Provance strengthens the IT effectiveness of companies at every level of the Microsoft Core Infrastructure Optimization model. A Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, Provance holds the Microsoft Software Asset Management and Systems Management Competencies and is a member of the Microsoft System Center Alliance.

Provance is a 2011 Microsoft Partner Award finalist for SAM Innovation.

With System Center 2012, Microsoft will no longer offer separate applications as its System Center product, combining Service Manager,  Configuration Manager,  Virtual Machine Manager, Operations Manager, EndPoint Protector, Data Protection Manager, App Controller, and Orchestrator. Microsoft will market these two different packages as the Standard edition, which will be limited to two operating system environments, or Datacenter edition where customers may run any number of VMs on a licensed server. The combined product suites are designed to simplify the journey to the cloud.

Both Standard and Datacenter edition include Service Manager, with ECAL including access to all of the System Center products.

System Center 2012 promises to help you integrate heterogeneous data center components, including multi-hypervisor environments including Microsoft Hyper-V, VMware vSphere/ESX, and Citrix XenServer with Virtual Machine Manager; cross-platform monitoring of Linux/Unix/Sun Solaris guests with Operations Manager; cross-platform configuration management for Linux and Unix servers with Configuration Manager; and integrated automation across management toolsets from HP, CA, BMC, EMC, and VMware with Orchestrator.

Microsoft plans on keeping a per processor-based pricing model, rather than charging per virtual machine, which offers some strong pricing advantages over VMWare .

See http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/7/0/870B5D9B-ACF1-4192-BD0A-543AF551B7AE/System%20Center%202012%20Licensing%20FAQ.pdf for licensing details and FAQ.

Looking to complete System Center with IT Asset Management? See the Provance IT Asset Management Pack for Microsoft System Center for details!

DCF chose the Provance IT Asset Management Pack for Microsoft System Center Service Manager 2010 to meet its IT asset lifecycle management needs. The management pack from Microsoft Partner Network member Provance runs natively within Service Manager, supplementing its functionality with tools for tracking details on asset assignment, ownership, location, lifecycle status, contract coverage, purchase details, and cost.

The cost of the department’s System Center solution compared to the alternatives considered is just as compelling as the functionality it provides. “LANDesk came closest in terms of functionality, but a complete solution based on LANDesk would have still cost more than System Center—without delivering anywhere near the same breadth of utility,” says Chris Luter (Technical Services Chief, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families). “With System Center, everything just works—and works together—to deliver an improved experience for both users and IT personnel.”

For the full case study see http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Microsoft-System-Center-Configuration-Manager-2007-R3/Wisconsin-Department-of-Children-and-Families/State-Agency-Reduces-Time-to-Set-Up-New-Users-by-85-to-90-Percent/4000011030

Many of the findings were similar to the previous years, except for a significantly larger proportion of audits now being conducted by the software publishers themselves, rather than by outsourced agencies or accounting firms. Working directly with the software publisher in an audit can have different dynamics than an audit with a third party, as the publisher will have a stake in an ongoing relationship with the client, however will also have  future negotiation leverage (for more information on Software License Audit see the earlier blog post here). Audits were down slightly from the peak in 2009, however 60% of respondents reported an audited 2010.

The IBSMA research found that many organizations struggled from the lack of integrated tools that were required to manage the contractual agreements, discovery data and others. The Provance IT Asset Management Pack for Microsoft System Center Service Manager addresses these problems with native integration with the System Center suite. With the ongoing propensity for vendor audits, and reported savings from hundreds of thousands to millions, there is no better time than the present to start your software asset management program.

For more information on the Provance IT Asset Management Pack for Microsoft System Center Service Manager please see www.provance.com.

Session Details:

The implementation of Software Asset Management (SAM) and IT Asset Management (ITAM) is a proven means of driving down IT costs, reducing security and compliance risk, and improving operational efficiency.  This presentation describes how highly effective SAM and ITAM programs are delivered and supported using the powerful capabilities of Microsoft System Center. You’ll see how different capabilities of the System Center family of products, including Service Manager, Configuration Manager, Operations Manager and Orchestrator/Opalis are combined with partner solutions to provide visibility and control of hardware and software through the full asset life cycle, to minimize asset expenditure and to maintain software license compliance. The solution shows how existing infrastructure, volume agreements and suite licenses, and expertise can be leveraged for rapid, highly cost-effective program implementation.

Registration for Tech•Days is now with stops remaining in Vancouver (November 15-16) and Montreal (November 29-30). See www.techdays.ca for more information, and be sure to pop by the Provance session!

For more information on TechDays Canada the Provance Blog Post on TechDays Toronto or see TechDays Canada.

IAITAM ACE 2011 highlighted the rapid growth and increasing role of IT Asset Management for organizations, including the announcement of a Masters in IT Asset Management program with Taft University. Over 500 IT Asset Management professionals took part in the event.

Members of the Provance team met with many IT Asset Management professionals and Provance users from all over the world, along with Elvis on the opening night!

All in all, another great event by IAITAM. with the 2012 event planned for Oct 17-19 in Palm Springs, CA at Ranch Las Palmas, we hope to see you there!

Next up for Provance – Microsoft TechDays in Toronto!