System Center Configuration Manager
Introduction
The system center configuration manager is used to provide IT services in a more effective way. This is usually achieved by enabling a comprehensive asset management of mobile devices, desktop computers, laptops, and servers. It also helps to achieve effective IT services through compliance setting management and a scalable and secure development of software programs. The technology of system center configuration manager is important because it helps address the current challenge of consumerization faced by IT companies. It has become apparent that the line between life and work is blurring as many people are into consumption of technological gadgets. People still expect to receive some if not all corporate services from any location they are and using any of the seemingly common technological gadgets. This means that people would want to access these services using laptop or desktop computers whenever they using them and accessing the services using smart phones or tablets whenever they are using them. The technology therefore addresses this challenge by managing the influx of gadgets while at the same time ensuring that data is protected and compliance is maintained. With the technology, people can still be able to use the application and devices in a productive way while control and corporate compliance is maintained. The technology helps administrators of information technology do their job effectively by providing supportive tools and improvements.
Analysis
The system center configuration manager is a good emerging technology because of the need created by the influx in technological devices such as smart phones, tablets, and laptop computers. The technology is sustainable as long as people continue to rely on these devices for both their work and daily living. Using the manager, IT administrators in organizations will be able to deploy updates for various software applications, and operating systems. This is in addition to the functions and privileges already mentioned which include providing software and hardware inventory, network access protection, software distribution, patch management, and remote control.
Implications of various stakeholders
The implication of the system center configuration manager to various stakeholders varies. Telecommunication and technology companies it increases convenience of system administration. This is achieved by eliminating users from the process of installation. For most technology companies that rely on Microsoft servers, the use of the technology is even much simpler as it only requires plugging and playing it. However, there are some servers and situations which the installation process will not be as simple as plugging and playing. The use of the technology in IT and telecommunication organizations also implies that the users do not have to take any necessary action when installing a software program. The system administrators do not have to bother themselves with convincing users to make certain installation as the technology allows administrators to automatically install application and software programs which are necessary for users. System administrators can also schedule for software pushes including updates and upgrades. This makes it easier for technology companies and system administrators to further remove reliance on user action. Another important implication is that the technology ensures that only approved software programs are installed thereby increasing security. All external websites for software installation are blocked. The entire installation mechanism that surrounds the software generally reduces risk of installing unwanted software programs.
All these implications mean that technology and telecommunication companies are able to operate effectively as they offer their services to their clients. The companies become more productive when the services are not interrupted because of maintenance or upgrade. Such functions can proceed automatically while users still continue to enjoy the services.
System center configuration manager helps to effectively manage change in an environment of dynamic IT infrastructure. For companies, the resources of the technology help in their IT planning. Companies can achieve virtualization and management competency by increasing their customer service potential. Being a technology developed by Microsoft Corporation, any company that uses it subscribes to the Microsoft cloud power campaign which helps companies to create demands through cloud marketing.
Despite the positive implication, the use of system center configuration manager may not be entirely merry for stakeholders. Customers especially may be affected in cases of software installation failure. The customers cannot be immediately warned of a failure and sometimes would have to wait until there pop up warning appears on their devices. At the same time, due to the nature of the technology, customers may not be aware of any installation of software or software upgrade and update until they are either informed or stumble upon it. Therefore it is the duty of the technology or telecommunication company to inform customers of any scheduled upgrade, software installation or update. This will help avoid mistaking pushed updates and installation as viruses or malwares.
The system center configuration manager needs not be corrupted in any of the users’ devices. Any form of corruption will imply that any software update will not occur automatically in the user’s device. Until the system center configuration manager functions well in all devices, users will not have the privilege of certain functions.
Integration considerations
The system configuration management system has to be integrated in the corporate environment of a company. The system can be used alongside other tools in certain cases and also be fully integrated into an environment. The process of integration requires that certain aspects of the IT environment be taken into account. Such aspects include database, toolset, and process. Process integration implies linking the usage patterns of both the configuration management system and the company’s IT system. Toolset integration implies linking the configuration manager to other tools in the environment so that they can work together. Database integration will require positioning the database of the configuration manager in some way to either combine it with the database of the environment or treat both databases as separate entities.
Impact on company and operational concerns
A number of policies are used in controlling the configuration management tool in a company. These policies help in creating varying control over the users. There is need for qualified personnel to make recommendations for any changes in the system. This will involve both system engineers and software engineers. The right time to start using the configuration manager varies with the need of a company and the product which they are maintaining or developing. Some companies can begin to use a configuration manager at the beginning of product development while others prefer during the product development lifecycle. Whichever the choice a company prefers, there are still overheads involved. This includes filing for a change request, being approved by CBB, and getting acknowledgement.
Functionality areas of a system center configuration manager include: components, structure, construction, auditing, accounting, controlling, process and team. With regards to components the system center configuration manager will access, store, classify, and identify all the components that make the product. With regards to structure, the configuration manager represents all the structures and architecture behind a product.
Benefits of the System Configuration Manager
SCCM provides immense benefits when it comes to the delivery of system support services and configuration management via distributed and flexible architecture. Of great importance is its capability to utilize normal-standard based network protocols and security components to interact with other client systems and as well, in coordinating its internal functioning (Microsoft Server and Cloud Platform, 2012). When compared to the Systems Management Server (SMS), SCCM provides increased features and capabilities that include user-centric management, remediation of configuration settings, dependency-based software distribution, collection-based configuration settings, and the software application catalogue (Microsoft Server and Cloud Platform, 2012). These features and capabilities enables users to increase their productive capacities using a unified infrastructure enhances the level of user experience within an organization.
The first benefit of SCCM entails the empowerment of user productivity because users can continue with their productive activities irrespective of their locations. This is made possible with the capability of using a variety of mobile devices using one administrative console when performing a variety of organizational functions (Microsoft Server and Cloud Platform, 2012). It also optimizes communication among devices in addition to enabling users to self-provision applications in a secure manner with its simple web-catalogue. The second benefit SCCM delivers is the ability to simplify administrative procedures thereby enhancing the process of administering client systems (Microsoft Server and Cloud Platform, 2012). Maintenance of system compliance is facilitated by the improved enforcement and improved visibility options. With this benefit of simplifying administrative functionalities, SCCM will undoubtedly continue to deliver exceptional support services with regard to assessment, deployment of operating systems, and enforcement of settings (Microsoft Server and Cloud Platform, 2012). Many an organizations will also experience minimized burdens on matters relating to the organization of administrative tasks.
Finally yet important, SCCM helps in streamlining operations with the help of a unified infrastructure, which helps in the integration of client management and client protection in several environments that include virtual, physical, and mobile environments. The unified infrastructure helps in streamlining operations through the provision of a single unified tool for facilitating the management of client desktops, virtual desktops, and mobile devices. SCCM also unifies IT management infrastructure by consolidating vulnerability prevention, compliance reporting, remediation, and antimalware protection into a single infrastructure (Microsoft Server and Cloud Platform, 2012). Lastly, SCCM reduces infrastructural costs through scalability enhancements and consolidation of server roles.
On the contrary, SCCM is associated with several issues that must be examined before installing software. First, SCCM fails to issue prior notices regarding any failure during the installation process except until the end when a user is notified of the issue. It is also difficult for new users to find out the status of software installation until they find it unknowingly. Another challenge affects users on corrupted computers because they often encounter difficulties during regular updates. This also applies to all users when the SCCM server is down. A problem with one of the software affects all users within the system. However, a comparison of the benefits and costs of SCCM when compared to other technological infrastructures such as SMS shows that the benefits outweigh the costs.
The extent to which the corporation should change its technology
Implementing a System Center Configuration Manager is highly recommended because it provides the ultimate IT infrastructural solution to organizations and users. SCCM is increasingly becoming a software of choice to may a client and organization. It enables organizations to any new installation installed within the systems server. Its ability to supply a security patch management, track computer inventories, and deploy new operating systems increases the reason why organizations must consider implementing this technology. It is also important to note that this technology provides immense convenience is administering system use by eliminating users from the process of installing. SCCM also allows space for automatic pushes thereby making it suitable many users to install it.
The current system has limitations with existing software have caused the company to lose some of its valued suppliers, consumers as well as its clients. The extent to which the corporation should change its present technology will depend on the availability of the resources necessary. Since there is limitation of the required financial and human capital resources, the change can be implemented in areas where it is needed most. The change is desired most in the procurement, finance, and sales department. In the long-term, the corporation should implement the new technology to the fullest. Implementing the SCCM technology in its entirety will ensure that the company enjoys the maximum efficiency that can be brought by the new system. The field of enterprise systems management is changing at an increased rate and therefore, SCCM provides the required software changes because the users unlike systems are given top priority. Speaking of security, SCCM provides a simplified security infrastructure coupled with other new consoles.
How SCCM Works
SCCM works by surveying and discovering a new devices connection to an organization’s network through Active Directory. Active Directory refers to the functionality that stores information in a central place to enable windows server to maintain relationship and entity data for several objects within the organization’s system. As such, AD helps in facilitating several core functionalities such as authorization, authentication, and direction services. The Active Directory environment ensures the every system within the organization network is connected to an account where users are capable of adding users and enabling them access to important resources within the network of the organization.
SCCM installs software from the client on each node thereby enabling it to build an inventory database whereby records from each consumer are set on each asset. The hardware and software specs are also installed and SCCM uses the data collected to target specific category of devices or users. On complete discovery of assets, SCCM automates the management process. All newly installed software receive operating system deployments hence updating users in a cost-effective and quick way. While many SCCM processes are invisible to the user, SCCM transmits software updates to computers using background processes. Such functionalities are transmitted at a reasonable speed that does not interrupt or delay other processes. The updates are applied during the next computer reboot for the updates to take effect.
In summary, SCCM provides comprehensive solutions to enable organizations to not only configure but also to change management of the Microsoft platform. The major tasks facilitated by SCCM includes deployment of software applications, deployment of operating systems and installation of software updates. SCCM also works by monitoring software and hardware inventories, remediating compliance settings from computers, and facilitating remote administration of computers. With the installation of SCCM, queries and product reports can be used in consolidating information throughout the entire organizational system. This explains why SCCM is suitable in managing operating systems, mobile devices, server platforms, client platforms. It is highly recommended that SCCM technology is implemented. This is because it improves a company’s efficiency and ensures the security of the organization’s network. Other additional benefits reduced costs as well as the increased efficiency, enhances the management process, and it is user friendly.
References
Dart, S. (2000). Concepts in Configuration Management Systems. Pittsburgh: Software Engineering Institute Carnegie-Mellon University.
Estublier, J. A. (2000). Configuration Manager: The Adele Data Base of Program. Software Engineering Environments for Programming-in-the large, 140-147.
Helium. (2009, September 12). The advantages and disadvantages of System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM). Retrieved from Helium: http://www.helium.com/items/1585248-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-system-center-configuration-manager-sccm
Microsoft Server and Cloud Platform (2012). System Center 2012Configuration Manager Benefits. Retrieved from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/system-center/configuration-manager-2012-benefits.aspx
Microsoft system center. (2012, August 1). Configuration Manager. Retrieved from Microsoft system center: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg682129.aspx
OMeally, Y. (2012, May 25). System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: R.I.P. Native Mode. Retrieved from System Center Configuration Manager Team Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/b/configmgrteam/archive/2012/05/25/system-center-2012-configuration-manager-r-i-p-native-mode.aspx
