G. Effectiveness

Key to the effectiveness of HP's desktop and software management solution is its adaptability and its ability to enable IT organizations to move from reactive to proactive desktop and software management. Because it is based on flexible, scaleable tools that can be tightly integrated, the solution provides a single source for virtually any organization's enterprise desktop- and software- management needs, even needs that are changing due to growth, acquisition or simple IT evolution.

A strategic advantage of the HP desktop and software management solution is that it can be combined with integration and consulting services, particularly HP's enterprise- and desktop- management services offering. These services provide a single resource for management solutions that can be applied to any part of the desktop lifecycle. Offerings range from assessing readiness for desktop management and planning, building the managed environment, financing, technical refresh, asset-management services and desktop management outsourcing, to assisting with desktop management transition to the management of software distribution electronically across the enterprise.

The components of HP's OpenView desktop and software management solution are divided into two segments - Headquarters (HQ) services and site services.

HQ services provide the overall management of the distribution process in larger organizations and include the higher-level infrastructure, processes and procedures required to manage these heterogeneous enterprises. HQ services include distribution management, policy-enforcement capabilities, application preparation, client- and server-class management, central data repository for decision support and asset management, and enterprise infrastructure for business value management and Internet enablement.

Site services provide the basic distribution and installation of software, including functions and agents for client inventory, hierarchical application distribution and push/pull installation, license management and metering, remote control, alert servers, configuration management, local data access and a local console. Focused on the tactical management of desktop computers, servers and associated software, site services also provide desktop- and business value-management capabilities.

These two service components can be tightly linked to provide a comprehensive solution that offers unsurpassed flexibility for meeting the management needs of a variety of customer environments. The desktop and software management solution is designed to deliver desktop and software management that meets the current needs of IT organizations, whilst helping them prepare for the future. Because all HP desktop and software management offerings are based on HP OpenView Desktop Administrator, organizations can grow their managed environments easily.