IT Forum 2004: Microsoft bids to automate IT support

By Alun Williams

Posted on 17 Nov 2004 at 10:18

'Zero touch provisioning' is Microsoft's slogan for its new Business Desktop Deployment accelerator. Freeing up IT support staff for more critical tasks, the accelerator is intended to remove the need for technicians to be on site for day-to-day setup and deployment tasks.

It is part of Microsoft's strategy to attempt to reduce the complexity of managing computer resources.

While deployment of Windows client desktops is the primary goal, the accelerator can help with a range of IT Support functions, Alain Meeus, Microsoft Team Windows Product Manager, told us. For example, creating a shared workspace folder for remote workers can be easily automated via the use of SharePoint services.

Microsoft claims that such a deployment tool can potentially save up to $250 per desktop. If not reducing the need for IT staff, the idea is to free up their time from the more mundane tasks that can frustrate end-users with delays.

The accelerator comes in two editions - Standard (requires some manual intervention on each supported PC) and Enterprise (provides full remote 'zero touch' - and is freely licensed. Infrastructure requirements, however, include the heavy-weight Microsoft server products including BizTalk Server, SQL Server, SMS 2003 System Deployment pack and the use of Active Directory.