Patch Management

...at last, an enterprise security update manager

With the proliferation of servers and applications, it is increasingly difficult to stay up-to-date on the latest updates. Microsoft now provides a comprehensive platform for deploying the right patches to maintain optimal functionality and security. Vintela extends the platform to support Unix and Linux.

Microsoft Systems Management Server

Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 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. See more about MS SMS.

Software Update Services

Through the integration of the Software Update Services Feature Pack into Systems Management Server 2003 and by leveraging Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) technology and Microsoft Office detection technology, Systems Management Server 2003 provides enhanced awareness of the latest Microsoft patches for configured systems, enabling enterprises to stay one step ahead of vulnerabilities.

Once enterprises are aware of the latest updates, the vulnerabilities of IT systems need to be assessed to ensure that only the necessary updates are deployed to the affected systems. SMS 2003 integrates these steps into one seamless process through the Patch Distribution Wizard. Using the results of the vulnerability assessment as a starting point, the wizard allows administrators to select the most pressing vulnerabilities to be addressed. Patches applicable to these vulnerabilities are then automatically downloaded from the Microsoft website, packaged and targeted for distribution to a collection of systems identified earlier.

Vintela Management Extensions (VMX)

VMX supplies IT administrators who use Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) a powerful extension for managing UNIX and Linux systems from within the SMS user interface. VMX provides SMS users the ability to administer these non-windows platforms for system discovery, hardware and software inventory, and software delivery using the familiar SMS interface. VMX accomplishes this by extending the existing native SMS distribution framework and administrative tools including management points and distribution points. The effect within SMS is that UNIX and Linux clients mirror much of the Windows client's functionality. Using VMX, the SMS user interface is extended so that UNIX and Linux management is natural and integrated.