The best XaaS platform just got even better

RES Software IT Store 2014 Feature Release 2 includes key capabilities to improve IT efficiency, speed up delivery and help IT organizations to embrace consumerization and manage the IT consumer expectations.

What's new?

Self-service password reset now supports the use of secret questions and answers in addition to registering your private e-mail address. This removes the need for any IT involvement in resetting passwords. Not only can a user reset their Windows password, but any password can be reset including as Office 365 and Salesforce.




Optimized service bundling support to allow cancel of a service in the return workflow as well as requesting additional services in the delivery workflow. This is especially useful for a business line owners or other managers when they want to order services for their employees of project members as they now can tailor exactly what is needed in a single request.




Support for Microsoft Azure SQL database to ease management, improve scalability and enhance support for the mobile workstyle.

Improved licensing to reduce the total number of licenses needed to accommodate additional use cases and to make the already great business case even better. People can now be set to 'inactive' allowing them to be added to the identity warehouse but not claiming any license. Inactive people will not be able to subscribe to any service or log on to the IT Store.

Important improvements

Automatically insert 'Cancel Another Service' actions when configuring dependencies.

RES IT Store Notification Client renamed to RES IT Store Client.

Language support in RES IT Store Web Portal and RES IT Store Client includes Portuguese. The following languages are now supported:

• English
• Dutch
• German
• French
• Swedish
• Danish
• Norwegian
• Portuguese

Preconfigured people attribute 'Security Questions and Answers' to ease implement of self-service password reset.

Disable/Enable services from the context menu.

You can read more about RES IT Store here.

If you ask me, the RES IT Store is the easiest and most efficient way to get result out of ITSM best practices such as ITIL to become a real provider of services.







Manage the expectations of the consumer in an ever growing complex and diverse infrastructure.

Time is running out...

How can IT generate more time in order to focus on strategic initiatives that actually solve real business problems?

I'm a big fan of XKCD.com and especially two graphics caught my attention. The first one describes how much time you can spend on optimizing an activity before you spend more time than you save.

Is it worth the time?

The above graph shows that is is very obvious to start automating your daily activities and the fact that you can spend quite large amount of time on the optimization activity itself to free up your time.

The only thing you now have to do is find a solution that quickly will help you automate away your daily manual IT activities. Easy?

Automation

Here's the catch: I often see that instead of finding a solution that will free up time, in reality, a widely adopted solution is chosen and people spend more time and resources on the solution than the actual problem itself.


The first step to break away from this destructive pattern is to dare finding another solution. To win you have to dare and to dare you have to do.

Do you dare to do to win?

Long time no post

It's been a while since I posted a blog here and I'll try to be better going forward. I've been really busy launching 3 products and a solution that completely changes the way IT delivers services to their users and how users consume IT services.

What is it that I've been up to? And more importantly, why should you care? I'll try to explain...

Managing users is no longer enough, you have to start serving consumers!

This is what employees expect and deserve. This is what the business needs to achieve their targets and goals. This is what IT has to do to survive! This is how you want to be treated!

By changing focus from 'data center out' to 'user in' IT will be able to transform to the next level - the new level - the level of necessity.

Do not get me wrong; IT specialists and new innovative technology is important and maybe more important than ever, but without a good relationship with the business and really understanding their need, there's a risk they are becoming redundant. Services will be looked for elsewhere - somewhere better, quicker and cheaper simply because there's no added value.

If you're an IT pro, an IT manager or already a service provider and want to future proof yourself, take a different approach, an approach that is unique, refreshing and one that you'll absolutely love. And hey, there's no rip and replace. It's the link between business (customer), their users and IT.

Take a look at the RES Suite 2014.

/Patrik

Intelligent Automation Out-of-the-box

Ever bought a solution that you thought would help you do more with less? Did it disappoint you? If  so please pay close attention to what I hope will be one of the most gratifying experiences in your professional life!

What if you could, for once, purchase a tool that is easy to use and is actually designed to get the job done?

I've seen many tools that looks shiny on the outside but when you open the can it is not what you've expected. You think you've purchased a conveyor belt with robots - a fully automated solution with little to no human interaction?

But what you actually got was, indeed an conveyor belt, but you still have to assign a lot of people getting things done! Not very efficient!

Well, here's a solution to the problem: RES Automation Manager.

RES Automation Manager is designed to get things done! It is easy to use, has a very lightweight and easy to deploy infrastructure that works seamlessly in multi-tenant environments. It has extensive built-in knowledge and requires little training to use. A complete list of all the built-in tasks can be downloaded here.

With RES Automation Manager you can encapsulate your administrators change knowledge in secure, effective modules or runbooks. The modules or runbooks can easily be delegated to people with no IT skills and no administrative access to any system but still allowing them to perform advanced, controlled and audited changes. Some of the changes might be suitable to offer as services through an Enterprise Service Store - Service Orchestration.

Nowadays vendors offer a scripting interface such as PowerShell into most of their products. This is great but requires advanced skills to manage and maintain. The scripts will also often be custom made for a specific task. With the use of Parameters you can make changes reusable. Parameters can even be used within scripts. When a script is executed (by people with no administrative access or script knowledge) they will be asked to input custom data into a locked down script. RES Automation Manager will execute the script locally where needed and the change is controlled by the administrator.

If you the also work with change management best practices you have different environments for developing and testing your changes. How do you easily move the settings from one environment to another? RES Automation Manager offers building block technology that allows easy move of modules or runbooks from one environment to another.

How about documenting changes? Is this always done? Are scripters documenting their scripts in a consistent way? All of them? All the time? In RES Automation Manager everything is automatically documented, all the time, consistent...

And what if you manage more than one customer or multiple Active Directories? No problem! RES Automation Manager is Windows Domain independent and proven to work in very large and complex networking infrastructures.

Have a look at one of the videos I've created on how to use RES Automation Manager.

And when you're done watching, download a trial of the software here:

http://www.ressoftware.com/support/downloads

/Patrik

Bright, Brighter & Brightest

I just returned from RES Software yearly Sales Kick Off in Amsterdam and I feel more energized than ever!

It is fantastic to work at a company that provides completely unique solutions to the market that will help organisations meet both current and future demands like BYOx and coIT. No other vendor can do this! We also have great leadership in Bob Janssen, CTO and co-founder. A true thought leader.


In short here's the recap:

BRIGHT PEOPLE with a BRIGHTER FUTURE and the BRIGHTEST SOLUTIONS

It is going to be an awesome 2012!

/Patrik

How to reduce Firefox profile size with RES Workspace Manager

My colleague Musa Cakar at RES Software has created an article on how to reduce the profile size in Mozilla Firefox with the help of Workspace Manager.

You'll find Musa's article here.

/Patrik

Get started with RES Workspace Manager Express

In this video I will show how to get started with RES Workspace Manager 2011 Express to replace roaming profiles and login scripts or GPO's.

Yes, the video is longer than normal but I have captured the complete process with reboots and all. Even so it is only 18 minutes long!

Download your FREE version of RES Workspace Manager 2011 Express here.

Register and get started with  RES Baseline Desktop Analyzer here.


/Patrik

RES Service Orchestration SR3

Service Release3 of RES Automation Manager Service Orchestration is now available for download.

These are some of the fixes:

• Action 'Provide Information' could not be completed when using categories with many subcategories.
  
• Clients and Dashboard: Support for Swedish language. Blame me if it is not correct :-)
  
• New Site ID generated after upgrading to SR2.
  
• Services not returned when person was marked for deletion. This could occur:
  - If the person was marked for deletion through a Data Reader/Data Link
  - If the return workflow contained at least one action.
  
• Special characters not shown correctly in e-mail notifications.

The service release is available for download here

/Patrik

Leveraging Microsoft ConfigMgr in RES Automation Mananger

Many companies that use RES Software products already have Microsoft ConfigMgr (SCCM) in place for application and OS distribution. Also companies that yet have to purchase RES products use Microsoft ConfigMgr ;-)

In this video you will see how you can leverage an existing ConfigMgr infrastructure to build and maintain a library of IT changes with the help of RES Automation Manager 2012.

RES Automation Manager also extends the capabilities of Microsoft ConfigMgr with the introduction of a self-service portal. A very easy way of introducing a private application market place for your user's.

See this post on what else is new in RES Automation Manager 2012.

/Patrik

Delivering IT as a Service the easy way

I've added a new video by request that shows the value of using RES Dynamic Desktop Studio to deliver ITaaS.

Just sit back and enjoy the show...

/Patrik

Seamless Change of Application Delivery Infrastructure

I have created a short video that shows how IT seamlessly can change application delivery infrastructure without affecting end-user productivity.


Using Zero Profile Technology in RES Workspace Manager allow IT to make these kind of seamless changes.

Happy user = happy admin!


Increase the speed and adoption of new technologies by implementing a User Workspace first!


/Patrik

RES Automation Manager 2012

RES Automation Manager 2012 enhances existing capabilities with the following:


Cross platform support (including Red Hat & SuSE)
Take all your existing management scripts, copy & paste them into controlled and secure modules. Can be included in RunBooks to make changes in multi-tenant systems & services. 
New Linux Tasks:

• Execute Command
• Reboot
• Shutdown
• Download Resource

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager integration
Utilize the Automation Manager Self Service Portal to install applications through collections in ConfigMgr. You can also query the ConfigMgr client status (version, available services, cache options etc).


Scalability and performance improvements, including native 64-bit support
Unlimited scalability through the new Dispatcher+. Previous recommended limit per Dispatcher was 150 CCA (concurrent agents). This limit has been removed.


Launch window support
Control when jobs can be launched on systems to prevent changes during business hours. This can be overruled in the delegation model (for emergency maintenance).


Agent, Team and evaluator relationship enhancements
Allows for running queries and then automatically perform an action based on the outcome.
Evaluators now included:

• =
• >
• <
• <=
• >=
• <>
• LIKE 
• NOT LIKE

Enhanced support for evaluators in the following queries:

• Query AD Computer
• Query AD Group
• Query AD Object
• Query AD Organizational Unit
• Query AD User
• Query Computer Properties
• Query Disk Space
• Query Installed Programs
• Query Service Properties
• Query TCP/IP Properties

New Task: Change Team Membership
Add or remove agents from teams directly in a task.


New Global Setting: Default Schedule
To have an additional safe net the default scheduling can be changed from Scheduled to On Hold. This also applies to rescheduled jobs.


Job Scheduling
The option to schedule offline agents at next boot is enhanced with; or when Agent is resumed after hibernate, sleep or standby. this is very useful for managing laptops.


RunBook Scheduling
The option to use RunBook parameter has been enhanced with the following;

• to select Agents on computer name
• to select Agents on active Console user
• to select Agents on last Console user
• to select most recent Agent on last Console User

Global Variables
When configuring a Task, the values of many fields can now optionally be replaced with Variables. Similar to parameters, Variables function as placeholders for customer-specific values, such as, server names, passwords or credentials. Different from parameters however, Variables are resolved at the moment of Job execution, rather than at the moment of Job scheduling.



Plus many additional enhancements.


/Patrik

Citrix Synergy 2011 Barcelona

Citrix Synergy 2011 in Barcelona is just around the corner. RES Software will be exhibiting as usual and will be there with more people than ever.

Make sure you stop by to get the latest and greatest on the RES Software great offerings.

You probably heard of RES Workspace Manager 2011 Express being launched this Wednesday. Now you have a possibility to see it in action at the booth (#200).

We will also make another announcement that you do not want to miss.

There will be presentations and live training courses available to attend at the booth.


Attend the following session;

Delivering ITaaS today with Citrix Technology (SYN603)

Geek Speak Live! Panel Session: Desktop Transformation - thinking outside of the out-of-box scenario

Geek Speak Live! Panel Session: User Profiles smackdown (SYN507)

Citrix: It's all about me! Desktop personalisation and user profiles (SYN317)

Intel Corporation: Intelligent Desktop Virtualization helps optimize your deployment (SYN602)


These are the great technical people you can meet at our booth and in sessions:

• Bob Janssen - CTO and co-founder of RES Software, The Netherlands
• Bob de Kousemaeker - Product Manager, The Netherlands
• Grant Tiller - Product Manager, United Kingdom
• Eddie van Ravesteijn - Presales Director, The Netherlands
• Arie Joosse - Presales, The Netherlands
• Haakon Flender - Presales, Norway
• Frode Kipperberg - Solution Engineer, Norway
• Adam Stockley - Presales, United Kingdom
• Alexander Sebestian - Presales, Germany
• Sean Donahue - Senior Deirector, Global Alliances, US
• Jeff Wettlaufer - Senior Director, Global Product Marketing, US

And many many more....Oh and I will be there as well!

This is where you will find us:

/Patrik

RES Workspace Manager - NOW FOR FREE!

Introducing

First, why should you even bother about this free version?

If you already find it very easy to manage what the user gets on their desktop and why, you probably already have Workpace Manager installed :-) If not, you need it to prepare for any future changes and to be able to deliver IT as a Service.  Feel free to take a look at any of my previous blogs and videos about User Workspace Management.


What can it do for you?

The management of your users will be greatly simplified! You can migrate existing desktops into managed workspaces with minimal impact. I urge you to use RES Baseline Desktop Analyzer to quickly get from current state to desired state. RES BDA is also for FREE!

You will get context aware desktops. How about;

• Follow me printing
• Follow me shares
• Follow me applications
• Follow me configuration
• Follow me user settings

The users will be happier with a profile solution that really works! Easily switch between Windows XP and Windows 7 or even Windows 8 without loosing personal settings.






Conclusion!

You will get:

• The leading profile management solution for free
• A replacement for group policies
• A replacement for login/logout scripts
  
  AND IT IS CONTEXT AWARE!

Note: The free version is of course limited in its functionality. But be amazed over what you actually get for free...

There is absolutely NO EXCUSE anymore for creating complex group policies or managing insanely long login scripts. You do not even have to bother about user profiles!

Download your free version here NOW and take the first step towards nirvana.

Oh...did I mention that it is for FREE? And the context awareness? No? Well...it is free AND context aware :-)



/Patrik

Windows 8 Persona Management

This short video demonstrates RES Workspace Manager handling persona's (profile) between Windows 7 and Windows 8 in real time.

It just works!

/Patrik

World leading solution now even better!

RES Workspace Manager SR2 is released. This world leading User Workspace Management solution is now even better!

This service release does not only contain improvements but also new functionality. Here's a few examples:

1. Configuration Wizard - Now customers can get up and running with the solution even quicker with the built-in configuration wizard. This wizard will guide you through common configuration choices and paths in a few steps. You can choose between Evaluation or Production setup. It even includes sample data for Usage Tracking analysis!

2. Navigation map - The console has been enhanced with a navigation map to make it even easier to quickly jump to desired sections.

3. Video tutorials - Video tutorials make it even quicker to get started with RES Workspace Manager as well as configuring various parts such as Folder Synchronization and Workspace Model. You will find all video tutorials here.

Besides the above new features, RES Workspace Manager also now officially supports Citrix XenApp 6.5, has reduced network I/O, support for Baseline Desktop Analyzer files support for shares in advanced connection states and more...

Make sure to upgrade if you are an existing customer or install if you want to make the single most important step in your desktop management strategy.

/Patrik

Change, Adapt and Expose!

Change, adapt and expose. Three words that describe what RES Dynamic Desktop Studio does for an IT department based on organisational requirements.

When there is a organisational need or requirement, it will almost always end up in some sort of technical change. Let me give you an example:

There is a new person joining the company. In order for that person be productive access to services is required. One of the services required is e-mail. The IT department will have to create an e-mail account on a mail server (often done manually).

RES Automation Manager can automate this change immediately upon the request (i.e. need) from the organisation through fully automated service orchestration. No IT interaction required.

But is this all? No, just adding a mailbox will not enable user's sending and receiving e-mail. The technical change needs to be adapted and exposed to the user based on their need and individual situation.

First they need a mail profile and then, if  they are a remote worker, they need offline access . Maybe additional mailboxes needs to be opened, and finally the signature needs to be created.

RES Workspace Manager takes care of everything that needs to be adapted and exposed.

RES Automation Manager takes care of the technical change.

These products are RES Dynamic Desktop Studio.

RES Dynamic Desktop Studio will help any IT department with making changes, adapting and exposing them based on the actual user need and situation.

Here's a demo!

/Patrik

Independant Overview of User Environment Management!

Ruben Spruijt at PQR has finished the last touch on his awesome whitepaper on not only WHY to invest in User Environment Management (Workspace Management), but also guidelines on HOW to chose a solution.


It contains a head-to-head analysis of the following vendors; 


Appsense, Citrix, Immidio, Liquidware Labs, Microsoft, Quest, RES Software, Scense, Tricerat, Unideska and VUEM.
This whitepaper is really good reading if you want to get an independent view on this subject of which I personally have been blogging about for a while now, maybe a bit biased ;-)
Some excerpts from the whitepaper:


"It’s important to have a Vision and Strategy around Application and Desktop Delivery. User Environment Management should be part of this Vision and Strategy. Designing, building, managing and maintaining the Optimized (Virtual) Desktop infrastructure using the right technologies, corresponding vendors and products is the destination."
"Our experience is when the organisation understands the meaning of user workspace management and sees the opportunities and benefits this provides to the users and the IT organisation, the customer is often surprised that this solution has not been applied earlier."
Please follow Ruben Spruijt on Twitter: @rspruijt to get more insight on this topic.
Rubens article can be found here along with a link to download the whitepaper.
For more information on RES Dynamic Desktop Studio please visit the website or read some of my blog entries here!
Great work Ruben and team!




/Patrik

Visit RES Software at Citrix Synergy in San Francisco

RES Software are happy to be a platinum sponsor at Citrix Synergy in San Francisco May 24th to May 27th.


This is a great opportunity to meet with myself and my colleagues to get the latest and greatest from RES Software and how we continue add value to Citrix solutions.

You'll find us at booth #308

Here we will do in booth demo's and presentations as well as educational sessions.

Make sure you also attend our break-out sessions with Bob Janssen and Jeff Fisher:

Managing FlexCast Delivery with RES Dynamic Desktop Studio - Thursday May 26th, at 2:00 PM at Moscone 2024

RES software solutions for Desktop Transformation - Friday May 27th at 2:00 PM at Moscone 2024



If you cannot attend, you can still follow what happens on Twitter and Facebook


Hope to see you in person.

/Patrik

How to do more with less in three easy steps

According to Gartner, 40% of unplanned downtime is caused by human errors. This is also the only way for IT to do more with less! Besides greatly reducing unplanned downtime, automating your daily IT tasks will;

• Standardize IT
• Increase Quality of Service
• Free up time to focus on strategic responsibilities
• Grow IT maturity
• Increase security

RES Software Automation Manager gives you an easy way of automating daily IT tasks without adding to complexity or increasing the administrative overhead. There is NO point in selecting a solution that is complex - not if you have any of the above goals.

The following videos will explain the three steps that will help you move from a Basic to a Dynamic IT as a Service environment.


Step 1 - Take an existing manual task and automate it:

Step 2 - Create Run Books and delegate them to help desk:

Step 3 - Delegate IT changes back to the organisation through self service:

By taking this practical, non-complex and easy approach to IT maturity and Microsoft I/O model, It staff will be less stressed and users more happy. Nirvana?

Take your first easy step now...

/Patrik