Over the past few months, I’ve heard increasing reports of Windows Home Server being utilised in small and home offices (SOHO), where a product like Microsoft’s Small Business Server would simply be overkill.
Canadian developer Level Platforms Inc have now announced that its Managed Workplace remote monitoring application will now be supported on Windows Home Server, allowing outsourced IT suppliers to remotely monitor and support Windows Home Server based networks.
This is the first application we’ve seen which directly supports the business market for Windows Home Server and is a really interesting extension of WHS’ proposition.
Are you using Windows Home Server in your business? Let us know how.
Here’s the press release:
Level Platforms’ Managed Workplace and Microsoft’s Windows Home Server deliver full managed services capabilities to peer-to-peer networks
January 29, 2009
Ottawa, ON, Canada – January 29, 2009 – LPI Level Platforms Inc, the global leader in remote monitoring and management software for solution providers and managed services providers today announced that the Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) market is now “open for business” with Microsoft’s Windows Home Server.
While the millions of SOHO businesses have the greatest need for outsourced IT, cost and technology limitations have made this an elusive target for managed services providers. With Level Platforms award-winning Managed Workplace installed on a Windows Home Server, solution providers can now deliver end-to-end remote management of workgroup networks including monitoring of all devices (servers, PCs, network devices, printers, IP telephony, etc.), all applications running on Windows devices, alerting, full asset management, remote control, patch management, back up and security, extensive reporting, local storage and much more at a very low cost easily affordable to SOHO businesses.
Many small businesses aren’t yet ready to make the leap to Windows Small Business Server but need the added features, performance, flexibility and security that result from the deployment of a server on their networks. Now solution providers can deploy Windows Home Server with Managed Workplace and deliver a high value fully managed solution for these businesses.
This addition further extends Managed Workplace’s deep integration with the entire family of Microsoft Servers that already includes Windows Server 2008 and 2003, Small Business Server 2008 and 2003 (SBS), Essential Business Server 2008 (EBS), and full support for Hyper-V, Microsoft’s hypervisor-based virtualization solution.
Built on the same codebase as Windows Server 2003, Windows Home Server represents a powerful solution for the SOHO market. While the backup and recovery features are limited to 10 workstations (including Macs), Managed Workplace running on Windows Home Server can monitor and manage any number of devices operating in a workgroup environment with 100% of the functionality of larger sites including the full management of the Windows Home Server itself as well as any other servers on the network. Solution providers can also deploy additional remote backup software, specialized applications and other server based applications on the Windows Home Server to extend their service offerings.
“The SOHO market represents a tremendous opportunity for solution providers looking to provide cost-effective best-in-class support to smaller businesses,” said Peter Sandiford, CEO Level Platforms. “Most of our 3000 Partners worldwide provide managed services to the Windows Small Business Server market. With this announcement we are radically expanding the size of their available market and bringing the benefits of managed services to millions of businesses that were not previously accessible to the service provider community.”
“This is great news,” said Aaron Booker, President of Hardlines, a Washington-based solution provider focused on the small business market. “By adding the Windows Home Server as a supported platform for Managed Workplace, Level Platforms has opened the doors to a hugely underserviced and important segment of the business market.”
David Schmidt, CEO of Fusix Corporation, based in Ontario, added, “Fusix focuses on smaller businesses that often struggle with the effective use of technology. Larger organizations already receive enhanced benefits through the deployment of servers. Now, with a flexible and cost-effective solution for smaller businesses, Level Platforms and Windows Home Server eliminates the difference between the haves and have-nots.”
“We are excited to work with Level Platforms to extend the value of Windows Home Server to the Small Office/Home Office market,” said Charlie Kindel, General Manager, Windows Server Solutions Group, Microsoft. “This solution will help Microsoft Partners introduce the benefits of Windows Server technology to a large and important market segment establishing a solid foundation for improved performance and reliability today and growth for the future.”
More Info: Level Platforms
