Feature Article

Microsoft Forefront: Comprehensive, Integrated & Simplified

Comprehensive
Customers are increasingly faced with more advanced application level attacks.
The Microsoft Forefront comprehensive line of business security products provides greater protection and control through integration with your existing IT infrastructure and through simplified deployment, management, and analysis. Forefront is a comprehensive solution that helps provide protection for the client operating system, application servers, and the network edge.

Integrated
There is a proliferation of fragmented security point products working in isolation.
Today's security market landscape is complex and fragmented. Poor interoperability, separate management consoles for each product, and a general lack of unified event reporting and analysis all present challenges to the system administrator. In short, network protection is still too difficult to deploy, use, and manage, and it is expensive, as well. The deficiencies are especially problematic as security becomes an increasingly critical enabler for business solutions.

The Microsoft Forefront family of business security products helps provide greater protection and control over the security of your network infrastructure. Microsoft Forefront's products easily integrate with each other, with your organization's IT infrastructure, and can be supplemented through interoperable third-party solutions, enabling end-to-end, defense-in-depth security solutions.

Simplified
Customers find it difficult to efficiently deploy and manage security products.
Simplified management, reporting, analysis, and deployment enable you to more efficiently protect your organization's information resources and secure access to applications and servers. With highly responsive protection supported by Microsoft technical guidance, Microsoft Forefront helps you confidently meet ever-changing threats and increased business demands.

En Pointe. Your Microsoft Security Software Advisor.
Whether it involves assessing your current security posture, helping improve your security capabilities or assuming some of your security operational processes such as patch management, log monitoring, or end-point protection, our security experts can help.

For more information, visit www.enpointe.com/security

	System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 - November 2008 Launch	Top
System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 (VMM 2008), a robust management solution for the virtualized data center, is slated to be available on the November 2008 Volume License price lists. In addition to being available on a standalone basis, VMM 2008 will also be available as a component of the System Center Server Management Suite Enterprise (SMSE). The SMSE is designed for customers who need a comprehensive solution for server application and platform management across physical and virtual server environments. It includes Enterprise Server Management Licenses for System Center Operations Manager, System Center Configuration Manager, System Center Data Protection Manager, and System Center Virtual Machine Manager. System Center Virtual Machine Manager enables customers to configure and deploy new virtual machines and centrally manage their virtualized infrastructure, whether running on Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2, Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 or VMware Virtual Infrastructure 3. System Center Virtual Machine Manager is part of the System Center suite of products, which provides centralized, enterprise-class management of physical and virtual resources across desktops and datacenters. Also delivered was the public beta of System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 (formerly code-named "Virtual Machine Manager vNext"), which enables customers to configure and deploy new virtual machines and to centrally manage their virtualized infrastructure, whether running on Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 or VMware ESX Server. System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 tightly integrates with Operations Manager 2007 to deliver a new feature called Performance and Resource Optimization (PRO). Using deep knowledge of the IT environment including operating systems, applications and hardware, Operations Manager identifies opportunities for more efficient physical and virtual resource allocation and generates"PRO tips" within the Virtual Machine Manager console. Administrators can implement these PRO tips and dynamically optimize their datacenter based upon pre-defined policies and the real-time, changing demands of users. When used in conjunction with the broad System Center management suite, System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 enables customers effectively to manage both their virtualized and physical servers and applications across their desktops and datacenters with a single set of consistent, compatible tools.

	Microsoft Windows HPC Server 2008	Top
Windows HPC Server 2008 will be available on the November 1, 2008 price lists. For more details regarding Windows HPC Server 2008 pricing and licensing, including the use of Windows hypervisor-based virtualization technology (Hyper-V), please visit www.microsoft.com/hpc Windows HPC Server 2008 is designed to enable quicker deployment of high-performance capabilities and scalability from workstation to cluster. This is more evidence of the continued trickle-down of high-performance computing capabilities to enterprises and small-to-medium-size businesses. Windows HPC Server 2008, available now for evaluation download, is designed to replace Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003. It is based on Windows Server 2008 and designed to simplify the deployment, administration and management of a system while ensuring interoperability with existing infrastructures. Windows HPC Server 2008 also is optimized for rapid HPC application development through integration with Visual Studio 2008, which already provides a comprehensive parallel programming environment. The new server supports standard interfaces such as OpenMP, MPI (multiprocessor interconnect) and Web services, in addition to third-party numerical library providers, performance optimizers, compilers and debugging toolkits.

	Microsoft Expression	Top
About Expression Microsoft Expression Studio takes your creative possibilities to a new level. The professional design tools and innovative technologies in Expression Studio give you the flexibility and freedom to bring your vision to reality-whether you are designing standards-based Web sites, rich user experiences for the desktop and Silverlight, or managing digital assets and content. With the powerful development capabilities of the Microsoft platform and an emphasis on beautiful design, you'll be able to breathe new life into anything interactive-whether Web or applications. Expression Studio 2 includes: Microsoft Expression Web 2. The next generation of Web development combines form with function-and is the only tool that supports both PHP and ASP.NET 3.5. The result? Rich standards-compliant sites that are as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. Microsoft Expression Blend 2. This rich, real-time design environment lets you mix elements such as video, vector art, text, animation, and more. It's optimized for creative professionals, but its .NET capabilities are a developer's dream. Microsoft Expression Design 2. Now designers can create compelling vector graphics in Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) for their Expression Blend projects and Silverlight, and sliced graphics for Expression Web. Microsoft Expression Media 2. With support for more than 100 file formats and sophisticated cataloging capabilities, Expression Media makes creating and sharing digital assets easier than ever. Plus, generate Web galleries with a click of a button. Microsoft Expression Encoder 2. This flexible, robust tool delivers rich media, complete with XAML overlays, across the Web using the Silverlight platform. Microsoft Expression Studio 2 is opening up a new world of creative possibility. Its professional design tools give designers the freedom to make their vision real-whether they're designing standards-based Web sites, rich desktop experiences, or Silverlight content. Expression Studio includes Expression Web 2, Expression Blend 2, Expression Design 2, Expression Media 2 and Expression Encoder 2. Microsoft Expression Professional Subscription This new subscription is just like what MSDN developers get-only it's custom-tailored to designers. You'll get: Microsoft Expression Web 2. includes Expression Web 2, Microsoft Expression Blend 2, Microsoft Expression Design 2, Microsoft Expression Media 2, and Microsoft Expression Encoder 2. Visual Studio Standard Edition Office Standard Edition Office Visio Professional Windows XP Windows Vista Business Edition Virtual PC Pre-configured virtualized server environments Exclusive discounts, free trials, and offers from Microsoft partners Professional-grade technical support

	Windows Essential Business Server 2008	Top
Windows Essential Business Sever 2008 (EBS 2008) will launch on the November 2008 Volume License price list. EBS 2008 is an enterprise-class server solution designed and priced for midsize businesses, integrating management, messaging and security server technologies. By helping to improve IT manageability and reliability, EBS 2008 turns a midsize IT infrastructure into a strategic asset, boosting productivity and growth. EBS 2008 is the newest addition to Microsoft's integrated server solutions family of products. A couple of important licensing changes will occur in order to offer customers more flexibility in licensing and in most cases, a more cost effective solution. EBS 2008 is licensed via Server/CAL model and will have 2 CAL suites (both with User and Device options) and various quantities of CAL-packs (1-5-20-50 CAL packs) will be offered.

	Windows Small Business Server 2008	Top
Windows Small Business Server 2008 (SBS 2008) is available now. SBS 2008 is an integrated server solution that helps customers protect their business data, increase productivity and present a more professional image to their customers. By providing many of the features used by larger companies -- e-mail, an Internet connectivity, internal Web sites, remote access, support for mobile devices, file and printer sharing, backup, and restore -- SBS 2008 gives customers the tools they need to help grow their business. SBS 2008 has a Standard and Premium Edition. With this release, a couple of important licensing changes will occur in order to offer customers more flexibility in licensing and in most cases, a more cost effective solution. While still licensed via Server/CAL model, SBS 2008 will now have 2 CALs (both with User and Device options) and more quantities of CAL-packs (1-5-20 CAL packs) will be offered.

	SELECT PLUS: Purchasing with Microsoft's Select Plus Volume Licensing Program	Top
Description: Microsoft's Select Plus Volume Licensing program offers larger companies with multiple business units flexibility in purchasing, streamlined license management, and reduced time and potential costs of renegotiating licensing agreements. Select Plus is an additional Evergreen offering. Select remains a purchase option Select Plus: a transactional volume licensing program for medium to large organizations that are considering renewing or purchasing a current Select agreement. Simplifies purchasing through a single, enterprise-wide agreement for all purchasing affiliates Enhances SA value by providing full SA coverage and benefits for 36 months from date of purchase. Provides greater flexibility with Microsoft Financing, One-year Online Service Subscriptions, Software Assurance and Software Assurance Membership in a transactional, pay as you go program Improved Customer Knowledge/Reporting (customer ID) Global view of customer organization - "all-up" view of total Asset position Purchasing / SA benefits by organization (PCN) versus agreement numbers Feature Select Plus Select EA Order Mechanism Customer ID - represents a single business entity Agreement Number - 1 or more businesses; expires Agreement Number - 1 or more businesses; expires Term Evergreen (never expires) 3 years 3 years Purchase Minimum - 500 points / pool / year; or - Active EA/EAS 1500 points / pool / 3 yrs 250 Desktops; Company-wide SA Offering - Available - 36 months on all L&SA - SAM available - Available - Pro-rated to prior anniv. - SAM available - Included - Pro-rated to 6 months - SAM included Customer Relationship Indirect Channel (LAR) Indirect Channel (LAR) Direct & Indirect (ESA) Discounting - Automatic Tiering - Set at Lead Affiliate (enterprise-wide) - Levels A-D by pool - May be bound to EA - Contractual Forecast - Levels A-D by pool Based on initial order Online Service Offerings 1 Year Subscription Pro-rated to agreement end date Pro-rated to agreement end date MS Finance Offering Integrated Line of Credit NA Extended Payment Terms Support for distributed procurement & benefits - View Lead Affiliate's enterprise by Affiliate ID Managed by agreement number Managed by agreement number Administration - Manage licenses and SA benefits between affiliates NA NA

• Order with unique Customer ID (PCN)
• Renewing orders on an evergreen agreement
• SA Step-ups on an evergreen agreement
• New billing option (Order Anniversary)

• ...reduces contract administration by eliminating the need to renegotiate standard terms and conditions
• ...simplifies purchasing through a single, enterprise-wide agreement for all purchasing affiliates
• ...improves budgeting and asset management processes with company-wide visibility to assets and SA benefits
• ...enhances SA value by providing full SA coverage and benefits for 36 months from date of purchase
• ...provides greater flexibility with Microsoft Financing, One-year Online Service Subscriptions, Software Assurance and Software Assurance Membership in a transactional, pay as you go program

	THE SUPER PROMOTION			Top
Customers who purchase at least 10 licenses of Microsoft Office Visio Professional 2007 or Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007 through a new or true-up Enterprise Agreement or Select License Agreement with Microsoft Software Assurance can earn up to 15% back on ERP* in Microsoft partner subsidy funds. Customers can use these funds to purchase additional hardware, software or services from a Microsoft Partner of their choice. Sept. 29, 2008 through March 27, 2009 Microsoft Office Visio Professional 2007 or Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007 www.microsoftincentives.com/superpro

	The Big Easy	Top
Microsoft is pleased to announce 'The Big Easy Offer 2.0'. The Big Easy Offer 2.0 covers most of the core Microsoft products and solutions. When you make a qualifying purchase, you will receive partner subsidy dollars to be used toward purchasing more products and services for a more complete solution. Please refer to the information on Microsoft Incentives site at http://www.MicrosoftIncentives.com/bigeasy. Promotion Dates: August 25, 2008 through December 31, 2008 Products Included: Designer and Developer Tools (Microsoft Expression, Microsoft Visual Studio, Microsoft Visual Studio Team) Microsoft Dynamics CRM Microsoft Exchange Server Microsoft Forefront Security Products (ISA Server, Forefront Security for Exchange, Forefront Security for SharePoint) Microsoft Office Communications Server Microsoft Office System (Small Business, Professional Plus, Enterprise) Microsoft Project and Microsoft Visio Microsoft Office SharePoint Server Microsoft SQL Server Microsoft Systems Center (Configuration Manager, Essentials) Microsoft Windows Server System (Windows Server, Small Business Server) Microsoft Volume Licensing Programs and License Agreement Types: This promotion is available for the following Volume Licensing programs and license agreement types: Open License: Corporate and Government (specific products) Open Value: Corporate Software Maintenance Options: Software Assurance is required for this promotion. Microsoft Software Assurance for Volume Licensing provides upgrades, new versions of software, and technical support to customers. Software Assurance benefits vary with each Volume Licensing program. In addition, server licenses come with benefits that are different from those for desktop licenses. Customer Eligibility Requirements: Customers must make a qualifying purchase as defined in the offer Terms and Conditions, which are available at http://www.microsoftincentives.com/bigeasy

	Forefront Client Security Competitive Migration	Top
This offer has been extended until December 31, 2008. As a limited time offer from February 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008, Open Value and Select customers are eligible to acquire User Subscription Licenses (USLs), Device Subscription Licenses (DSLs), and Services Subscription Licenses (SSLs) for Forefront Client Security at potential savings.

	Forefront Security for Exchange Server	Top
As a limited time offer from May 1, 2008 through October 31, 2008, Open Value, Select and Enterprise Agreement customers are eligible to acquire per user and per device subscriptions for Forefront Security for Exchange Server at potential savings. This offer applies only to customers with expiring subscription licenses for Antigen for Exchange.

	Identity Lifecycle Manager (ILM) CAL	Top
As a limited time offer from August 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009, Open, Open Value, Select and Enterprise Agreement customers are eligible to acquire Identity Lifecycle Manager (ILM) CAL 2007 with Software Assurance at potential savings. This offer is available for Commercial and Government customers only.

	Project Server 2007	Top
As a limited time offer from March 1, 2008 through September 30, 2008, Select and Enterprise Agreement customers are eligible to acquire Project Server 2007 CAL with Software Assurance at potential savings. This offer applies only to customers purchasing at least 500 Project Server 2007 CALs in a single order, and the discount is available only on a single order.

	SharePoint Enterprise CAL	Top
As a limited time offer from December 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008, Select customers are eligible to purchase SharePoint (MOSS) Enterprise CAL 2007 with Software Assurance at potential savings. This offer applies only to customers that are also purchasing equal quantities of PerformancePoint Server (PPS) CAL with Software Assurance or ProClarity Desktop Professional 6.3 licenses with Software Assurance.

	System Center Essentials	Top
As a limited time offer from May 1, 2008 through October 31, 2008, Open, Open Value, Select and Enterprise Agreement customers are eligible to acquire System Center Essentials 2007 server and client management licenses with Software Assurance at potential savings. This offer applies only to customers that own a total of at least 50 Core CALs or System Center Configuration Manager 2007 client management licenses with Software Assurance. Coverage must be active on qualifying Core CALs or System Center Configuration Manager 2007 client management licenses at the time the System Center Essentials licenses are acquired. System Center Essentials 2007 client management licenses can be acquired under this offer up to the total number of Core CALs and System Center Configuration Manager 2007 client management licenses with Software Assurance that the customer owns.