Microsoft focuses on the mid-market

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: DAVE KEARNS ON WINDOWS NETWORKING TIPS
10/26/05
Today's focus: Microsoft focuses on the mid-market

Dear security.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Microsoft defines a new midsize market
* Links related to Windows Networking Tips
* Featured reader resource
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MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORKS ARE OUT - BUT WHAT'S IN?

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Today's focus: Microsoft focuses on the mid-market

By Dave Kearns

I poked a little fun at Microsoft last month (see " Microsoft
Centro: Is it right for you?
<http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/nt/2005/0919nt2.html?rl>
") when I looked at the company's entry into the midsize market
as opposed to the small business/home business and enterprise
markets. In particular, I questioned the definition the company
used: A small business was 25 or fewer PCs, an enterprise was
more than 500 PCs, and everything in between was "midsize."

As it turns out, there's more to the story than was apparent at
that time.

Microsoft has defined a new midsize market, but it hasn't tried
to make it a "one-size fits all" market. A quick visit to the
new Microsoft Midsize Business IT Center
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt9393> shows that, in fact,
Redmond segments the less-than-enterprise-sized market into
three fractions: 25 to 50 PCs, 51 to 250 PCs and 251 to 500 PCs.
You might call those fractions small to midsize, mid- to midsize
and large to midsize. You might. Microsoft didn't, and neither
will I, but you might. Not only does Microsoft differentiate
these three sizes, but it also provides guides and "solutions"
tailored to each level.

For the lower end, this includes:

* Solutions based on Microsoft Small Business Server 2003.
* Security guidelines for small businesses.
* Small IT solution for mobility.

The mid-level program includes:
* Desktop deployment solutions.
* Security and patch management guidance.
* Suggestions for implementing messaging, collaboration and
print services.

Suggestions for the biggest mid-level installations include:
* Security, anti-virus, and back-up and recovery guides.
* Desktop deployment solutions.
* Application-compatibility testing and mitigation guides.

There's also a lot more information organized for everyone who
deals with 500 PCs or fewer, which can be very useful even if
your network is simply a small part of some larger installation.

When Microsoft introduced this mid-market initiative at last
month's Business Summit 2005 conference, CEO Steve Ballmer said:
"The midmarket customer is the least well-served customer across
a spectrum of people involved in IT today. They are challenged
in dealing with complexity and scale, and need to find solutions
that are very appropriate to their needs." It looks like
Microsoft is going to do its best to provide the products and
guidance necessary to help the midmarket IT manager get the job
done.

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Cisco talking IP-radio nets
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt9740>
2. How to respond to a security breach
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt9741>
3. School traps infected PCs in its web
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt9373>
4. Cartoon of the Week <http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt9374>

5. CTO: BellSouth lost 9 COs to Katrina
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt9742>

_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Dave Kearns

Dave Kearns is a writer and consultant in Silicon Valley. He's
written a number of books including the (sadly) now out of print
"Peter Norton's Complete Guide to Networks." His musings can be
found at Virtual Quill <http://www.vquill.com/>.

Kearns is the author of three Network World Newsletters: Windows
Networking Tips, Novell NetWare Tips, and Identity Management.
Comments about these newsletters should be sent to him at these

respective addresses: <mailto:windows@vquill.com>,
<mailto:netware@vquill.com>, <mailto:identity@vquill.com>.

Kearns provides content services to network vendors: books,
manuals, white papers, lectures and seminars, marketing,
technical marketing and support documents. Virtual Quill
provides "words to sell by..." Find out more by e-mail at
<mailto:info@vquill.com>
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Intel
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_______________________________________________________________
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FEATURED READER RESOURCE

GRID TAKING SHAPE IN THE ENTERPRISE

Grid computing continues to gain ground and vendors such as IBM,
Platform Computing, Sun, SAS and Univa are launching services,
products and partnerships to support this growth. But will
challenges such as software licensing, security and bandwidth
issues hinder grid rollouts? Click here for more:

<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/101005-grid.html>
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