ManageSoft

2005 Consensus Software Awards

Product Description

ManageSoft® Security Patch Management™ is an enterprise-scale solution for distributing and installing security patches throughout an organisation and reporting on the current state of security patch compliance throughout an organisation.

ManageSoft® Security Patch Management™ provides a comprehensive approach to security by transforming desktops, laptops, and servers into self-patching devices that automatically ensure security compliance. Rapid and reliable distribution of approved operating system patches and application patches in multiple languages, automatic installation, and dynamic self-healing ensures that managed devices worldwide are always protected. It’s the quickest and most reliable way to deploy security patches to Windows, Linux, and UNIX devices.

• Automate patch management with automatic alerts, download and packaging for new security bulletins — ManageSoft® Security Patch Management™ can filter security patch bulletins by severity, product, and date, and provides rapid automatic download and packaging of OS and application patches in multiple languages.

• Transform desktops, laptops, and servers into self-patching devices — Unlike labor-intensive task-based products that require time-consuming compliance checks before a new patch can be deployed, the policy-based ManageSoft client-centric architecture enables IT administrators to immediately deploy urgent patches, with client-side intelligence determining if the patch is required on individual Windows, Linux, and UNIX devices.

• Protect your IT infrastructure — Authorise patches before deployment, then rapidly deploy anywhere, anytime, and across any network. Automatically deploy operating system patches to desktops, servers, and mobile devices. Deploy security patches for common applications including Microsoft Office, Exchange, and others. Manage patches for multiple languages from a single console.

• Monitor security compliance and urgent patch rollouts with up-to-the-minute web-based reporting — Web-based graphical reporting tracks minute-by-minute security status of the enterprise, organizational units, specific security bulletins, and even individual users and computers.

This unique solution has rapidly been adopted by leading organisations worldwide. Protect the security of your IT infrastructure with ManageSoft® Security Patch Management™.

View short multimedia product demonstration online at:
www.managesoft.com.au/solution/patchmanagement/index_mm.xml 

About ManageSoft

ManageSoft, The Software Management Company, enables large-scale enterprises to better manage their IT assets. This involves rolling out applications to servers, desktops and mobile devices, automating business intelligence processes and ensuring full security compliance and effective software license management. ManageSoft has a team of 30 software developers, based in Melbourne, who are responsible for most of ManageSoft’s R&D.

View ManageSoft Corporate video for a brief overview of ManageSoft:
www.managesoft.com.au/video

Innovation

Security is a growing business issue. With the large number of application and security patches being released by vendors almost daily, effective security patch management is a timely concern for IT managers and is becoming increasingly important.

The selection and rollout of security patches can be a time and resource intensive activity. ManageSoft's automated Security Patch Management solution transforms desktops, laptops and servers into self-patching devices that automatically ensure security compliance. ManageSoft® Security Patch Management™ creates business advantage through:

• ensuring desktop are secure: monitoring security compliance and providing automatic download, installation and self healing if patches are missing or corrupted.

• increasing uptime: automatically distributing and installing OS patches in multiple languages, eliminating virus outbreaks.

• increasing savings: avoiding costly site visits and computer replacements.

• reducing help desk calls: ManageSoft® Security Patch Management™ automatically tracks the deployment of patches to ensure desktops are always up to date with the latest security bulletins which prevents users being affected by virus outbreaks and reduces the need for users to seek assistance from IT staff.

• increasing service levels to business: removing manual compliance checks which give technical staff time to concentrate on servicing the business in other ways.

Breaking new ground

While a lot of vendors claim to address security-related issues, ManageSoft is the first to approach security patch management in a way that helps organisations derive long terms benefits.

The ManageSoft® Security Patch Management™ solution is unique because it:

• enables planning to be undertaken in the security space. A retrospective analysis of trends over time lets enterprises analyse previous data to plan future decisions.

• cross-platform management is not vendor specific nor is it restricted to Windows. All enterprise IT assets, laptops and desktops are covered by the ManageSoft solution.

• can be used to manage geographically dispersed offices. Traditionally, geographically-dispersed offices and a complex IT environment, make it challenging to secure IT assets and systems worldwide. With ManageSoft Security Patch Management, IT managers can manage security patch deployment across platforms using a single product, a single solution, and a single console.

• caters for remote and mobile users, customer’s clients, and provides service delivery to infrequently connected devices. With ManageSoft, everyone is reachable whether they are a home user, a remote office of 10 people or a sales person in a hotel room.

• speaks to executives. ManageSoft provides operational reporting as well as in depth, real time analysis of security compliance and geographic mapping that is easy to understand “at-a-glance”.

Performance

Real world performance

The ManageSoft® Security Patch Management™ solution is based on smart-client architecture which enables many of ManageSoft's large customers to demonstrate 100% rollouts to all computers in their organisation within 48 hours of the release of a patch, for example customers such as Tattersalls, KPMG and ANZ Bank.  By using existing infrastructure, this product cuts down the time and cost of the initial implementation of the system.  The product has many features to ensure the rapid and accurate installation of patches to all computers in an organisation, which lets customers meet the most rigorous Service Level Agreement requirements.  The scalability of the solution is demonstrated by multiple organisations with 40,000 machines or more under security patch management with ManageSoft.

See video interviews with KPMG IT executives describing performance and benefits of ManageSoft® Security Patch Management™ at KPMG:
Customer video interview:  www.managesoft.com.au/kpmg 

Enterprise quality system

To meet the quality expectations of enterprise customers, the ManageSoft engineering team has developed extensive automated tests covering all aspects of the ManageSoft® Security Patch Management™ product.  These tests are run across the wide variety of supported environments whenever a new security patch is released, re-testing both the functionality of the system, and the correctness of the security patch data issued by the vendor.

Standards compliance

The software engineering practices at ManageSoft have been assessed externally against the Capability Maturity Model.  ManageSoft achieved more than 80% compliance in an appraisal for CMMI Level 2.

Setting industry benchmarks

The ManageSoft® Security Patch Management™ solution consistently wins technical evaluations against all competitors.  In an independent product review conducted by RMIT Test Labs in May 2004, ManageSoft's security patch management was referenced as "the only solution capable of what we would call full patch management".  ManageSoft was said to offer one of the most feature-rich, end-to-end patch management products on the market.  (Product review attached as appendix A.)

Customer support

Local support, global expertise is what we deliver to customers.

ManageSoft Corporation provides product support around the clock and around the globe. Our highly trained ManageSoft product support professionals are located in offices on three continents to enable follow-the-sun 24x7 support anywhere in the world.

Current customers and partners can access a secure ManageSoft support website for the latest technical information, including a comprehensive knowledge base on ManageSoft products.

Customer example, Tenix Group

Australia’s largest locally-owned defence and technology contractor, Tenix Group secures business-critical IT infrastructure and improves IT decision-making with ManageSoft's dynamic software management solutions. ManageSoft automates security patch management for more than 2000 Tenix computers at 60 locations worldwide, reducing IT risk and costs.

"The sensitive nature of our business means we can’t afford to have security issues or inaccuracies in our IT data. Intelligent automation with ManageSoft gives us set-and-forget reliability and the information we need to manage IT efficiently, and to re-assure our defense customers that our IT infrastructure is secure. We used to send IT teams out to all of our dispersed offices just to check that patches were installed. With ManageSoft Security Patch Management, we have automated patch deployment, and we get up-to-the-minute analysis to validate security compliance across the organisation. As a result we have saved time, improved efficiency, and delivered significant ongoing savings," said
Ray Callus, General Manager – Group IT, Tenix. www.tenix.com.au

Potential

ManageSoft is an Australian based multinational software company that was established in Melbourne in1990 by a group of employees from Hewlett Packard’s Australian R & D division.  Originally named Open Software Associates, the company changed its name to ManageSoft in 2001.

ManageSoft has always been driven to do business globally. Within a year of being established it had offices in Australia, the USA and Europe. ManageSoft employs 110 people worldwide and is headquartered in Boston (USA), with product research and development based in Australia. ManageSoft has a network of direct sales and distributor channels operating in over 30 countries worldwide highlighting its success in local and export markets.

Growing within a global market

An aggressive growth strategy has ensured that ManageSoft has developed steadily and secured a strong international presence. In the last financial year ManageSoft increased its customer base by 92 per cent through operations in United States, Europe and Australia. Its Australian based business contributed more than one third to this growth, which represents a revenue increase of 87 per cent in Australia. With a strong track record, ManageSoft's business has been backed internationally.  Since 2000, ManageSoft has received capital investment of more than AUD 39 million from investors including Siemens, Technology Venture Partners, DB Capital Partners and European VC firm Atila Ventures/ETV.

Overseas expansion

As a company that is constantly expanding, ManageSoft has identified Asia as the next frontier and with the Japanese and Chinese markets firmly on its agenda. At an operational level, ManageSoft has consciously structured itself for growth by institutionalising scalable internal processes and continuing to invest in local research and development.

Awards and recognition

ManageSoft’s potential has been widely acknowledged in the industry. At the Australian Industry Association’s (AIIA) i-award ceremony held during CeBit Australia 2004, ManageSoft was the overall winner for innovation and excellence in the Australian ICT industry sector, having won both the International Award for outstanding export performance, and the Inspiration Award.

As a result of its customer growth, global expansion and continued advancements to its IT solutions, Gartner has acknowledged ManageSoft as a Visionary in its recently published Desktop Software Distribution Magic Quadrant.

Global customers and partners

The success of ManageSoft’s operations and its ability to design software for international use can be evidenced by the calibre of its global customer base. This includes: ANZ Bank, Lend Lease, Australian National University, Diageo, Guinness, KPMG, Australian Aerospace, Thomson Prometric, Elcom Credit Union and Tenix.

ManageSoft understands the importance of international partnerships and is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, an IBM Business Partner and global partner of Siemens Business Services. Locally, ManageSoft works with Dimension Data, KAZ Technology Services and AlphaWest.

Other information the judges should know

More about ManageSoft:     
www.managesoft.com.au

View multimedia product demonstration: www.managesoft.com.au/solution/patchmanagement/index_mm.xml

View customer video interview with CIO of KPMG:
www.managesoft.com.au/kpmg

View ManageSoft Corporate video:
www.managesoft.com.au/video

The following documents (as pdf's) will open in a new window. Close the window to return to this page.

Click here for Appendix A: RMIT IT Test Labs Product Review

Click here for Appendix B: Product Brochure

Appendix C: Customer Success Stories

Click here for the KPMG ManageSoft® Security Patch Management™ success story, including quotes from Ian McBride, CIO, KPMG.

Click here for the Lend Lease ManageSoft® Security Patch Management™ success story, including quotes from Jay Skibinski, Global CIO, Lend Lease.

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