- System Center 2012 packages together a number of components that were previously branded and sold separately. Understanding what System Center now includes and its capabilities can be a challenge.
- Microsoft’s continued support for System Center Essentials is unknown at this point in time, leaving smaller organizations in a state of paralysis.
- Increased functionality has complicated deployment of the solution.
Our Advice
Critical Insight
- New licensing models are intended to simplify Microsoft licensing, but will bring increased costs for many organizations due to the bundling of components.
- The infrastructure and expertise needed to implement System Center is considerable for large organizations and substantial for the mid-market.
- Due to the complex nature of System Center 2012, most organizations will require the assistance of professional services for implementation.
Impact and Result
- Service Pack 1 for System Center is expected to be released in the near future, bringing with it additional features and upgrades.
- System Center is now being marketed towards mid-to-large enterprises and is best suited for organizations that already have a large investment in Microsoft products.
- Small to mid-sized enterprises that only require a few of the components will have a hard time justifying the cost and effort.