Adding New Support for the Microsoft Private Cloud, App-V 5.0 and Windows 8 Migrations, and App Portal Bundle

Enhancements lead market in providing fully integrated application packaging & application compatibility solution, and support for user-centric computing

Maidenhead, UK – July 10, 2012 - Flexera Software, the leading provider of Application Usage Management solutions for application producers and enterprises, announced today the launch of AdminStudio Suite 11.5, the market-leading solution powering enterprises' Application Readiness processes for migrations to Windows 7 and 8, application and desktop virtualisation, cloud computing and day-to-day application packaging operations.

AdminStudio Suite has the largest application packaging install base and is used by more than 10,000 companies, including former Wise Package Studio customers, to repackage over 1 million applications. It is comprised of AdminStudio, AdminStudio Application Compatibility Pack, AdminStudio Virtualisation Pack, AdminStudio Virtual Desktop Assessment and Workflow Manager. The new release provides fully integrated application compatibility, packaging and migration capabilities, eliminating the need for standalone third party application compatibility tools and streamlining the complete Application Readiness process. Moreover, the new release further extends support for Microsoft Private Cloud Solutions, application virtualisation and Windows 8 migration efforts.

A new bundling package with Flexera Software’s App Portal enables user-driven, app store deployments and the consumerisation of IT, while still allowing management to retain accountability and control.

Enabling Migration to the Microsoft Private Cloud
Building on the foundation established with the launch of AdminStudio Suite 11 in January, 2012, in which Flexera Software announced capabilities to assess compatibility for Windows Server App-V, today Flexera Software is unveiling support for creating and managing Windows Server App-V packages – enabling enterprises’ migration efforts to the Microsoft Private Cloud.

“A Microsoft Private Cloud puts enterprises’ applications first, providing deep application insight, a comprehensive cross platform approach, best-in-class performance, and the power to run, migrate, or extend applications out to the public cloud whenever needed,” said Sergio Klarreich, Director Strategic Alliances, Management and Security Division, Microsoft Corp. “AdminStudio Suite 11.5’s announced support for Microsoft Private Clouds means enterprises now have a trusted, proven solution to assist in their migration to this rich new environment.”

Additional Support for Microsoft App-V 5.0 and Application Virtualisation
Further extending its leadership position supporting application virtualisation, AdminStudio Suite 11.5 also supports Microsoft’s recently announced App-V 5.0, providing full compatibility assessment, automated conversion, validation and full customisation.

“With App-V 5.0, virtual applications work like traditionally installed applications, giving users access to more of their applications on-demand and from anywhere,” said Karri Alexion-Tiernan, Director of Product Marketing at Microsoft. “Flexera Software is an important Microsoft partner, providing enterprise IT essential tools to test, validate and streamline the migration process to App-V 5.0.”

Enhanced Application Compatibility Capabilities, Including Testing for Windows 8 Migrations
AdminStudio Suite 11.5 delivers a new unified reporting and issue management interface, “Test Center,” that simplifies and streamlines all phases of application compatibility testing. It is fully integrated into Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 and 2012 as well as other leading deployment tools, and includes a single interface that consolidates all testing results. Test Center helps IT teams to be more productive and deliver applications to users faster and more reliably by providing a broad range of compatibility, validation and conflict tests, including management and remediation of issues, and monitoring overall status in a single location.

The AdminStudio Application Compatibility Pack 11.5 includes new application compatibility assessment for Windows 8 (32 & 64 bit), Internet Explorer 10, and Windows Server 2012. It also includes new integration with Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT), showing the Microsoft ACT compatibility status for all applications in the AdminStudio catalog, as well as bringing together package level and dynamic user testing into a single place for integrated analysis.

Compatibility assessment is now an integrated component of the AdminStudio Application Manager and Application Catalog, which serves as the central repository for applications in all formats. Remediation results are automatically imported into the AdminStudio catalog, making the application immediately ready for the remaining Application Readiness steps. Additionally, AdminStudio 11.5 delivers unprecedented automation through the AdminStudio automation layer, fully scripted with PowerShell or .NET. The automation layer executes the complete Application Readiness process for IT driven deployment and handoff of applications to Flexera Software App Portal for user-driven software self-service.

 “As user-centric computing takes hold, IT must manage applications in an increasingly complex combination of environments, ensuring that applications are tested, fixed, packaged, deployed and updated on-premises, in virtual, mobile and cloud environments,” said Maureen Polte, vice president of product management at Flexera Software. “This process must not only be automated, but information must be presented to IT in a clear, concise and consolidated format to ensure critical migration decisions are made based upon all available data. AdminStudio 11.5 is a strategic solution supporting IT’s application migration and day-to-day management needs.”

New App Portal Bundle
To further support user-centric deployments and the consumerisation of IT, AdminStudio Enterprise Edition will now come bundled with a free version of App Portal, Flexera Software’s market-leading enterprise app store. Both existing and new AdminStudio Enterprise customers on maintenance will receive a free, limited license version of App Portal, enabling them to create a self-service environment for employee software requests for up to five software titles in the catalog. Now AdminStudio Enterprise Edition customers will be able to offer the type of app store environment demanded by users, while still retaining full accountability and control.

“The continuous Application Readiness process made possible by AdminStudio Suite 11.5 means enterprises have unparalleled automation to streamline testing and packaging for future deployments in any environment,” said Polte. “Now with App Portal, whether IT wants to push apps out to users or enable self-service – AdminStudio Suite helps prepare and seamlessly hand off for deployment all the apps users need.”