Support announced for Microsoft Private Cloud migrations and desktop transformation initiatives via Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager

Maidenhead, UK - January 26, 2012 - Flexera Software, the leading provider of Application Usage Management solutions for application producers and enterprises, announced today the release of AdminStudio Suite 11, the market-leading solution powering enterprises' Application Readiness processes for migrations to Windows 7, application and desktop virtualisation, and day-to-day application packaging operations. AdminStudio Suite is comprised of AdminStudio, AdminStudio Application Compatibility Pack, and AdminStudio Virtualisation Pack. This latest release helps significantly reduce complexity associated with the adoption of emerging technologies such as user-centric computing, virtualisation and the cloud, while at the same time significantly increasing the ease with which companies can implement their software asset management programs.

As enterprises are constantly inundated with new technologies and computing models, from user-centric and mobile computing to virtualised applications and the Cloud - increasingly they are realising the strategic value of Application Readiness solutions to ensure preparedness and to orchestrate the entire process. AdminStudio, the established leader in helping organisations prepare traditional applications for enterprise deployment, has emerged as the industry leader in publishing to the Cloud.  AdminStudio Suite removes a critical barrier to Cloud adoption by automating the assessment, conversion and publishing of various application formats to both physical and Cloud environments.

Facilitating User Centric Computing with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Support
AdminStudio Suite 11, the first solution to support the upcoming release of System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, is built around the user-centric concept. System Center 2012 Configuration Manager will enable users to be associated with devices so applications can be distributed to users on any device. To give enterprises advance time to plan for their migration to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager and the accurate identification of metadata crucial for populating Microsoft's new application model, AdminStudio 11:

Includes a new import wizard to speed the migration to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager and the new application model, including a bulk import utility for migrating applications. As part of the migration process, AdminStudio Suite 11 will automatically filter to look for the best candidates for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager's new application model.
Determines application deployment metadata by mining package elements like system requirements, detection methods and dependence on other applications such as .NET, prior to creating applications in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. It will also identify product level data such as product icon, manufacturer and installation scripts when determining the application metadata.
Provides a comprehensive user interface to edit and modify the application model elements, as well as support for MSI, App-V, InstallScript and custom installers.
"Microsoft has been working closely with Flexera Software, a key member of our Technology Adoption Program, as we planned the rollout of System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. This work sets the stage for AdminStudio 11 to help customers with their Application Readiness process as they migrate to user centric computing models," said Sergio Klarreich, Director Strategic Alliances, Management and Security Division, Microsoft Corp. "We are excited to work with Flexera Software as we help enterprises smoothly and efficiently succeed in their desktop transformations."

Support for Microsoft Private Cloud
AdminStudio Virtualisation Pack already supports preparation, testing and remediation of virtual desktop applications for deployment, as well as enhanced validation and conflict testing of Microsoft App-V packages. To assist enterprises in planning for which server applications will work in the Cloud and save time and effort in Cloud migration initiatives, AdminStudio Virtualisation Pack 11 is the first solution to support testing of applications for Windows Server App-V, a key component of Microsoft's private cloud strategy. The solution will be able to differentiate between client and server applications and make recommendations about virtualisation accordingly.

"Flexera Software continues increasing its support for virtualisation and the Cloud by helping enterprises' Application Readiness activities with suitability testing, automated conversion, validation and packaging capabilities," said Fred Broussard, research director, enterprise system infrastructure software at IDC.  "By supporting Microsoft's Private Cloud initiative AdminStudio Suite 11 will provide added comfort to enterprises looking for assistance in their transition to the Cloud."

Improved Workflow Manager Integrated with Enterprise License Optimisation Processes
Enterprises can now create business workflow processes - from software request to software packaging and license re-harvesting - that span Application Readiness and Enterprise License Optimisation and automate essential processes. The workflow capabilities for AdminStudio and FlexNet Manager Suite for Enterprises, Flexera Software's market-leading Enterprise License Optimisation solution, have been merged into a single Workflow Manager product. Additional enhancements to Workflow Manager include automated task assignment to users during the execution of the workflow process, eliminating the need for manual assignment of each task; and user interface improvements, such as direct access to a task completion form from an email.

Software Tagging Support
AdminStudio 11 solves the "repackaged application identification dilemma" inhibiting the broad adoption of software tags in support of software asset management programs. This dilemma occurs when software is repackaged, deployed, and installed on end-points within an enterprise. The application's identifying evidence, or fingerprints, are lost or obfuscated, making it difficult for the backend software asset management tools to properly identify the installed applications.

AdminStudio 11 now supports companies' software asset management and enterprise license optimisation efforts by empowering enterprises to automatically add or update ISO 19770-2 compliant tags for repackaged applications, as well as preserve the original publisher tag if it exists.  Thus enterprises can now leverage those ISO 19770-2 tags to identify the application after installation.

"Desktop transformation, user-centric computing, the Cloud, virtualisation, and enterprise license optimisation are top of mind for most enterprises today, both in terms of their enormous promise - and complexity," said Maureen Polte, vice president of product management at Flexera Software. "AdminStudio Suite has emerged as a strategic solution to help IT organisations ensure continual application readiness as they grapple with implementing these promising technologies."