Application Readiness

App Store Essentials: Leveraging Your Enterprise Deployment Solution

By Laura Noonan

The job of an enterprise app store is to give business people a convenient way to request the apps they need. But actual delivery of the apps is best handled by enterprise deployment tools. Microsoft® System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), which is widely used in enterprise environments, is one example. By tightly integrating your app store with a deployment tool such as SCCM, you can take advantage of software distribution, status messages, and machine inventory and collections for detailed reporting and access control without adding services or agents to your environment.

The following list focuses specifically on ways integration with SCCM can make your app store more efficient, effective and successful. Many of the capabilities in the list are also available as a result of integration with other deployment tools.

1. SCCM deployment types. Support for both computer-centric deployment (the SCCM 2007 model) and user-centric deployment (the SCCM 2012 model) enables you to meet a variety of deployment and use case scenarios.
2. Control and automation. Using SCCM collection membership, you can customize catalog views so users see only the apps they are authorized to request. This increases control over access to enterprise software. You can also use collection membership to trigger actions automatically, including dynamic approval routing, reclaiming unused licenses, reclaiming leased licenses after expiration and generating custom announcements and email messages.
3. Flexible app delivery. The ability to request delivery of items to SCCM collections means you can deploy apps to groups based on such factors as geography or department.
4. Request status. Access to real-time SCCM deployment status, including downloading, running and install success, permits users to get up-to-the-minute information when they check the status of their requests.
5. Support for SCCM task sequences. You can define the installation order using SCCM task sequences to initiate a series of actions such as checking for the presence of existing software before an application is delivered.
6. Inventory control. You can obtain installation counts from SCCM and compare them with manually entered counts of licenses owned. During approval processes, requests are routed automatically based on this data. You can also use this information to better utilize the software currently in place and to purchase additional licenses when they are needed.
7. Software utilization data. Linking to SCCM software metering rules permits access to application utilization data, including frequency and duration of use as well as when the app was last used. This data is particularly beneficial in identifying and reclaiming unused licenses to reduce software spend.

By integrating with the enterprise deployment tool you have in place, you enable your enterprise app store to hand off applications for fast, efficient application delivery and obtain robust data for enhanced management of software requests and software assets.

Watch for the next blog in our App Store Essentials series, “Keeping Apps Ready for Intelligent, User-centric Deployment” for a close look at how tying your app store into an enterprise application readiness process helps keep store shelves stocked with apps that are ready for immediate delivery to the user’s device of choice. 

User-Centricity is a Key Driver for VDI

By Toby Martin

A recent Forrester blog post discussed trends from an annual survey of IT decision makers that revealed a drop in interest and plans for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) initiatives from 2011 to 2012.

A key takeaway for me, and one that I have witnessed in our business, is that user-centricity is now a key driver for VDI. People invest their time, efforts and most importantly, money, on the platform and devices they want, so it’s safe to assume they are comfortable with the personal devices they are bringing to work. The control and determination of their platform is crucial to the acceptance of new technology, which will always be higher when users choose their own platform vs. being given a platform with which they are unfamiliar. This spending of their personal dollars means they are vested, and less likely to complain to IT about issues since it was their choice. An added benefit is cost reduction due to fewer training needs.

Mobility is the increasing concern for employees vs. VDI for employers—employers do still care about mobility, but once VDI is selected it’s tough to pull back from the project since the investment is so large. Employees want mobile access to data regardless of a designated BYOD, so by de-coupling them from a device allows broader adoption by the mobile user. Companies can still have the same control over data provided they have the right virtual desktop solutions in place, such as MDM (esp. wipe), VPN, backup, redundancy, etc.

The big question remains: Will enterprises continue to shift to VDI for the added controls provided by the virtualization toolsets via vendors like VMware, Citrix, and Microsoft, or will they shift more resources to mobility and invest more in mobile device management and portals to make enterprise applications more easily available to all workers? While this is not an “either-or” scenario—it seems that the marketplace currently views it as one.

 

App Store Essentials: Automating Approval Workflows

By: Laura Noonan

The true power of an enterprise app store comes into play after the user submits a request for an application. A lot of things have to occur quickly, automatically and in the right order so that apps are delivered to users in a timely manner. To make that happen, you need an approval workflow process that takes over and guides the request through all approval and processing steps.

Approval workflows need to be highly flexible and granular so you can move requests through quickly while complying with both internal policies and external regulations. As you design those workflows, consider incorporating the following capabilities that are found in highly successful enterprise app stores:

1. Security and control. Successful app stores put IT in charge of which apps require approval, who can approve requests and what routing structure to use. Additionally, they leverage in-place security groups, Organizational Units, Active Directory (AD) Properties and SCCM collection membership to protect enterprise software while speeding app store deployment and simplifying store management.
2. Flexible routing. Support for both single and multiple levels of approval with multiple approvers per level is a must, as is support for both linear —all approvers in a list, in order — and pool approvers — approval by any single approver from a pool.
3. Conditional approvals. The approval process should be dynamic, routing approvals based on such factors and conditions as cost, license availability, security groups, Organizational Units, AD Properties and SCCM collection membership.
4. Integration with directory services such as AD. Use directory data to identify a requester's manager and route requests appropriately. It's also beneficial if your store can dynamically determine the appropriate approval process based on such attributes as department, office, organizational unit or SCCM collection.
5. Designation and delegation. The ability to designate alternates when a primary approver is not available keeps requests flowing. Delegating responsibilities to regional, local and departmental administrators allows local personnel to order apps on behalf of their users.
6. User options. When there's no way to programmatically identify a user's manager, allow the user pick a manager from a list so requests are routed and processed in a timely manner.
7. Expanded workflows. If necessary, build workflows that trigger actions such as running a script or executing a command upon each approval action. Actions can occur at any point in the approval process.
8. Approver support. Supply approvers with adequate information such as the requester's business justification, license availability or application cost to improve decision making. Also, give approvers the flexibility to obtain additional information from requesters, suggest alternate software and reassign requests to other approvers.

The bottom line is that flexibility and granularity ensure consistency and timeliness in handling approvals and minimize the need for IT to intervene to keep requests moving through the cycle.

In our next App Store Essentials blog, "Tapping the Power of SCCM," we'll turn our attention to how out-of-the-box integration with enterprise deployment tools such as Microsoft® System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) helps integrate your enterprise app store into an overall strategy for delivering applications to users. Check back soon for more ways to enhance the success of your app store.

App Store Essentials: Keeping IT in Charge of Enterprise Software

By Laura Noonan

So your business users want more freedom, flexibility and speed when it comes to getting business apps. And an enterprise app store looks like a great way to give them what they want. But if you give users all that freedom, doesn't IT have to give up some control? Not at all. In fact, with the right app store design and implementation, you can strengthen control over enterprise software and ensure more consistent and more reliable processing of requests and delivery of applications.

In this second blog of our App Store Essentials series, we present key ways you can establish and maintain tight control over catalog presentation and maintenance, software requests, approval workflows and fulfillment processes:

1. Catalog management. Provide templates or another easy way to add apps to the catalog and specify such attributes as who can request the app, what approvals are required and whether deployment is to be immediate or scheduled.
2. Security. Control access to catalog items using existing security mechanisms such as security groups, Organizational Units, Active Directory Properties and SCCM collection membership for both users and computers.
3. Personalized catalog. Use Active Directory Group and Organization Unit as well as other information to tailor catalog presentation so users see only the applications they can request.
4. Request management. Allow employees to order items for themselves and specify delivery to the current device or to other devices for which they are primary users. But also ensure that your app store can align with corporate policy by supporting other scenarios such as managers requesting items for direct reports and help desk agents requesting items on behalf users.
5. Granular scheduling options. Rapid app delivery is important, but so is managing spikes in request volumes to prevent degradation of network performance. Take advantage of scheduling constraints such as blackout dates and volume limits based on app size or geography to avoid disruptions during peak workload times.
6. Approval workflow. Specify which requests require approval, who can approve requests and what routing structure to use. Automatically route requests to the appropriate managers based on department, organizational unit, SCCM collection membership, or other attributes. Make approval levels conditional based on cost, license availability, security groups, organizational unit and other factors. Incorporate connection points into the approval process based on various conditions such as license availability.

Keep these considerations in mind as you build your app store, and you'll enhance your control over enterprise software. Take note, also, that the ability to control approval workflows at a highly granular level not only strengthens control but also enhances your request, fulfillment and delivery processes. Our next blog in our App Store Essentials series, "Managing Approval Workflows," focuses on the level of granularity and types of options you need to create efficient, effective workflows.

Information Powered Decision Making for IT

By Greg Holmes

Traditionally disciplines such as Software Asset Management, Application Packaging, Deployment and Inventory/Discovery sit in separate silos in a company. While the information each group holds is valuable, IT departments struggle to link up the data so that the benefits go beyond the initial need.

These areas would benefit significantly if they knew some of the information collected elsewhere:

• Packaging teams benefit by knowing more about who uses the software and how it might be licensed, and then prioritizing work on the most utilized packages.
• Deployment teams should understand whether a deployment of software could cause a compliance risk, or whether a particular version or edition should be used.
• Inventory teams often are a part of configuration management (running tools like SCCM) and don't realize the other value of the data they can collect.
• Licensing teams can advise the editions of products that should be packaged for deployment by knowing more about license rights.

Knowing who needs the data can be difficult though—they might be in a different department, and working on completely separate processes. But, making this kind of information available doesn't require the business to restructure or add additional heads—technology can help.

• This information could be published to an enterprise service gateway to allow it to be shared and used by the appropriate teams and systems.
• Discovery data can be imported into a Software License Optimization engine, to link license entitlement to consumption.
• Application packages can be connected to the Application recognition system which can help drive improved recognition and also understand the packages that need more information about licenses.
• Deployments can be linked to license counts so that automated checks can be made at the time of request or deployment to ensure license compliance in an active sense.
• Also by packaging and deploying software with install and remove capabilities, licenses can be proactively reclaimed by understanding application usage. By closely associating the packages with the license counts, IT can detect when they are not being used appropriately and remove the software as soon as it is no longer required. Licenses can be recovered quicker by understanding how they have been used.

Organizations are only going to spend money on these links of information if there are benefits to gain. In these cases there are many strong reasons to do this. Firstly, IT can drive down cost by ensuring compliance during packaging and deployment phases. If organizations never fall out of compliance, they can save money by having fewer vendor audits, and a higher level of confidence in the organization's procurement processes for software. Additionally, this reduces license spend by maintaining smaller pools of licenses. Organizations can also get by with fewer licenses, by closely matching their usage requirements.

Task automation can reduce reliance on help desk and IT staff when employees request software or purchasing of more licenses—this works best when organizations can automate steps like compliance and approval—and the more they know about the Application Identity being deployed, the better.

Finally, having a single version of the truth, for packaging, deployment, licensing and configuration management of the software titles being used will avoid misunderstandings and incorrect usage of the software around the business.

These are great benefits, but this is just a start. In the future this information may also be able to implement further automation into other areas such as server provisioning, migration to VDI or Windows 8 platforms, driving use of tablets (or BYOD) and end user self-service. So for organizations embracing the consumerization of IT, information is power.

App Store Essentials: Creating the Right User Experience

1^st in a series of blogs on the characteristics of a successful enterprise app store

By: Laura Noonan

Think about how easy it is to order an app from iTunes or Google Play. Now compare that to traditional IT software request processes that require cumbersome forms and keep users waiting days or even weeks for the apps they need. It's no wonder business users are screaming for a better approach. And that "better approach" is proving to be a consumer-style enterprise app store.

The trend toward app stores is clear. Gartner, Inc. estimates that by 2017, 25% of enterprises will manage corporate-sanctioned apps on PCs and mobile devices through an app store. So there's a good chance your company is already considering adopting this consumer-oriented approach. If so, you'll be happy to hear that app stores are relatively easy to set up. There are, however, a number of factors that affect app store success. In this App Store Essentials series, we'll explore those factors and provide insight into ways you can ensure that your app store initiative delivers the results you want.

In this first blog of the series, we focus on the huge impact that the user experience has on acceptance and adoption. By incorporating the following attributes into your app store design, you'll create an experience that delights your users and ensures success:

1. Familiar shopping-cart model. Minimize training and speed adoption with a familiar consumer-oriented model in which people browse a catalog, add items to a cart and proceed through checkout.
2. Easy navigation. Incorporate navigational features such as dynamic search based on keywords, titles and descriptions, as well as the ability to browse the catalog based on attributes such as category hierarchy, top-rated items (based on user reviews), most popular items and new items. Customize and present messages that help users find what they need — for example, instructing them on what to do if no matching item is found.
3. Personalized catalog. Don't overwhelm people by including thousands of apps they don't need or aren't authorized to use. Instead, leverage a directory service capability such as Active Directory to automatically identify which applications each user is entitled to access and tailor the catalog accordingly.
4. Convenient bundles. Create a single catalog entry for items that people typically order together. This saves time and eliminates the frustration people feel when they order an item, take delivery and then find out they don't have everything they need to make it work.
5. Alternatives and choices. If your enterprise supports multiple tools and apps for some tasks — for example multiple apps for creating PDF files — include those options in the catalog. Help users make smart choices by indicating which tool is best for various use cases. Give approvers and managers access to this information as well so they can help target the right app for each user.
6. Self-service status check. Keep users happy and reduce help desk calls by providing a quick, easy way for people to monitor request status, including progress toward approval, estimated processing and delivery times, and real-time deployment status.
7. Automated approval and fulfillment. Make sure to implement an automated process that routes requests to approvers and alerts the appropriate people if requests aren't moving along in a timely manner. Once all approvals are in, the store should trigger delivery through your enterprise deployment tool and verify successful installation.
8. Localization. If your enterprise operates in global markets, take advantage of localization features to present catalog descriptions in the local language and prices in local currencies.

With an enterprise app store, you can empower users with a familiar, consumer-like experience for accessing IT services in the workplace. The best news, though, is that you can give users what they want and need while still maintaining security, compliance and cost containment. For more information on maintaining IT control of the app store, watch for the next blog in our App Store Essentials series, "Keeping IT in Charge of Enterprise Software."

"25 pc enterprises to have app stores by 2017: Gartner, CIOL, February 13, 2013, http://www.ciol.com/ciol/news/174419/pc-enterprises-app-stores-2017-gartner/page/1

Why do Companies Standardize their Application Packaging Processes?

By Randy Littleson

I often get asked what drives companies to standardize their application packaging and application readiness processes. I thought the best way to answer this is to give you some real-life examples of what makes this commitment a no-brainer:

One of the largest banks in France needed to prepare their applications for a Windows 7 migration and wanted to implement application virtualization to save time and effort. Challenged with 300 specific applications to prepare for Windows 7 and consider for Microsoft App-V application virtualization, they needed to accelerate and automate the complex process of packaging and converting applications to App-V and to ensure reliable Windows 7 software deployments.

The IT service department for a German Pharmaceutical Retailer with branches across Germany had 30 application packagers needing to deploy enterprise software onto over 1300 desktops and ensure that all users would have access to the same features and functionality. Additionally, the packages were expected to be deployed with no errors. They looked to standardize their application preparation process so that they could package and repackage software quickly and reliably for clients and increase software deployment success rate to >99%.

A national law firm with a small IT department responsible for preparing and managing over 200 applications across 800 desktops was in the process of rolling out a new operating system, moving to VMware's virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), migrating to Microsoft® System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) on the backend, and deploying a new version of Microsoft Office. The team's resources were tapped—they had to repackage everything, consider what and how to virtualize applications, and optimize their SCCM investment—and their current application preparation process was completely ad hoc. They required a solution to help the IT team through the current migration projects and additionally, they needed a solution that would be a best practice standard for routine software deployments. 

These are three very common examples. A typical company is faced with 30% of their applications changing annually. Each of these applications must be put through a standardized Application Readiness process to ensure consistently reliable software deployments. On top of that, most companies are also dealing with migrations, say to Windows 7, or desktop transformation initiatives that utilize application virtualization and/or desktop virtualization—all impacting applications.

For these scenarios and many more like them, companies turn to a standardized process and solution for application compatibility, packaging and preparation such as AdminStudio to increase productivity, reduce IT costs and resource requirements, integrate with SCCM, and quickly convert applications to a virtual format—and ensure reliable application deployments across the enterprise.

A Smart Strategy for Streamlining and Accelerating Windows 7 Migrations

By: Leslie Easter

Everyday more and more companies are making the move to Windows 7. This continues a trend that we saw slowly increase since the Windows 7 release in 2009. As this process has continued, Flexera Software has built up an impressive resume helping our clients make this migration a smooth and hassle-free process. This experience has taught us one valuable thing: companies can do more to minimize the trauma of migration.

Using AdminStudio as a corner stone for migration, Flexera Software augments this software product with a consulting and services know-how to create a full-featured migration solution. Operating system migration is one of the few IT events that touches the daily working experience of every employee. That level of change should not be taken lightly. While a move to Windows 7 and the increased productivity it boasts is attractive, it's not without certain risks.

Gartner recommends 12-18 months of effort to prepare for a Windows 7 migration and at a cost of $2000 to $3500 per application, moving to Windows 7 isn't going to be quick or cheap. Still there are things that you can do to keep the cost down and at the same time minimize the risk of migration. Flexera Software is offering a free on-demand webinar to assist you in maximizing the success of your Windows 7 migration.

Integrating Application Usage Management Business Processes across the Software Lifecycle

By: Randy Littleson

Enterprises today are investing heavily in applications, with software licenses accounting for as much as 35 percent of total IT spend. Driving maximum usage of and optimizing return on application investment has become a business imperative. As simple as that seems, enterprises face many obstacles in their efforts to use software assets effectively and gain maximum value from them. Thousands of applications may be spread across multiple business units and geographies. Those applications change constantly as IT rolls out upgrades, patches and new applications. Moreover, licensing terms, conditions and use rights differ from one application type and vendor to another.

The continuous stream of evolving and emerging technologies only adds to the problem, placing intense pressure on the IT staff to deploy new operating systems and implement self-service models to give users convenient application access. More recently, users have begun demanding that the enterprise adopt the emerging bring-your-own-device (BYOD) model in which employees access enterprise applications using personal devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Addressing these challenges effectively will be essential to successfully guiding the enterprise through crucial technology initiatives that include operating system migrations, desktop transformation, consumerization of IT, virtualization and cloud computing, and the management of compliance risk and software spend.

The Software Lifecycle

Global research firm IDC detailed the software lifecycle as illustrated below—starting with the application producer creating the software (including the development of the software installer), configuring it based on how they wanted to package/price their product and then entitling and delivering the software to their consumer, the enterprise. Once purchased, the enterprise must install/deploy the application and then control and manage it post-deployment.

The install phase of the lifecycle is managed by an Application Readiness process that helps enterprises confidently discover, assess compatibility, model, manage and package applications for reliable deployment on-premises, to virtualized and cloud-based environments, and mobile devices. This process ends with deployment via an enterprise-wide solution such as Microsoft's System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) or an enterprise app store such as App Portal.

The control and optimize phase is where the enterprise focuses on Software License Optimization to gain visibility and control of IT assets, reduce ongoing software costs, and maintain continuous software license compliance.

Integrating Business Processes

While each of these business processes is essential in its own right, unique and incremental value is achieved by integrating them for flawless management across the software lifecycle. It is only through this integration that, for example, application packagers can seamlessly handoff applications directly from their toolset to the enterprise app store. Likewise, through process and product integration, end users requesting applications from the app store can see whether or not software licenses are available and proper approval processes can be automated in the event they are not.

Through this unique integration, IT is able to drive greater application usage and value from software investments while meeting their needs to ensure reliable application deployments, manage application compliance risk, and optimize software spend in a cost effective way.

For more information, please read the following:

• Press release: Flexera Software App Portal Release Now Integrated with Software License Optimization and Application Readiness Solutions to Ensure Optimized Software Spend and Continuous Compliance
• White paper: Getting Maximum Value from Enterprise Software with Application Usage Management

Secrets to a Successful Enterprise App Store

By: John Juris

Gartner, Inc. recently weighed in on the future of enterprise app stores, reporting that by 2017, 25% of enterprises will manage corporate-sanctioned apps on PCs and mobile devices through an app store.

The growing importance of enterprise app stores isn't surprising. End users have been pushing hard on enterprise IT to make business apps available in a consumer-friendly way along the lines of iTunes and Google Play. What's more, savvy IT organizations have realized that users aren't the only ones who stand to benefit. Per Gartner, successful enterprise app stores can "increase the value delivered by the application portfolio and reduce the associated risks, license fees and administration expenses."

The key word here is successful. Online storefronts are relatively easy to set up. But for a store to be successful, a lot has to happen behind the scenes. So what are the secrets to success? Here's what tops the list:  

1. Freedom of choice doesn't mean giving up control. If your app store presents people only with apps they're authorized to request, they get what they want and IT stays in charge.
2. Approval workflows should offer extensive granularity and flexibility so you can control which app requests require approval, who can approve requests and what routing structure to use. Conditional routing based on cost, license availability, security groups, organizational unit and other factors is also a big plus. Automated workflow shrinks app delivery times so users don't have to wait weeks to get what they need
3. A self-service portal has to create a consumer-oriented shopping experience that speeds order processing and improves accuracy. The shopping experience should include presentation of catalog items in local languages and local currencies. Organizing apps by category speeds navigation and bundling items that are typically ordered together simplifies ordering.
4. Tying your app store into your app readiness process helps keep store shelves stocked with apps that are ready for immediate delivery to the user's device of choice.
5. Data is the secret sauce. When users request an app, the store has to know how many licenses you own, how many are in use and how many are available. With real-time access to that information, at the time an employee requests an application, your store can automatically reserve licenses when users submit requests, maintain continuous license compliance and trigger procurement processes when additional licenses are needed.
6. License reclamation and software leasing options give you a real edge in optimizing usage and spend. With ready access to software usage data, the app store solution can identify apps that are installed but not being used, and reclaim those licenses to eliminate overbuying. Software Leasing gives users access to an app for a limited period of time, after which the license is reclaimed. It's ideal for project-based environments where application needs change as employees move from one project to another.
7. Connecting your app store to other enterprise systems brings an even higher level of efficiency and automation to your request and delivery process. By integrating with IT service management systems such as BMC Remedy, ServiceNow and Microsoft Service Manager, you can incorporate the app store into your service management processes to ensure that software delivery complies with corporate policies and external regulations. Integration with workflow solutions such as Microsoft System Center 2012 Orchestrator or Flexera Software Workflow Manager enable automated processes that span multiple systems.
8. Successful app stores don't operate in a silo. They work in conjunction with application readiness, and software license optimization solutions as part of an overall Application Usage Management strategy that addresses the entire application lifecycle.

Keep these secrets in mind, and you'll create a successful enterprise app store that delivers the self service and easy access users are demanding while enabling IT to maintain control of the approval process and software license compliance. Best of all, you'll automate the entire request and delivery process to reduce the burden on IT while slashing the amount of time it takes to process app requests and deliver productivity-enhancing apps to your users.