IS&T offers IT staff across the University the ability to automate commonly performed tasks, such as inventory and asset management, software distribution, and patch management, through a centrally maintained KACE asset management system.

Benefits

IT support staff will save time and improve the accuracy of their inventories by automating the collection of information required by their department heads or deans and for compliance with internal or external audits. Staff can ensure that desktop systems have current versions of software and the latest patches. Accurate information allows staff to provide more informed support and can help prevent problems. Using a central system maintained by IS&T relieves departments of the costs and responsibilities associated with individually purchased services.

Key Features

• Inventory - Automatically collect information about desktop and notebook computers
• Software Distribution - Remotely install software on included machines, with or without the owner's interaction
• OS and Software Patching - Push patches for Windows and Mac OS, as well as major applications such as Microsoft Office, Mozilla Firefox, the Adobe Flash Plugin, and Java
• Reporting - Consolidate, analyze, and sort any information gathered on included machines, as well as any manually tracked information
• Scripting - Push scripts to any included machines, regardless of OS, and view ‘immediate’ results

What to Expect

This service normally will be available 24 by 7 except for standard change windows, as described in IS&T’s standard policies, procedures, and schedules for making changes.

Requirements

• Locally designated administrators will be responsible for managing their own environments
• Administrators must adhere to BU’s Information Security Management Guidelines
• A small agent needs to be installed on each managed computer

Getting Started

• IT groups can request a dedicated area on one of IS&T’s VMware-hosted KACE servers
• Contact us for more information