In an earlier article we looked at why a single platform is so important when it comes to managing your IT assets. From coping with third party platforms to not gaining a single view of IT assets, organizations can truly benefit from possessing a single platform.
In this article, we are going to look more closely as to what exactly makes the Certero Platform unique, enabling it to meet the Hardware and Software Asset Management challenges of today and tomorrow.
What makes the Certero Platform unique?
The key lies in the original design of the Certero Management Platform when we separated out the core elements common to each solution across data, user interface, management and reporting. This ensures that we have the key functionality in one platform. Thus, underpinning the subsequent development of specific individual solutions (such as for the desktop, datacenter, mobile etc. or covering specific vendors such as Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, SAP etc.). The single platform approach also makes it simple to develop modifications, enhancements or incorporate new features as IT infrastructures continue to evolve.
Unlike other IT asset management solutions the Certero Platform is legacy free. Why is legacy-free technology so important I hear you ask? Well, the legacy technology inherent and commonplace in today’s IT asset management products causes endless problems when it comes to version upgrades (time, cost, resource, integration etc.). In addition, it never really delivers a cohesive, seamless solution and consistent end-user experience. Certero technology does as it is completely legacy-free, built from the ground-up. This eases the user experience solutions are not bolted together with errors at every turn.
Maximize Flexibility with a Modular Approach
Certero offers a modular approach specifically designed to be able to give customers maximum flexibility, with each element able to stand up and perform in its own right. Once a customer deploys a particular solution element, with each solution element the customer automatically gets access to the Certero Platform . This means they can, quickly and easily, displace other technologies with complementary Certero solutions at their leisure, without high switching costs. It is as simple as activating a license key meaning customers can get up and running in no time at all. All this coupled with ease-of-use, a common user experience, rapid uptake and enhanced reporting, provides a host of efficiency and cost benefits.
The nearest other SAM toolset vendors can do is to offer a portal solution which basically provides a single point of access, but still to multiple, disparate solutions. This means they are having to manage multiple data sources and user interfaces which may not always match up making it difficult to make informed strategic decisions. All this is really doing is adding another layer of complexity in order to solve the problem. In effect, writing another system to try and emulate what a SAM/ITAM Manager does. This additional layer also impedes access to the data that really matters, helping to increase workload and a lack of seamlessness.
Automated SAM to Remove Manual Intervention
Utopia is automated policy-based SAM, the removal of manual intervention; this is Certero’s goal. Customers have two options: go with the oversell and under-delivered toolset vendors (the silver bullet) or go with the tools-agnostic consultancies who utilize manual effort and brain power. Neither is a suitable option and we believe that there is a better way. We sit perfectly centered to let the customer take control and reduce reliance on either tools that don’t work optimally, or specialist consultancies who are point-in-time, incredibly costly and inconsistent.
Certero raises the bar when it comes to SAM technology, offering proper enterprise-level solutions which perform as many activities, normally undertaken by a SAM consultant, as possible. We strive to automate the activity of a SAM expert, thereby placing control in the hands of the customer. SAM expertise is embedded within the Certero Platform, delivering solutions which are highly automated, consistent, accurate and repeatable. This in turn helps to avoid unnecessary asset purchased and streamline the management process.
Big Data and a Single Data Source
A recent IDC report (The Business Value of Software Asset Management, October 2016) highlighted how ‘companies are increasingly relying on the use of big data to drive competitive differentiation, thereby having clear visibility into the locations of data sources, regardless of time and location to ensure that corporate data is both easily accessible and properly secured, which is becoming more and more critical to the business.’
Again here, Certero is perfectly on point, with the Certero Management Platform delivering one single data source, thereby facilitating all the associated benefits of real-time, common view, manageability etc. Additionally customers have fingertip access to all of the dynamic data they need to improve control, manage risk and deliver cost saving benefits.
The benefits do not just end there Certero extents beyond hardware and software asset management and can fully integrate with ITSM tools to provide the richest IT management experience. the Certero Management Platform can give accurate data to resolve service desk issues increasing efficiency.
Certero’s comprehensive business intelligence and reporting engine gives users and decision makers the ability to cut and dice a vast array of highly granular, dynamic data. This in turn facilitates improved planning, management and control, as well as helping to optimize the delivery of business critical services.
Are you looking for a single platform to manage all your IT assets? Get in touch with Certero to find out for yourself the benefits of the Certero Platform.
