MAP Toolkit 9.0 Beta now available!
MAP Toolkit 9.0 Beta now available!
The beta of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit version 9.0 is now available. This beta release of the MAP Toolkit helps increase the agility and cost effectiveness of deploying the latest Microsoft technologies. It also enhances usage tracking to include accounting for Remote Desktop Services as well as Server and Cloud Enrollment licensed deployments. MAP 9.0 beta additionally helps organizations assess their environment for Office 2013 and Office 365, track usage of Windows Server 2012, Lync Server 2013, SharePoint Server 2013, Exchange Server 2013, System Center Configuration Manager 2012, and SQL Server 2012. The Windows Azure assessment report has also been updated to include the latest Azure sizing.
New Server and Cloud Enrollment scenario helps to simplify adoption
Server and Cloud Enrollment (SCE) is a new offering under the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement that enables subscribers to standardize broadly on one or more Microsoft Server and Cloud technologies. The MAP Toolkit 9.0 features an assessment scenario to identify and inventory SCE supported products within an enterprise and help streamline enrollment.
New Remote Desktop Services Licensing Usage Tracking scenario creates a single view for enterprise wide licensing
With an increase in enterprises deploying Remote Desktop Services (RDS) across wider channels, RDS license management has become a focus point for organizations. With the new RDS Licensing scenario, the MAP Toolkit rolls up license information enterprise-wide into a single report, providing a simple alternative for assessing your RDS licensing position.
Support for software inventory via Software ID tags now available
As part of the Microsoft effort to support ISO 19770-2, the MAP Toolkit now supports inventory of Microsoft products by Software ID (SWID) tag. SWID enhanced reports will provide greater accuracy and assist large, complex environments to better manage their software compliance efforts by simplifying the software identification process and lowering the cost of managing software assets.
Improved Usage Tracking data collection for SQL Server Usage Tracking scenario
As part of our ongoing improvement initiatives, Usage Tracking for SQL Server 2012 has been enhanced to use User Access Logging (UAL). UAL is a standard protocol in Windows Server 2012 that collects User Access information in near real time and stores the information in a local database, eliminating the need for log parsing to perform Usage Tracking assessments. UAL vastly improves the speed and helps to eliminate long lead times for environment preparation associated with running Usage Tracking assessments.
Download the MAP Toolkit 9.0 now!
Not already a part of the MAP Toolkit beta community? Do you know someone who would be interested in participating in this beta? Use the following link to register for the MAP Toolkit beta program (requires a Microsoft Live ID):
https://connect.microsoft.com/site297/InvitationUse.aspx?ProgramID=1668&InvitationID=MAP-B8H8-KMJ2