Four Minute Mile

Dell Makes The KACE

It's been 90 days since Dell Acquired KACE and I'm pleased to report that things are rocking! 

KACE customer acquisition was growing quickly before the acquisition.  Now, it's downright turbo-charged.

Under the Dell|KACE banner we are expanding rapidly all over the globe and investing heavily in all aspects of the business.  Our ability to deliver extraordinary value to customers continues; but, with expanded reach, we're reaching far more new customers each quarter.

If you're in the market for a systems management platform that's both easy to use and extremely powerful, there's no better choice than the KACE appliances.  As analysts like Gartner will tell you, KACE is measurably faster to deploy and easier to use than the alternatives and, therefore, delivers on its promise to save you the most time and money in the systems management market. 

Getting a Jumpstart on Desktop Virtualization

Virtual desktops, VDI, desktop virtualization, application virtualization... what does it all mean?  What are the benefits?  And, where do I begin?

These are all valid questions. 

In our view at KACE (www.kace.com) all of these technologies (to the extent they are different) share a common lineage in terms of their goals and objectives.  They are focused on how to make desktop application environments easier to manage and more accessible and dynamic for end-users.

If those are the goals, then one must consider the cost and effectiveness of any given approach to satisfy those goals.  Many organizations talk about virtualizing entire desktops environments but the challenges are clear and, quite possibly, avoidable.  In order to virtualize the entire desktop you need fail-proof networks, high bandwidth, expensive virtualization technology, deep expertise and a penchant for working on the bleeding edge of technology.  And for what?  The ability to stream a desktop and centralize management on a single server (or cluster).   Sounds like a concentration of risk and recipe of disaster.

What if I told you that you could get all of the benefits (e.g., easier application management, more accessible and dynamic endpoint environments, centralized OS management) without spending a lot and without living on the bleeding edge and centralizing all your risk. 

Sounds appealing? 

If so, check out our new KBOX application virtualization offering called KACE Virtual Kontainers.  Application virtualization technique takes virtualization technology and applies it specifically to application and end point management.  Customers benefit in many ways.  First, they can say goodbye to Windows installer repackaging.  Second, they can dramatically improve the stability and manageability of the underlying OS.  Third, end users get the applications when and where they need them in a high performance way.  And, fourth, IT organizations avoid reinventing the wheel and taking on un-necessary risks.

Take a closer look at KACE Virtual Kontainers and find out how you can streamline your IT operations.

Tech Populism Storms IT Shops

Since 1974, Burger King has told you that you can “have it your way.” But since when has your company’s IT department told its employees that they can have it their way when it comes to their computing needs?

Back in the old days, employees showed up to work and were given the standard issue khaki-colored PC tower, monitor, keyboard and mouse – no ifs, ands, or buts. And most employees didn’t have a problem with this because they viewed their work computers as an instrument for getting the job done and not much else. In today’s world, however, IT departments have to deal with increasingly more frequent requests (and sometimes demands) from employees to incorporate their own hardware and software into the workplace. They want their sleek MacBook Pros, addictive iPhones, and ubiquitous online social networks, and they want to sync them together on their own terms and not be told what to do by IT as long as they get their jobs done.

This trend has been dubbed tech populism and represents the shift that we see occurring all around us in the 21st century economy: innovation driven by the demands of users, decentralization, and a more egalitarian access to resources. Now that we can run Windows on Apple hardware and multiple platforms on one Windows Machine, there is even more pressure on management to allow employees to bring their home computers to work or their work computers home.

The benefits of this type of arrangement are easy to spot – increased productivity and higher job satisfaction, to name a few – but as I write this I can imagine all of the readers who work in IT shaking their heads in unison. Heterogeneity in the computing workplace is never an easy thing for the professionals who strive to manage these resources.

Let’s say that you are an administrator of a medium-sized enterprise that has recently decided to allow Macs in the workplace. How do you plan on regulating security on employee-owned notebooks? What about managing your licensing and compliance needs? Can your systems management solution even recognize Macs, let alone allow for remote software deployment?

KACE is equipping IT organizations with the tools that they need to cope with tech populism.  Application virtualization, cross-platform management and platform independent imaging and application deployment are all part of the KBOX Family of Systems Management Appliances.  When it comes to quickly inventorying and managing heterogeneous environments in the workplace, managing licenses across different platforms and version numbers and even managing power utilization, there is no systems management solution that is as comprehensive, easy to use and affordable as KBOX.  

If you have a few extra minutes, I would also highly recommend that you check out our CTO's webinar about the KBOX’s ability to manage tasks across platforms, or skim over a very relevant case study. Although systems management may never be quite as simple as choosing whether or not you want pickles on your Whopper, I can promise you that the KBOX will save you enough time finally be able to leave the office to go out and get one.

Lipstick on a Pig: Beware of the False Appliance

  

The old adage goes, "you can put lipstick on a pig but, at the end of the day, it's still a pig". 

Founded in 2003, KACE has revolutionized the systems management market by focusing on one simple idea -- how to save customers time and money relative to the alternatives.  We've broken new ground in many areas; however, one of our key calling cards and most striking innovations is delivering systems management in an appliance format (be it a physical or virtual appliance).

The value delivered to customers has been incredible:

+ Deploy in days not months
+ Train over the phone in hours
+ Backup automatically
+ Automated upgrades for the entire solution (e.g., firmware, database, application, patch)
+ Purchase and support from one vendor
+ No prerequisite databases or other components
+ Fine-tuned performance from a single box
+ Security hardened, complete solution
+ Extraordinary reliability
+ All-in-one, web-based console
+ Guaranteed hardware compatibility
+ Optional Virtual Appliance
+ Simple license key to expand functionality over time
+ and more

If you run across companies pre-installing old-school systems management products on generic hardware, then beware of lipstick-wearing pigs.  Simply preloading hardware does not offer the same benefits as an appliance. 

Think about it... You can load software onto a PC that records television, but that doesn't mean you will have the award-winning TiVo experience.   You can play digital music music on your Samsung phone, but that doesn't mean you'll have the award-winning iPod experience.  And, you can pre-load an old-guard systems management product on a server, but that doesn't mean you'll have the award-winning KBOX experience.

Beware of the false appliance.  Ask for KBOX by name and save time and money with the only true appliance for managing the complete lifecycle for your Windows, Mac and Linux desktops, laptops and servers.

Businesses Like XP No Matter How Bad Microsoft Says It Is...

I noticed this piece on Slashdot which points out a marketing document on Microsoft's own website which is essentially an indictment of Windows XP.  How to Justify a Desktop Upgrade attempts to explain why customers should upgrade to Vista.  However, things go wrong when the author spends all of his or her time blasting XP. 

The commentary on Slashdot reads...

"The most intriguing thing about this tutorial is its implicit rejection of Microsoft's older technology..  Just a few years ago Microsoft was pitching the world on how secure and cool XP was.  Now it's telling us largely the opposite, implying that XP is a security threat, costs too much to run and so on.  With Microsoft Marketing against itself, perhaps the Mac and Linux camps can simply wait for Microsoft to self-destruct?" 

You know you've got a product mis-fire when your upgrade campaign is tantamount to a smear campaign against an earlier version (XP in this case).  Shouldn't the top reason to switch be some new feature or new capability that everyone wants?   Wouldn't most software companies offer the upgrade for free to paying customers if the new product simply fixed problems with the prior model? 

In light of this it's not surprising then that Vista roll-outs are stymied even in light of recently announced Vista Service Pack 1.  King Research recently completed a study (sponsored by KACE) that included interviews with almost 1200 IT professionals.  The conclusion...?  Less than 10% of companies surveyed ever expect to have Vista fully deployed... EVER.  Whether XP, Vista, Windows 7, Mac, Linux or other, in the future they'll all run side-by-side in the enterprise.  What a huge opportunity for companies like Apple who have mastered the art of delivering innovative products (e.g., iPhone, iMac, Mac Book) that businesses are clamoring to get their hands on -- not actively trying to avoid. 

It's also an opportunity for companies like KACE.  Our KBOX products help IT professionals save time and money managing Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh and Linux computers.  Our products are innovative in terms of their ease-of-use qualities and affordable price point.  And, that makes world-class systems management accessible for companies of all sizes.  Moreover, our products continue to evolve and expand offering our new and existing customers the best systems management solution in a package that keeps getting better over time (without a Microsoft-style "buy-it-again" upgrade required).

I invite you to visit our website and view our flash demonstration (click view demo at upper-right of this page).  I guarantee that once you do, you'll recognize why KACE and our KBOX products are garnering so much attention in the market and winning prestigious awards such as Windows IT Pro Most Innovative Product, Gartner Cool Vendor, EMA Rising Star, Redmond Editor's Choice and Network World Top Company to Watch.  And, if you're a skeptic, don't take it from us, our website features almost 30 customer testimonial videos that tell the story like we never could on our own.

Innovation Over Lunch

Some readers may recall my first blog post where I discussed various companies that have achieved tremendous success by being innovative in just one or two particular aspects of their business, rather than trying to break completely new ground.  Companies like McDonalds, Google and Starbucks all fit into that category.  Sometimes I'm surprised by the excitement that innovation creates and the unexpected sources that it comes from.

Last week, all of the employees at KACE headquarters in Mountain View, California were enjoying a company-wide lunch.  As I grabbed a plate, I found myself struggling to locate which container held the spoons. “How could the caterers deliver soup to a whole office of employees yet neglect to provide spoons?” I grumbled out loud to nobody in particular. One of our salespeople chuckled and replied, “Take a closer look at your plate, Rob.” Sure enough, glued to three of the four edges of the plate were my spoon, fork, and knife.  Not only did they come conveniently packaged to the edge of the plate, but each of the three utensils featured a notch in the middle of the handle that allows you to refasten it to the plate if you decide to take a break from eating.  There was even a notch that could support a wine glass -- too bad there wasn't a bottle of Longboard Syrah in sight!

I thought, “What a cool idea!”  Leave it to a company with a clear focus.  CaterBrands' self-proclaimed focus on convenience is paying off and showing well in their product.  CaterBrands didn’t invent plastic disposable lunch accessories, but they are breaking new ground with products that deliver extreme convenience for the end-user.  In this case, that value comes from not having to juggle all sorts of utensils in your hand while you’re trying to serve yourself, and from making the dining experience a bit more pleasant and easier to manage once you finally get a chance to sit down and eat. The innovation comes less from what the product offers (it's a plate, fork, knife and spoon), but the convenient design of the product.

This -- of course -- reminds me of what we've been working toward with our KBOX Systems Management Appliances. We knew that we could develop a product that had lots of features and capabilities and, yet, we knew we'd need more.  We knew we had to focus on something special for our customers -- ease-of-use, all-in-one, low cost of ownership are our calling cards.  Through Appliance-based Software Delivery, we have achieved these design goals and, consequently, we're taking market share from the other guys and we're saving our customers a tremendous amount of time and money.

Sometimes it can be very hard to see the opportunities that exist to create value where none existed before. Our minds are wired to take it for granted that catered lunches will come with a stack of plates and three separate cartons filled with knives, forks, and spoons. And although most of us don't enjoy the balancing act of having to manage a plate full of slippery utensils before we even arrive at the food, we get conditioned to the inconvenience until a product like the CaterPlate comes around and presents a superior alternative.

For busy IT professionals, the headaches that they experience with difficult and expensive systems management products like Microsoft, LANDesk, and Altiris are still on their minds, but they may not yet realize that there is a better way. If your systems management solution is causing you more problems than it solves, it might be time to make the switch. Click here to meet some of the people who have implemented the KBOX in their IT environments and used it to save their compay time and money.

Making the KACE for Strong Partner Alignment

KACE is a rising star that's making waves in the market for products that provide laptop, desktop and server systems management. 

We're succeeding in the market because our KBOX products are tailor-made for companies that are looking for an elegant, easy-to-use, all-in-one solution for desktop and server systems management.  Our customers also value the fact that the total cost of ownership for our solutions is significantly less than our core competitors.

While we have many customers in the Fortune 1000, that message rings especially clear for mid-sized enterprises.  So, it's not surprising that our latest go-to-market partner MPC Computer Corporation is seeing so much success selling our KBOX products.  The KACE message is perfectly aligned with their customer-base. 

MPC published a great blog entry today explaining why this alignment is so strong and why it has driven significant customer traction for both companies.  Rather than repeat their blog here... I'll just link to it so that you can see for yourself.  It's a great read.  Click here to read the MPC blog entry.

Apple, Apple Everywhere: Will Apple and others finally break down Windows?

The Apple logo is showing up everywhere these days, including this little guy's birthmark!  With Apple's consumer assault led by iPod and iPhone, Macintosh computers are now finding their way back into enterprise and mid-market businesses at a surprising rate. 

At KACE, at least 30% of our employees now use Macs full time and we're not alone.  Rumors continue that Salesforce.com will soon go Mac enterprise-wide and InfoWorld recently ran an article claiming that "No" is no longer a defensible IT strategy when it comes to Macs.  The case for Mac is bouyed by headlines like those listed above and users clamouring for slick new machines.  Importantly, Microsoft itself may be pushing users to Mac in record numbers.  In trying to be more Mac-like with Vista (and failing), Microsoft may be unwittingly pushing potential buyers to Apple. It seems almost everyone I know is either trying or buying Mac rather than fight to learn Windows Vista. 

As recently as a two years ago, systems management vendors like KACE could get away with limited or no Mac support.  Those days are over.  KBOX products now feature extensive Mac and Linux support in addition to Windows.  We find that while Macintosh may represent less than 10% of all machines shipped into mid-market businesses, nearly 100% of these businesses have at least a handful of Macs.  So, cross-platform server and desktop management is important now more than ever.  And the critical mass of Macs continues to grow. 

As this trend continues Microsoft's own systems management strategy faces many challenges and risks in building its business.  After all, what rational IT shop would choose a systems management platform that solely supports Windows?   Whether you call it Microsoft SMS, Microsoft Systems Center, Microsoft MOM or Microsoft Systems Center Essentials... you're talking about a vegetable soup of offerings with a Windows only mentality that fails to embrace some of the biggest trends in IT, notably led by Apple, VMWare, RedHat, Ubuntu and others -- not Microsoft.

Last year, KBOX won the Most Innovative Product award at Micrsoft's own Microsoft Management Summit (MMS) tradeshow in San Diego.  This year's event was held in Las Vegas earlier this week.  I'm told by the KACE team that worked our booth at the show that a couple of Microsoft suits walked up to our booth and told us we couldn't exhibit our KBOX products at the show because we compete with the sacred System Center product line.  They wanted us to pack up and leave because we don't integrate with Systems Center... nevermind that we do support Windows and several underlying Microsoft technologies and nevermind that our Appdeploy.com service is the largest free community for Windows systems administrators.  After some push back, Microsoft backed off.  Does this kind of behavior signal that Microsoft is finally feeling threatened?

Will Apple and others finally break down Windows?  Judge for yourself.  As for KACE, our KBOX products will keep delivering on a simple theme... Easy-to-use, systems management appliances that save IT professionals time and money regardless of what platforms or systems they choose.

****

Someone recently (5/30/08) forwarded the following cover story posted in BusinessWeek around the same date that I posted the blog entry written above... coincidentally, it makes many of the same points.

The Mac in the Gray Flannel Suit

   

How Many People Will Select The Same Option As You?

I found this fascinating (some may say geeky) little survey on-line a few weeks ago.  The poll originally appeared on Slashdot called "How Many People Will Select The Same Option As You?"  I'll do a short recap of the poll below, but I definitely suggest that you see it for yourself and read this corresponding write up on Cognitive Daily. 

The poll (displayed on the left) is really more of a riddle.

The idiot in most of us jumps to answer 2.  After all, there are 7 choices and most people fade to 'I don't know so I'll assume it's random'...so, the right answer must be 1/7 = 14.3 = answer #2.  But, if everyone follows similar logic then everyone will answer #2 thereby making answer #6 correct.  Then, of course (as one Slashdot post puts it), the ultimate paradox would be to choose answer #1.  Obviously, this little puzzle contains what Excel would refer to as a circular reference. 

This month, I'll admit that I have only a tenuous link between the anecdote cited above and KBOX... but here it is nonetheless.

Today we released a press release about the number of companies that choose KBOX over Altiris.  It turns out that over 80% of prospective customers who consider both KBOX and Altiris end up choosing KBOX.  This is pretty impressive validation for a company like KACE.  The market for server and desktop systems management has been around for decades.  Yet, a relatively young company like KACE is making waves by offering a product that saves time and money in a package that's easy to use for customers of all sizes (especially the mid-sized enterprise).

How is KACE able to beat up on the big boys?  A lot of it boils down to innovation and focus.  I've written on innovation before.  What's particularly powerful in our "KACE" is that we're combining innovation with market focus.  The market we're after includes hundreds of thousands of companies that have been left without a viable systems management alternative.  They're unwilling to spend the time and money to purchase, integrate, learn and manage a complex, archaic solution like Altiris.  But they do need a solution.  They are willing to pay for a product that solves a critical IT management problem, with an easy to use form factor and an affordable price -- and that is our focus.

If you're shopping for a systems management product check out our video library of customers making the KACE for KBOX.  If you do your homework, you'll quickly find out why so many customers are making the same choice -- the choice for KBOX.

Customers Make the KACE

KACE sells systems management appliances that save customers a tremendous amount of time and money.  For us, the notion of saving our customers time and money is more than just lip-service... it's a core part of our corporate fabric.

When we make product design decisions we think about saving customers time and money.  When we work on service and support workflow we think about saving our customers time and money.  When we evaluate our order processing activities or examine our logistics operation or organize our user conference... we think about saving our customers time and money.

From a product persepective we've centered our design efforts around saving our customers time and money; we believe that we do that better than any other player in our space.  Moreover, we've isolated four specific areas of differentiation where our KBOX product line delivers a powerful punch relative to our competitors such as Altiris, LANdesk and Microsoft:

1. Easiest-to-install and operationalize:
   Minimal pre-requisites, training or services to get up and running
2. Easiest-to-use:
   Extremely intuitive interface and unprecedented approachability for both novices and power users while maintaining industrial grade capabilities
3. All-in-one:
   Complete server and desktop life-cycle systems management in a box from first time systems provisioning to inventory and asset management to application deployment to configuration management to security vulnerability detection and remediation to patching to help desk to reporting and more.
4. Great value and TCO:
   Industrial grade features and unprecedented ease-of-use top plus modest pricing combine to deliver the lowest total cost of ownership in the market -- often a third or less than software-only alternatives.

Of course, we've got the usual assortment of corporate collateral that supports our goal to provide the time and money saving systems management solution; however, the greater proof is in the testimonials that our customers make on our behalf.  If you visit our website, you'll see dozens of customer testimonials and videos.  In particular, this clip (click here) includes some great footage from a variety of different customers talking specifically about how KBOX has saved them time and money.

KACE is breaking new ground in the systems management arena by delivering a solution that saves time and money for companies of all sizes... the proof is in the time and money that our customers are saving every day.