From desktop to server, nearly every major software component of Microsoft's IT portfolio will receive a major upgrade in the next year. And with Microsoft's road map shaping up, businesses should start asking hard questions about which new Microsoft products they should deploy and on what schedule.
While the bevy of upgrades underscores Microsoft's commitment to better integrate its IT offerings, rest assured that you can deploy some of the new Microsoft products without the others. After all, the prospect of upgrading all your Microsoft software at once is daunting, both logistically and financially.
Here is a look at seven highly anticipated Microsoft releases to help your IT organization plan ahead.
Microsoft System Center 2012
Microsoft System Center 2012 may be the first official release we see this year, possibly in Q2. System Center is not a single solution but a suite of server management solutions, including App Controller, Configuration Manager, Data Protection Manager, Endpoint Protection, Operations Manager, Orchestrator, Service Manager, Unified Installer, and Virtual Machine Manager. More than ever, the suite works together to provide a unified control experience within an organization. For a deeper look, check out "A tour of Microsoft System Center 2012."
Microsoft SQL Server 2012
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Microsoft SQL Server 2012 is estimated for Q2 of 2012 as well. With its always-on focus, SQL Server 2012 will feature high availability as a key aspect. Considering the HA focus we've seen with Microsoft server offerings like Exchange in the past five years, it will be interesting to learn how SQL Server can have passive copies of data or even functional secondary copies of data. SQL Server 2012 will also include BI enhancements, support for 64 resource pools, greater CPU usage control, an expanded Power View feature set, and much more.
Microsoft Windows Server 8 is estimated to arrive between Q3 2012 and early 2013, and it has already impressed IT admins who've worked with it. Enhancements include multiserver management, Hyper-V (v3) improvements, live migration of virtual hard disks, new Remote Desktop Services features, File Server Resource Management, a GUI option for Server Core, an explosion of PowerShell cmdlets, an improved AD Recycle Bin, better password policy controls, and more.
Microsoft Exchange 15
Microsoft Exchange 15 is estimated to be released Q4 of 2012, potentially in tandem with other products Microsoft touts as working "better together," such as SharePoint 15, Lync, and Office 15. Pay special attention to what changes may be in store for Exchange's storage architecture and its high-availability feature set, though it's hard to imagine much improvement over the current DAG solution in Exchange 2010. Also of note will be improved integration between Exchange and SharePoint, Lync, and Office, and potentially better hybrid deployments that the company has encouraged with Office 365-hosted Exchange, SharePoint, and Lync.
Microsoft SharePoint 15
SharePoint 15 is estimated to be released Q4 2012 in conjunction with other communication- and collaboration-oriented products, such as Exchange, Lync, and Office 15. Details aren't yet clear in terms of features to expect, although there has been talk of a SharePoint Apps Marketplace that will allow you to buy rather than build aspects of your SharePoint environment. There's also talk of an education app: Office for Education 15. We'll have to wait and see as more info comes to light.
Microsoft Office 15
with Metro as the focus.
Microsoft Office 15 is estimated to be released Q4 of 2012, and while it may not blow the doors off the existing Office 2010, it will be designed to work more closely with newer versions of Exchange and SharePoint for better communication and collaboration. Why deploy a new messaging server and/or collaboration solution if you don't plan on deploying the client applications that have to go along with it? Office 15 sports a new look and feel.
(courtesy:www.infoworld.com)
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