Microsoft Ships Systems Management Server 2003

The patch released by the Redmond, Wash. software giant on Tuesday fixes four vulnerabilities in Windows that affect Internet Explorer, Windows workstation service, FrontPage Server Extensions, and versions of Word and Excel prior to Office 2003, Microsoft said.

While the long-awaited SMS 2003 software is a distribution platform for deploying updates for all types of Windows systems, its role for patch management stands front-and-center in light of the barrage of virus and worm attacks aimed at Windows over the past year.

Systems integrators and ISV partners planning to deploy SMS 2003 include Avanande, Dell, Intrinsic Technologies, Vintela and XcelleNet.

Avanande -- and SMS 2003 customer SAP -- said that SMS 2003 vastly reduces the time to prepare and deploy Microsoft's security patches, OS and application updates into a production environment.

Intrinsic Technologies' top executive also pointed to the software's enhanced patch management, in additon to its improved scalability and laptop support.

"SMS 2003 upgrade is a major step forward from a variety of aspects, but security is interwoven in SMS and it would certainly be viewed as a key conduit for patch management," said Jason Liu, CEO of the Chicago-based management software systems integrator. "SMS 2003 really allows for an environment in which you can deploy updates not just on a one-time basis but in an ongoing way."

Liu noted that partners can use SMS 2003 to write, enforce and automate policies that dictate how and when security patches are deployed, an effort that could inoculate clients from attack.

"The vast majority of patches are available 200 days [before hackers strike]," Liu noted. "The problem is with IT organizations scaling to implement the tool, and processes to deploy the patches."

Microsoft competes with several ISVs in the change management and configuration market, including IBM Tivoli, Computer Associates, Novell and LANDesk.

LANDesk was quick to point out that SMS is optimized for Windows, and not mixed environments like that of his company's namesake solution.

"Systems management technology must offer a depth of functionality such as patch management, software license monitoring, asset management and software distribution in environments that include Microsoft, Linux, Mac and others," said LANDesk Software CEO Joe Wang. "Customers want depth, heterogeneity and ease of use in a unified solution."

One enterprising Microsoft ISV has stepped in to fill that hole. Vintela, of Lindon, Utah, announced on Tuesday its Vintela Management Extensions (VMX) for SMS 2003.

"It takes SMS and extends it to Unix and Linux," said Intrinsic's Liu. "Obviously, SMS is for the Windows environment, but as environments become more complex we recommend SMS and Vitela for Linux and Unix."