Overview

Today, nearly 89% of all IT spending is directed at operational expenses, many associated with trying to keep pace with these challenges. IT managers rely primarily on software-only solutions to provide the functionality necessary to manage their desktop PC fleet in hopes of driving down these operational costs. Common functionality from these vendors include: asset tracking, patch management, system migration tools, software delivery, security management, and remote control capabilities. Yet these software-only solutions have limitations. Most notably, these solutions require the operating system to be up and running, resulting in significant limitations to the effectiveness of these solutions.

Intel Active Management Technology introduces hardware and software-based capabilities to the Intel platforms to address the above limitations. Intel AMT offers enterprise IT the ability to remotely and securely manage Intel AMT-enabled networked clients without requiring the operating system or power to be on.

To accomplish the remote and secure management, Intel AMT uses a direct network connection that "taps" off of the operating system's network connection or establishes its own network connection through its TCP/IP firmware stack. That network connection is known as the Out Of Band (OOB) channel.

This capability solves three of the top IT challenges characterized by Intel as Discover, Heal and Protect:

1. Discover - Know what hardware systems and what software licenses are deployed (asset management)
2. Heal - Reduce downtime and the number of desk-side visits (total cost of ownership)
3. Protect - improve the ability to prevent and respond to malware (total cost of ownership)

Benefits

End User - Increased productivity

· Apply software updates overnight
· Remotely update anti-virus and anti-spyware software
· Minimize down systems through additional protection against malware attacks
· Remotely diagnose systems that don't boot or whose hard drive is damaged
· Remotely fix or rebuild software image

IT - Reduced operational expenses associated with managing the client install base

· Provide an accurate picture of what systems are installed in the enterprise
· Monitor what software licenses are actually installed and to eliminate fees for licenses not being used
· Diagnose and repair remotely, thus reducing time, resources and total maintenance costs
· Mitigate the effects of a software attack by preventing the proliferation of a virus from an infected client
· Reduce electricity costs because Intel AMT-enabled systems can be remotely managed without being powered on
· ISVs / OEMs / Managed Service Providers - Opportunity for increased product differentiation and lower support costs
· Accurately identify the software version installed to reduce support call volume and duration
· Remotely diagnose and repair without return, reducing warranty support costs and ensuring a better customer experience
· Anti-virus and anti-spyware ISVs
· Have a greater confidence that the signature data files have not been compromised by hackers
· Reduce costs of downloading signature data files because of the more secure environment

Developing Applications that take advantage of Intel AMT

Intel AMT can be utilized by several types of applications such as security and other management agents, firewalls, and hardware & software inventory tracking to help IT improve asset management, reduce downtime, and minimize desk side visits. Intel also provides a number of resources for developing application for Intel AMT.

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