LPI Introduces Windows Home Server for SOHO Managed Services
Level Platforms’ Managed Workplace and Microsoft Windows Home Server deliver managed services capabilities to peer-to-peer networks.
LPI Level Platforms Inc, provider of remote monitoring and management software for solution providers and managed services providers, announced that the Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) market is now “open for business” with Microsoft’s Windows Home Server.
While the millions of SOHO businesses have the greatest need for outsourced IT, cost and technology limitations have made this an elusive target for managed services providers. With Level Platforms Managed Workplace installed on a Windows Home Server, solution providers can now deliver end-to-end remote management of workgroup networks including monitoring of all devices (servers, PCs, network devices, printers, IP telephony, and so on), applications running on Windows devices, alerting, asset management, remote control, patch management, back up and security, reporting, local storage, and more.
Many small businesses aren’t yet ready to make the leap to Windows Small Business Server but need the added features, performance, flexibility, and security that result from the deployment of a server on their networks. Now solution providers can deploy Windows Home Server with Managed Workplace and deliver a managed solution for these businesses.
This addition further extends Managed Workplace’s integration with the family of Microsoft Servers that already includes Windows Server 2008 and 2003, Small Business Server 2008 and 2003 (SBS), Essential Business Server 2008 (EBS), and support for Hyper-V, Microsoft’s hypervisor-based virtualization solution.
While the backup and recovery features of Windows Home Server are limited to 10 workstations (including Macs), Managed Workplace running on Windows Home Server can monitor and manage any number of devices operating in a workgroup environment with 100 percent of the functionality of larger sites, including the full www.levelplatforms.com management of the Windows Home Server itself as well as any other servers on the network. Solution providers can also deploy additional remote backup software, specialized applications, and other server based applications on the Windows Home Server to extend their service offerings.
“The SOHO market represents a tremendous opportunity for solution providers looking to provide cost-effective best-in-class support to smaller businesses,” says Peter Sandiford, CEO Level Platforms. “Most of our 3,000 partners worldwide provide managed services to the Windows Small Business Server market. With this announcement we are radically expanding the size of their available market and bringing the benefits of managed services to millions of businesses that were not previously accessible to the service provider community.”