BigFix Unveils "IT.Next".

The Only Integrated IT Architecture to Unify Security and Operations for Real-Time Visibility and Control of All Endpoints Across Highly Distributed Computing Infrastructures

EMERYVILLE, Calif. -- BigFix[R] Inc., the only real-time IT service delivery platform that automates and optimizes enterprise computer security and management, today announced its next generation product strategy called "IT.Next," which will provide the framework for large-scale enterprises to optimize IT service delivery and automate and enforce best practice policies and processes. IT.Next will also allow IT departments to leverage existing investments in applications, operating systems, and point tools. As a result, IT organizations can focus their human and technology resources on next generation technology initiatives such as empowering mobility, virtualization, or service-oriented architectures.

Where The Power Lies: The BigFix Platform

Centering on the BigFix Platform, IT.Next is designed for highly distributed and complex IT infrastructures, and is characterized by real-time visibility into managed devices across an entire enterprise infrastructure with the ability to propagate and enforce IT policies immediately and with fine-grained accuracy. The BigFix Platform provides a massively scalable but extremely lightweight communications fabric that distributes the intelligence directly to devices as policies set by IT stakeholders to be self-managing - continuously and in real time.

The BigFix architecture keeps devices in compliance even when the devices are disconnected from the corporate network, thereby ensuring that mobile assets can be managed the same as desktops and servers. Most importantly, because the computer is now self-aware, operators can literally query their entire infrastructure to gain a virtually unlimited amount of knowledge about the state of their networks. Questions such as how individual devices are configured, what software is installed, what processes are running, and how much enterprise-wide backup space is required can now be answered accurately in seconds and minutes instead of hours and days.

The BigFix Platform enhances and improves the effectiveness of legacy systems management solutions such as BMC Marimba, HP Radia, IBM Tivoli, Microsoft Windows SMS/SUS, Symantec-Altiris, etc. BigFix's IT.Next vision represents a profound shift in the way IT organizations perform their functions, and accelerates their transformation from a cost center to a profit enabler.

"Security and management point solutions are dead," said Dave Robbins, president and CEO for BigFix. "It's all about the infrastructure - global organizations demand a consolidated IT service delivery platform that weaves security inextricably throughout all its core operational functions. Success today demands that IT accelerates strategic technology initiatives, ensures zero-tolerance IT policy enforcement, and guarantees high returns on investment. However, these organizations can't start from scratch - tool investments have already been made. To achieve these critical business goals, the tools must be made to work better together. Only BigFix can empower these organizations to attain this end state by delivering the ultimate next generation IT infrastructure today."

Introducing BigFix On-Demand Solution Packs

As part of the IT.Next framework, BigFix has created three focused on-demand solution packs comprised of pre-packaged policy content modules. Implemented via the BigFix Platform, these solution packs address specific management challenges:

* BigFix AntiThreat[TM]: The IT.Next approach to endpoint security provides single-console management and single-agent execution for anti-spyware, anti-virus, and forthcoming personal firewall.

* BigFix IT Policy Enforcement: Consolidates key security configuration management services such as network access control, application execution controls, and security configuration management to effectively eliminate policy compliance drift.

* BigFix Desktop and Server Management: Includes key IT operations management functions including asset management, software license management, power management, software distribution, and patch management to automate routine management tasks, enabling IT organizations to focus on strategic tasks rather than routine drudgery.

"Unlike most security technology companies that use poorly integrated legacy technologies to combat today's threats, BigFix provides a next generation, fully extensible platform that enables large-scale enterprises to have real-time visibility, remediation, and continuous control across their entire organization," said Amrit Williams, CTO for BigFix. "BigFix's platform and solution packs are uniquely capable of enabling organizations to effectively define and continuously enforce enterprise-wide policies, and pinpoint, safeguard, and manage data on the endpoint where it resides, connected or disconnected from the corporate network."

Partner-Friendly By Design

The BigFix Platform is built for partnering via industry standard APIs for easy integration with third-party tools and services such as anti-virus clients, personal firewalls, trouble-ticket systems, and software distribution systems. The real-time BigFix Platform enhances these solutions by enabling unparalleled visibility into their state and operation across the entire enterprise. BigFix IT.Next Alliance partners such as CA, Cisco, Juniper, Microsoft, Provilla, and Skybox Security are working closely with BigFix to deliver new solutions, facilitate endpoint data leak prevention, and enhance security risk management built on the BigFix Platform.

Together with Provilla, the BigFix Data Leak Prevention Extension will provide continuous information protection on a global scale, whether a laptop is stolen or disconnected from the corporate network, used on a public Wi-Fi network, or even if a file has been heavily edited, rearranged, or split. Using the forthcoming BigFix Data Leak Prevention Extension, organizations can keep their intellectual property safe and their customers' information private anytime, anywhere.

BigFix is partnering with Skybox Security to help enterprises maintain secure environments while reducing IT workload through continuous decision-support analysis and 'what-if' simulations. BigFix enables real-time data feeds directly from enterprise endpoints, thereby enabling proactive assessment by Skybox for vulnerabilities, analyze weak network security controls, and mitigate the most relevant risks. Going forward, other third-party extensions will be seamlessly integrated into the BigFix management platform to provide solutions that address specific management tasks, provide an extended range of endpoint security, and more dynamic system management services.

Industry Luminaries Agree On BigFix

Enhancing its product development and technology strategy, BigFix has formed an executive advisory board chaired by security luminary Howard Schmidt, and includes former Department of Homeland Security Cyber Czar Andy Purdy as executive advisor. BigFix has organized several invitation-only regional executive roundtables to discuss emerging security issues, trends, best practices, and technologies. The sessions have included companies such as Alcon Laboratories, Blockbuster, Citigroup, First Horizon, IBM, and Lockheed Martin.

"Organizations are operationalizing almost everything they do as they face significant security, return on investment, and governance compliance challenges, which is why they need next generation visibility and control solutions like BigFix," said Howard A. Schmidt, president and CEO, R & H Security Consulting, LLC, and former special adviser for cyberspace security for the White House. "By providing a high level forum for industry experts and security-focused senior executives to discuss effective preventive measures, business practices, and cutting-edge security technologies, BigFix is empowering organizations with the means to best protect themselves from cyber-criminals and cyber-terrorists."

About BigFix

Founded in 1997, BigFix[R] Inc. offers the only real-time IT service delivery platform that automates and optimizes enterprise computer security and management. BigFix enables large-scale enterprises to continuously enforce IT security, IT policy compliance, and systems management on all computers, anytime, anywhere. Designed for highly distributed and complex IT infrastructures, BigFix delivers real-time endpoint visibility and control through its single-agent, multi-function, on-demand architecture. Its award-winning technology is proven in production at more than 600 companies, government agencies and public sector institutions worldwide, and currently manages over 7,000,000 desktop and mobile clients, workstations, and servers. More information can be found at www.bigfix.com.

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