Vista Desktop Licensing Plan Has Its Virtues, Gartner Says

Windows licensing took an evolutionary turn in early September when Microsoft announced two new licensing options under its Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop (VECD) program. The program allows IT administrators to move the OS to other PCs (or Macs) using virtual machine (VM) technology.

This week, Gartner published an analysis on the new licensing, describing the options it provides.

The broader use of VMs through licensing-compliant frameworks is a step in the right direction, according to Gartner. However, because VECD is only available with Microsoft's Software Assurance licensing, the bottom line for business will be relatively expensive.

One option under the new licensing plan allows a VM to be transferred between machines covered under the VECD program for $23 per year. You can also "occasionally" run the VM on a home PC.

A second option enables the VM to be used on machines not owned by the VECD program licensee. This option may be good for organizations that work with temporary or contract employees. Having this capability will cost $110 per user annually, but it allows the VM to be moved after 90 days of installation.

Gartner calls this second option "highly significant" because it allows enterprises to deploy a corporate Windows OS that is not tied to a specific machine. The option will help stimulate innovation in the market, according to Gartner. Still, such licensing "may not be broad enough to meet some users' needs," Gartner added.

Organizations should do a thorough evaluation of network security to determine if it would be more secure, and cost effective, to have employees or contractors using their own machines under this licensing plan, Gartner said. A common scenario might be applying the licensing to employee-owned Macs.

The new VECD program VM licensing options will be available on January 1, 2009, according to Microsoft.

Gartner's analysis on the new Windows desktop licensing can be accessed here.

About the Author

Herb Torrens is an award-winning freelance writer based in Southern California. He managed the MCSP program for a leading computer telephony integrator for more than five years and has worked with numerous solution providers including HP/Compaq, Nortel, and Microsoft in all forms of media. You can contact Herb here.

Featured

  •  laptop on a clean desk with digital padlock icon on the screen

    Study: Data Privacy a Top Concern as Orgs Scale Up AI Agents

    As organizations race to integrate AI agents into their cloud operations and business workflows, they face a crucial reality: while enthusiasm is high, major adoption barriers remain, according to a new Cloudera report. Chief among them is the challenge of safeguarding sensitive data.

  • flowing lines and geometric shapes representing data flow and analysis

    Complete College America Launches Center to Boost Data-Driven Student Success Strategies

    National nonprofit Complete College America (CCA) recently launched the Center for Leadership, Institutional Metrics, and Best Practices (CLIMB), with the goal of helping higher education institutions use data-driven strategies to improve student outcomes.

  • cybersecurity analyst in a modern operations center monitors multiple digital screens showing padlock icons, graphs, and a global map with security markers

    Louisiana State University Doubles Down on Larger Student-Run SOC

    In an effort to provide students with increased access to real-world cybersecurity experience, Louisiana State University has expanded its relationship with cybersecurity solutions provider TekStream to launch TigerSOC, a new student-run security operations center.

  •  floating digital interface with glowing icons, surrounded by faint geometric shapes

    Digital Education Council Defines 5 Dimensions of AI Literacy

    A recent report from the Digital Education Council, a global community devoted to "revolutionizing the world of education and work through technology and collaboration," provides an AI literacy framework to help higher education institutions equip their constituents with foundational AI competencies.