A smooth blend: HP links acquired products with homegrown solutions to automate IT management

Hewlett-Packard (HP) has unveiled an integrated set of applications for managing IT operations. This new software suite combines several of HP’s homegrown solutions with technology from companies HP recently acquired.

By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff December 4, 2007

Hewlett-Packard (HP) has unveiled an integrated set of applications for managing IT operations. This new software suite

HP describes the new software suite, called Automated Operations 1.0, as an integrated set of products that automates IT operations across all technology and organizational domains. This eliminates labor-intensive, ad hoc and error-prone manual processes and, in turn, helps IT organizations dramatically lower the day-to-day cost of operations, the company says.

The Automated Operations 1.0 software suite includes the following components:
Business Service Automation : a single platform to automate all IT processes and drive change across applications, servers, networks, storage, and clients. This solution also provides a central configuration management database (CMDB) for reporting, which reduces the cost and risk of change while providing comprehensive audit and compliance capabilities.
Enhanced IT Service Management : helps companies define, deliver and manage business services from inception to retirement. Related services can be purchased offering best practices, blueprints, training, and assessments for IT service management.

“We have been aggressively expanding our software portfolio in the last two years to broaden and deepen our capabilities to help customers improve their top and bottom lines,” says Tom Hogan, senior VP, software, HP. “This relentless focus on customers is paying off, and more customers are choosing HP Software to achieve their business goals.”

The expansion of HP’s software portfolio is fueled in part by the acquisition of vendors such as Peregrine, Mercury, and Opsware. These vendors’ solutions have been integrated with HP’s homegrown solutions to form the Automated Operations 1.0 suite. For instance, the new HP Business Service Automation solution incorporates key data center automation technologies from the acquisition of Opsware and HP’s client automation and storage automation capabilities.

“Business service automation is an opportunity for IT organizations to more closely align with business objectives such as compliance, security, cost reduction, and the delivery of innovative products,” says Stephen Elliot, research director, enterprise management service at Framingham, Mass.-based IDC . “The way that many IT organizations manage enterprise infrastructures is quickly becoming obsolete. These processes are too static, take too long to execute, and lengthen time-to-market cycles. IT organizations must move toward processes and technologies that enable a more dynamic, business-driven impact.”