This week, Neocleus and BigFix announced a joint collaboration where BigFix will embed the NeoSphere client virtualization platform into the BigFix Unified Management Platform.
As astute analysts such as Fred Broussard, Rachel Chalmers, Doug Brown and Brian Madden have pointed out; this is a HUGE step forward for the industry. I don’t think it’s hyperbolic to say that managing and securing your PC will never be the same because of it. Why? Simple. This addresses the number one reason for instability on the current PC - the operating system and the fact that you are forced to manage it from within the OS itself. In Windows today, there are anywhere from 8-50 software agents running all the time trying to manage and secure the OS, applications, user state, etc. as depicted in the diagram below. This creates problems for your security and management systems because they are forced to compete for resources at the hardware, OS and state levels. They are also vulnerable to any attack or failure within Windows itself.
Current Windows Architecture, with Agents embedded in the OS
In a terrific post today, Amrit Williams, the BigFix CTO, explains why moving the PC management and security system OUTSIDE of the core OS (in most cases Windows) into a protected layer creates the next-generation “enlightened” systems management and security tools. We couldn’t agree more and have created the NeoSphere platform to allow ISVs such as BigFix a way to easily snap client virtualization into their broader offerings. Our stance is that we are good at client virtualization and have the strongest platform on the market. We understand that others, such as BigFix, have excellent products that customers have spent years deploying. So, the goal was to create distruptive Type 1 Client Virtualization technology that didn’t disrupt IT. The BigFix licensing deal and subsequent partnerships will help make this a reality.
The "Enlightened" PC - Security, Management and Help Desk Agents running outside the OS
