Dell KACE Launches SMB Asset Management Solution

Dell KACE is launching an SMB-focused management appliance it has dubbed the M300 Asset Management Appliance. The goal? Relieve the headaches associated with inventory demands. If your SMB’s IT department needs a little productivity pick-me-up, read on to learnhow Dell KACE is planning on providing that much-needed IT relief …

Although specifically designed for software license compliance, the M300 Asset Management Appliance can do so much more than just software and hardware inventory. It includes a plethora of other management tools, including hardware peripheral detection, asset tracking and ensuring connected machines conform to corporate security policies. Dropping that appliance into the data center puts all of that information squarely in an IT admin’s lap, and thus, can keep the IT admin at his seat. But that’s not the only lap-related news from KACE — according to Dell KACE, the solution costs about the price of (an expensive) laptop, at just under $2500.

The new KACE appliances are designed to be deployed with little configuration needed to start reporting back on a customer’s network in short time. This helps IT admins mitigate a swath of manual inventory management and gives IT admins a better at-a-glance view of what a company assets are. That can mean cash savings on discovering previous unknown peripherals or unused licenses. The M300 also can also ensure connected computers in the work environment are not running  “rogue” software, or are not “rogue” devices altogether.

Dell KACE stressed the affordability and ease of use of the KACE M300, citing figures that show “50 percent of IT managers interviewed still used spreadsheets to manually track IT assets.” As a former help desk technician, I can say from experience that tracking software licensing and hardware assets was a painful mix of photocopied lists, labeling machines, Sharpie markers and masking tape. There were budget constraints, so a spreadsheet would have been an upgrade and Dell KACE M300 would have been a godsend.

The M300 has a peak of 200 nodes, and comes with a one-year warranty. Dell is also offering KACE technology in a virtual form, urging small businesses to jump on board, especially those within the 50-200 employee range. As expected, Dell KACE is available through the channel, so Dell KACE channel partners may want to reach out to previously unreachable SMBs with this solution. When we last checked in with Dell KACE, it was April 2011, and KACE was focusing on driving more partner growth with its K1000 appliance, but the price tag was a steep $89,000. With the M300 in its portfolio, Dell KACE may be positioned to grab the attention of VARs and MSPs serving the SMB community.