Industry analyst Gartner estimates that 80 percent of the total cost of PC ownership is incurred after purchase, falling somewhere between $7,000 and $13,000 per PC per year. For many IT organizations, there is no higher priority than gaining control of this astronomical cost.
But that’s easier said than done. Here’s why: The needs of IT—for control, standardization, and analysis—often conflict with the needs of users—for flexible solutions, availability, and responsiveness. Over the years IT groups have used various desktop management solutions to tackle the problem, with limited success.
Today, PC lifecycle management (PCLM) provides a cohesive and effective solution. PCLM is the practice of managing end-user systems from purchase to retirement. It covers everything from initial deployment to upgrading, patching, and decommissioning your systems. Though it sounds like traditional desktop management, PCLM is different in one key way: It requires that you integrate your management process with your management product. Without this integration, PCLM will not work.
This white paper summarizes the evolution of desktop management, describes the problems associated with traditional desktop management approaches, and offers guidelines for approaching each stage of the PC lifecycle. As a result, you’ll be able to more effectively preserve your PCLM investment and decrease your long-term PC ownership costs.
Select the PDF link above to read the full paper.