System management software provides the foundation for major vendor initiatives such as on demand; adaptive enterprise; business service management; business technology optimization; IT service management, including best practices such as ITIL; and utility computing. For IT operations, system management challenges include how to deliver ever-higher service levels to end users while containing costs, justifying ROI, and supporting new technologies. IDC's Enterprise System Management Software service helps product, marketing, and strategic planning professionals understand the market dynamics and opportunities for software tools used by IT professionals and end users for managing computing resources for systems and applications. This service covers operations management, IT help desk, performance monitoring, and event automation for all operating environments, including Windows, Unix, Linux, and mainframe OS. Clients also receive direct access to IDC's top industry experts, who can supply competitive analysis and positioning advice, identify strategic partnering opportunities, assist with speaking to the investment community, provide press quotes, and more.

• Performance and availability management
• System operations software
• Problem management
• Server provisioning

• Service-level and business-service management
• Management of enterprise infrastructure from a business perspective
• Job scheduling, output management, and change and configuration management software
• End-to-end Web performance management
• Server provisioning and management software
• Integration of point solutions into frameworks
• Automation of enterprise management tools
• Requirements for enterprise management software based on end-user surveys
• Management of virtualized environments

Our research addresses the following issues that are critical to your success:

1. What are the revenue and market shares of key enterprise system management software vendors?
2. What are the short- and long-term forecasts for enterprise system management software growth?
3. What is the future outlook for IT spending on key system management software functions?
4. How is virtualization affecting system management?
5. How has output management evolved beyond simple printer management?
6. Which platforms are the most likely to receive performance management spending?

IDC analyzes the strategies, market positions, and future directions of major vendors in the enterprise system management software market. A representative list of these vendors may include:

ASG; Attachmate; BladeLogic; BMC Software; CA; Compuware; Dell; EMC; Fujitsu; Heroix; Hitachi; HP; IBM Tivoli; Integrated Research; Intel; Levi, Ray & Shoup; Macro 4; Managed Objects; Microsoft; Motive; NEC; Novell; Opsware; OTG Software; Quest Software; Raxco; Softek; Symantec/VERITAS; Tidal Software; and UC4.

This service focuses on the following core research. In addition to the insight provided in this service, IDC may conduct additional research on specific topics, or emerging market segments, via research offerings that require additional IDC funding and client investment.

• Worldwide Enterprise System Management Software Forecast and Analysis
• Worldwide Performance and Availability Software Forecast and Analysis
• Worldwide System Operations Forecast and Analysis
• Server Provisioning Forecast
• Enterprise Virtualization Overview
• Vendor Profiles
• Case Studies
• Demand-Side Viewpoints

IDC offers a complete market intelligence solution customized to meet your business requirements. The array of products and services available to you includes:

• The opportunity to have your specific questions answered through personal interaction with industry experts who cover the topics and markets in your service
• Around-the-clock access to our market intelligence on idc.com, IDC's personalized Web experience
• A view of the market's future with 12 months of continuous intelligence about its direction and the reasons behind it, along with actionable advice for taking advantage of existing and emerging opportunities
• Special client discount pricing on purchases of research from other services
• Complimentary admission to IDC's annual Directions conference, where you'll hear our latest forecasts and network with IDC analysts and other industry professionals
• Complimentary invitations to monthly executive telebriefings, interactive forums designed to provide you with insights about research and strategies directly from IDC analysts

To find out how our flexible packaging options can meet your specific business needs, please contact your IDC sales executive.

As a privately held company, IDC believes that our customers are our primary constituency. A large percentage of every revenue dollar is reinvested back into our products, including more analysts, more geographic coverage, and extensive primary research.

Our steady growth over the past 10-plus years reflects our commitment to investing in our customers.