COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Nov. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Secunia, a leading provider of IT security solutions that enable businesses and private individuals to manage and control vulnerability threats and member of the Microsoft System Center Alliance program, today announced the general availability of the Secunia System Center 2012 Configuration Manager plugin, allowing IT and security teams to do all their patching directly from the System Center 2012 Configuration Manager console.

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"With the plugin we allow IT and Security teams to further streamline their patch management processes. The ability to work in just one console, Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, instead of also having to log in to a separate console – in this case the Secunia CSI – to do your day-to-day work, has long been on the wish list of many of our customers, which is why we have developed the solution. What we have done is make the Secunia Package System - including all the preconfigured patches that come with Secunia CSI - available directly in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager so that patching third-party programs is now easier than ever before," said Morten R. Stengaard, Director of Product Management and Quality Assurance at Secunia.

The plugin is in fact the third generation of Secunia's integration with Microsoft System Center. In 2010, Secunia CSI 4.1 integrated with Windows Server Update Services and System Center Configuration Manager to allow users to easily deploy third-party patches. Then, in CSI 6.0 earlier this year, Secunia removed the dependency and need to deploy an additional CSI agent in the network enabling users to use the System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Software Inventory agent to do the scanning. Now, with the new plugin, Secunia have accomplished what they set out to do:                                                                        

"System Center 2012 Configuration Manager helps you empower people to use the devices and applications they need to be productive, while maintaining corporate compliance and control," said Andrew Conway, director, Enterprise Client, Microsoft.  "By introducing its plugin, Secunia enables IT and security teams to use a single console for both the Secunia security patch management solution and System Center 2012 Configuration Manager."

Asked what prompted Secunia to develop the plugin, Morten R. Stengaard explains that the project was initiated based on feedback from customers and Microsoft MVPs (Most Valuable Professionals), who saw the "two consoles approach" as an impediment. Secunia engaged in further dialogue with the customers, the community, and stakeholders and have created a solution that delivers unique benefits to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager users:

First of all, the One Console approach enables users to control their patch management from any machine that has the plugin installed together with Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. This means increased flexibility for IT and Security teams.

And secondly, but just as important, a Dynamic Update Catalogue provides security patches out-of-the-box, and these patches are specifically relevant for the infrastructure of the organization. This relevance is possible because the patches are based on the results of the scan Secunia CSI performs, which tells Secunia what particular programs and systems are relevant to patch for the organization in question.  

"Imagine going to the library and working your way through all the books on the shelves to find the ones that are new and of interest to you. Now imagine a library that holds only the books you are interested in. That would be so much easier. And that is what the CSI can offer in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: No noise, no clutter – just pure, relevant information that is actionable, and patches that are ready to be deployed," explained Morten R. Stengaard.

About Secunia
Founded in 2002, Secunia is the leading provider of IT security solutions that help businesses and private individuals globally manage and control vulnerability threats, risks across their networks, and end-points. This is enabled by Secunia's award-winning Vulnerability Intelligence, Vulnerability Assessment, and Patch Management solutions that ensure optimal and cost-effective protection of critical information assets.

Secunia plays an important role in the IT security ecosystem, and is the preferred supplier for enterprises and government agencies worldwide, counting Fortune 500 and Global 2000 businesses among its customer base. Secunia is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.

For more information, please visit secunia.com

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SOURCE Secunia

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