This document discusses software optimization strategies and services provided by Connection to help organizations improve productivity and save costs. Connection has experts who can assess an organization's current software environment, identify optimization opportunities, and provide solutions such as modernizing infrastructure, supporting new messaging platforms, and optimizing Microsoft software investments. Their services include application migrations, licensing analysis, and helping customers get the best value from their Microsoft software.

1. SOFTWARE
SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES
Optimization Strategies for
Greater Savings and Productivity

2. 1.800.800.0014 www.connection.com/SoftwarePractice 2
Software keeps your organization’s data flowing, documents moving, and phones
ringing. It’s one of the essential ingredients in any efficient, productive workforce.
And in today’s IT world—where strategy is focused on outcomes—there’s no greater
opportunity to improve outcomes than optimizing the software that manages your
data and keeps your users sharing, creating, and collaborating.
That’s why optimizing your software environment can yield big dividends for
productivity, security, and your bottom line. Connection has qualified experts
and decades of experience to help you build the right software solution stack for
your organization—and to keep it optimized over time. Our team can discern the
factors that should drive the architectural considerations behind your software
investments, and provide the insights and resources to help you:
• Streamline application and database migrations › p. 3
• Modernize your software infrastructure › p. 4
• Support next-generation messaging platforms › p. 5
• Optimize your Microsoft software investments › p. 6
Why Choose Connection
for Software Solutions and Services?

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The significance of a critical application or operating system
reaching end of life is hard to overstate. Lack of support,
compatibility issues, and increased security risks can have
far-reaching effects on your organization—especially when it
comes to database environments.
Now that Microsoft SQL Server 2005 has reached its end of
life, organizations still running older versions need to prepare
to migrate or run the risk of putting their data and applications
in peril. The choice to upgrade to the latest software is an easy
decision to make—because it enables productivity, mobility, and
the speed you need to thrive as an organization. However, the
process of upgrading to a supported version isn’t always simple. A
new version can be installed quickly, but there are changes to the
CMOS, databases, and overarching architecture that need to
be considered before doing so. Most organizations will need
to perform an analysis of their environment to determine what
actions will be required before they make the move.
Why Partner with Connection?
We have the tools and the expertise to help your organization
prepare for a refresh and migration of your applications and
databases. Through our assessment methodologies and Microsoft
Licensing Optimization (MLO) process, we will help you discover
and evaluate your options, and then recommend the right choice
for your organization. At the same time, our experts understand
that a solid implementation plan is mission-critical. We will
leverage tools to assess your readiness to consume the available
options, and build a plan to support your goals. Working as an
extension of your team, we can help you:
• Prepare to stay, move, code, or containerize
• Discover and evaluate your licensing options
• Assess your readiness to consume the available options
• Design and implement a sound migration plan
Application and Database Services
Let Us Help You Find the Best Migration Path

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The PBX system is a dying technology. These systems are moving
to end of life and will soon cease to exist. If your organization
hasn’t migrated away from PBX, the costs of maintaining
your lines and hardware will become prohibitive. Today’s
communications environment is IP based, and organizations that
make the switch can realize significant savings. By investing in
your own network to make calls and communicate, you won’t be
paying the telecom company every time you pick up the phone.
Before you can move from PBX to an IP-based system, you’ll
need to ensure that you have both the network infrastructure
and the on-staff expertise to make the switch. If you’re like many
organizations today, you have the required network connectivity
and a solid pipe to the Internet, but you may not have all of the
in-house skillsets needed to complete the migration.
We can help. To get your migration on the path to success, start
by looking at your communication infrastructure holistically. Your
discussions around infrastructure should address the demands
of today’s latest technologies, from messaging and collaboration
tools to presence and video.
Why Partner with Connection?
The foundation to support your next-generation communication
tools requires experience and in-depth knowledge of how all of
the pieces fit together. Our Microsoft team, Software Practice, and
Networking Practice work collaboratively to design these types
of solutions that meet your exact needs. We offer the guidance
and resources to help you understand not only your options, but
also how those potential solutions will affect your IT plans and
your budget. Our teams of specialists combine professionals from
multiple practices to:
• Explain how different options will affect your organization
• Collect relevant data with industry-leading tools
• Scope your project and relay critical feasibility details
• Build an infrastructure optimized for your needs
• Design, deploy, and enhance your solution for maximum ROI
Infrastructure Software Services
Build a Strong Foundation for IT Innovation

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Your organization is only as agile as the tools you rely on to share
information and communicate. So what happens when you need
to upgrade those technologies? Messaging Platforms receive
updates at a fast-paced tempo, as vendors try to continuously
promote the latest, most innovative features. Unfortunately, that
can create challenges for organizations that don’t have a solid
upgrade strategy in place.
Currently, Microsoft only supports two versions of their messaging
platform. At some point in time, you will need to upgrade—or risk
paying huge fees for custom support agreements. For some
organizations, a migration might involve moving from one version
of Exchange to another. Other organizations might need to
migrate from a competing product, such as Lotus Notes.
Regardless of your situation, you will likely face a messaging
migration challenge in the very near future—driven by licensing
complexity, resource constraints, limited expertise, and demands
to keep operations running without interruption. No matter what
your upgrade needs are, we are here to help.
Why Partner with Connection?
It can take some organizations months to complete a migration.
With our expertise, your migration can be completed in weeks
instead of months. Our team has extensive experience
performing migrations, and we understand how to pass the
benefits of that experience on to you. Our experts perform
knowledge transfer for your staff, so that when we do engage
your resources, we only require a minimal amount of their time.
Connection offers advanced Messaging Platform services and
simple, easy-to-consume packaged services designed to help you:
• Accelerate your migration timeline
• Gain critical knowledge transfer
• Leverage our in-house project management expertise
We can even augment your staff after the deployment to help
your team manage Exchange accounts, reset passwords, and
more. Packages can be designed to take your team all the way
from licensing analysis to ongoing support for any period of time.
Our team is ready to help you migrate to your next messaging
platform, with a suite of professional services designed to fit your
specific needs. Regardless of your organization size or industry,
our experts will listen to your challenges and strategic goals,
scope out your requirements, and then map out a plan to upgrade
your environment.
Messaging Platform Services
Share Information at the Speed of Innovation

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Are you struggling to make sense of your Microsoft licensing
situation? We know how important Microsoft’s products are
to your organization, as well as how frustrating and confusing
their licensing can sometimes be. Connection is here to help
you gain clarity and control over your licensing. We’ve built our
Microsoft licensing services specifically to help you simplify your
licensing programs and make smarter investments that deliver
exactly what your organization needs. With the help of customer
feedback, we’ve structured our services to address three key
areas of concern:
• Software Investment Management—Keep your investment
relevant and ensure ongoing alignment.
• Software Asset Management—Understand your software
estate and meet your compliance goals.
• Actionable Intelligence—Review quality information about
changes to Microsoft technologies and licensing programs.
Our 4-Step Process for Licensing Success
Connection’s Microsoft Licensing Optimization (MLO) is a
progression of licensing analyses that help you better understand
and manage your Microsoft licensing investments. Our process
and deliverables are unique. They were designed 100% from
the ground up by our team of licensing and technology experts.
What’s more, they’ve been battle-tested and refined in the field
for years with customers of every size—in every industry and
sector. Our MLO process includes four distinct components:
1 Microsoft Licensing Statement (MLS) Baseline Analysis—
A comprehensive overview of your entitlements, broken
down into easy-to-understand components and backed
by expert commentary.
2 Deployment Blueprint—A discovery and documentation
process that uncovers everything we need to know about
your Microsoft plans.
3 Options Analysis—A sophisticated translation of your
Baseline Analysis and Blueprint into viable licensing options.
4 Concierge Services—A successful licensing investment
requires constant attention. That’s why we offer your
organization continual care over the life of your agreement
to ensure your investment stays aligned with your needs.
Microsoft Tools and Resources
Microsoft Licensing Optimization

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Microsoft Enterprise Agreement
If your IT needs align with Microsoft Enterprise Agreement (EA)
strengths, there’s no better way to achieve your Microsoft goals
and save money in the process. Reach new levels of productivity,
performance, and cost savings with a Microsoft EA. Now is
the perfect time to take a look—or a second look—at your
Microsoft licensing.
• Use our FREE assessment to determine if an EA is right for you
• Streamline and save on your existing software
• Grow your toolset without complicating your licensing
To learn more about our Microsoft EA offerings,
visit www.connection.com/EAGoodFit
Microsoft Office 365
Office 365 is in a class by itself. More than merely a different
way of licensing, it’s a different way of deploying and consuming
technologies. As the first cloud-enabled productivity stack of its
kind, best practice for deployment is still evolving.
Office 365 is a significant change for any organization. So we
built our own set of tools and templates to help you make this
important decision. These complimentary tools help with every
aspect of the decision, from licensing to financial analysis to cost
justification–with no strings attached. Thousands of customers
have turned to us for advice, and in every case it’s been
a collaborative journey. We are ready to help you.
If you’re thinking about Office 365, we recommend that you start
with our Online Readiness Assessment. Your input helps our
team understand your objectives and determine your readiness.
Once you’ve completed the assessment, we’ll email a summary
of your results, evaluate your responses, and then schedule a
call to discuss your specific situation. We will also send you a
complimentary copy of our Office 365 how-to guide, written by
our team of experts.
Get started today at www.connection.com/O365
Microsoft Tools and Resources (continued)
More Ways to Save, Simplify, and Support Growth

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1.800.800.0014 www.connection.com/SoftwarePractice 8
1OPTIMIZATION
• Microsoft Licensing
Optimization (MLO)
• Software Asset
Management (SAM)
2 ANALYSIS
• Perform scoping
call to understand
your environment
• Packaged services
and assessments in
key areas:
Windows Server
Assessment
Active Directory
Assessment
Exchange
Assessment
• Provide detailed report
outlining project needs
3STRATEGY
• Create plan to
migrate while keeping
you compliant
• Engage project
management to
ensure success
4 INFORMATION
• Perform valuable
knowledge transfer
5 SUPPORT
• Offer staff
augmentation
after deployment
5 Steps to Success
Transform Your Software Environment with Our 5‑Step Process:

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Software touches every area of your organization. That
interconnected aspect necessitates that any successful solution
will have to address issues across a wide range of teams,
infrastructure, and disciplines.
That’s why our Software Practice works in partnership with our
Microsoft Team and our other related Practice Areas, including
Cloud and Security. We can also leverage our Networking and
Converged Data Center Practices to upgrade the infrastructure
needed to support modern software solutions. Together they’re
able to tailor solutions to ensure your software environment
meets the needs of your entire organization.
Industry-Leading Expertise
• Tenured, expert engineers
• Certified across Windows Server, SQL Server, Exchange Server,
VMware offerings, and the latest mobile and cloud technologies
• Our MLO service and Readiness
Assessments are built entirely in house
• We serve customers of all sizes and
from every industry
• Winner of the Microsoft 2015
Operational Excellence Award for
best-in-class performance
The Experience to Solve Your Software Challenges

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Extensive Partnerships
We leverage technologies from leading software vendors to
design best-in-class solutions to meet your specific requirements.
Our partners include:
• AirWatch
• Citrix
• Intel
• Microsoft
• MobileIron
• Red Hat
• Sophos
• Symantec
• Veeam
• VMware
Your Trusted Security Partner
Our ability to help customers solve tough IT challenges with
elegant, innovative solutions is why Connection has been
recognized by the industry’s leading manufacturers as one of the
best National Solutions Providers.
Our Exclusive Offerings:
• Windows Server Assessment
• Active Directory Assessment
• Exchange Assessment
• Software Asset Management (SAM)
• Microsoft Licensing Optimization (MLO)
• Office 365 Assessment
• Enterprise Agreement Assessment
• Packaged Software Services

11. CONVERGED
DATA CENTER
CLOUD NETWORKING SOFTWARE LIFECYCLESECURITY MOBILITY
About Connection
As a leading National Technology Solutions Provider, we’ve been trusted for more
than 35 years to connect people with technology that enhances growth, elevates
productivity, and empowers innovation. Connection, a Fortune 1000 company,
is a go-to provider for more than 300,000 products and services from 1,600
manufacturers. Our experts lead with solution selling for small- to medium-sized
businesses, enterprises, and the public sector across all verticals, from healthcare
and retail to higher education and everything in between.
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