Getting more value from technology investments

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1 When wanted to visualize and share Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager data across the organization, it chose Power BI. After using the Power BI solution template to quickly create an interactive, self-service dashboard, Gonzaga can provide virtually any stakeholder with deep insights into applications and devices throughout the university network. Located along the Spokane River in the state of Washington, is a leading Roman Catholic school with more than 7,500 students, 434 full-time faculty, and 822 staff. With 105 buildings and seven colleges on its campus, Gonzaga also has extensive IT infrastructure to support including 2,200 servers and desktop computers used for core administrative and academic functions. After choosing Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager as a centralized tool for handling software updates and other administration tasks. Gonzaga wanted to make the solution s data more accessible. Getting more value from technology investments Gonzaga s IT infrastructure includes core resources such as its student information system in addition to the School of Business, the athletics program, and other separately managed environments. To keep the servers and client devices up-to-date across campus, the university s central IT team had adopted System Center Configuration Manager. But IT staff outside the central group were unfamiliar with the solution, and Gonzaga s IT Asset and Application Release Administrator Steven Bjerken hoped to avoid the need to provide customized reports or extensive training. To simplify adoption by diverse IT teams and business stakeholders, he wanted to provide easier, self-service access to information. Microsoft Power BI has provided business organizations worldwide with real-time, actionable information from virtually any data source. Gonzaga wanted the same capabilities in its IT environment, so it decided to take advantage of the Power BI solution template for System Center Configuration Manager. The Power BI solution template enables Gonzaga to quickly create compelling reports and analytics on an extensible, scalable, and highly secure architecture that can be customized. This means that instead of spending time

2 on development, can quickly get additional value from its existing technology investment. The Power BI template extended the value of System Center Configuration Manager. By publishing System Center Configuration Manager metrics through Power BI, we can share web- and mobile- friendly interactive dashboards with the entire institution. Lyle Spencer: Data Warehouse Administrator Providing better access to actionable information The Power BI solution template offers an easy way to surface System Center Configuration Manager data including client and server health, software updates, protection, and software inventory across Gonzaga. Power BI makes information more relatable to a user who doesn t have much experience using System Center Configuration Manager, but who needs the information right away, says Bjerken. The data is there with just the click of a button or a glance at a dashboard.

3 The dashboard provides an overview of key metrics, and IT staff and business users can easily drill down to get more detailed information. For example, If I want to find out which computers have a specific piece of software installed, I can just click on the software tab, type in the name of the application, and I ll have a whole list of computers, Bjerken says. With Power BI, the benefits of System Center Configuration Manager aren t limited to IT staff. Business stakeholders can also use the solution to ask general questions about IT assets. The Power BI template extended the value of System Center Configuration Manager, says Lyle Spencer, Data Warehouse Administrator at. By publishing System Center Configuration Manager metrics through Power BI, we can share web- and mobile-friendly interactive dashboards with the entire institution. Power BI makes information more relatable to a user who doesn t have much experience using System Center Configuration Manager, but who needs the information right away. The data is there with just the click of a button or a glance at a dashboard. Steven Bjerken: IT Asset and Application Release Administrator

4 Keeping university IT running smoothly By using Power BI with System Center Configuration Manager, Gonzaga can easily provide an inventory of all software installed at the university. As a result, the school has a simple mechanism to ensure compliance with licensing agreements, and any non-authorized software can be quickly identified and remedied.

5 The Power BI solution template for System Center Configuration Manager is just one of many solutions that jump-start analytics. Power BI templates can be used with diverse software and services including Microsoft Dynamics 365, Salesforce, Twitter, and more. Spencer says, We look forward to more templates in the future that will add value to our existing investments and more visibility to the work we do to keep the university safe, secure, and running smoothly. Click here for more information on Microsoft Power BI. If I want to find out which computers have a specific piece of software installed, I can just click on the software tab, type in the name of the application, and I ll have a whole list of computers. Steven Bjerken: IT Asset and Application Release Administrator