Solution Accelerators for Virtualization

Understanding the value of virtualization is one thing, but knowing how to get started is another. If you're interested in the growing trend towards virtualization, check out our new Virtualization Solution Accelerators a suite of free tools and guidance to help you with each stage of your virtualization IT project.

Plan virtualization projects with Microsoft best practices
If virtualization is on your project roadmap and you need help getting started, the latest Infrastructure Planning and Design (IPD) guides can help. These guides help you learn how to select and design a virtualized infrastructure, and include information about Hyper-V, App-V, System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008, and more.
Download IPD guides now
Learn more about IPD

Plan virtualization projects with Microsoft tools
What are the right virtualization technologies for your environment? Assess your infrastructure now with the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit and find out. MAP now includes assessment and proposals for Hyper-V virtualization, desktop security assessment, and SQL server inventory -- in addition to readiness assessment for Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, 2007 Microsoft Office, and more.
Download the MAP Toolkit now
Learn more about the MAP Toolkit

Keep virtual machines updated with the Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool
This new Solution Accelerator helps you keep offline virtual machines (stored in Microsoft System Virtual Machine Manager) updated with the latest operating system updates. This tool reduces potential security vulnerabilities that may be introduced by virtual machines brought online without the latest updates.
Download the Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool
Learn more about the Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool

Plan, deploy, and monitor a security baseline with the Security Compliance Management Toolkit
This toolkit includes Microsoft best practices that make planning, deploying, and monitoring security baselines for the computers in your environment easier. In addition, the toolkit provides information about how to correct security baseline issues, and offers a proven method for effectively monitoring the compliance state of the recommended security baselines for Windows Vista®, Windows® XP SP2, and Windows Server® 2003 SP2.
Download the Security Compliance Management Toolkit
Learn more about the Security Compliance Management Toolkit

Secure your servers with the Windows Server 2008 Security Guide
The Windows Server 2008 Security Guide provides best practices for securing your servers running Windows Server 2008. The guide provides detailed recommendations based on extensive experience from customers, government agencies, and Microsoft security experts. The guide also includes the GPOAccelerator Tool -- an automated tool you can use to quickly create and deploy Group Policy objects (GPOs) recommended by the guide.
Download the Windows Server 2008 Security Guide
Learn more about the Windows Server 2008 Security Guide
Download the GPOAccelerator tool

Deploy servers and desktops faster with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008
The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2008 decreases the time and cost of client and server deployments by unifying deployment tools and processes into a common console and collection of guidance. MDT 2008 supports the deployment of Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008 (including the virtualization role on Windows Server 2008), and other applications.
Download the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008
Learn more about the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008