Dimension Data has completed an internal deployment of Microsoft Windows Vista SP1 making it the first organisation in Australia to deploy the operating system upgrade into a production environment. After successfully completing a 10-day pilot of Vista SP1, Dimension Data has now provided the upgrade to more than 300 Windows Vista desktops, meeting its goal of going into full production of the software update within four weeks of its official release to manufacturing.

The company's CIO, Anthony Stevens, said the deployment began with a pilot group of 20 users, which has allowed the company to iron out any application compatibility issues. "We have now pushed out SP1 to all 300-plus Vista desktops using Microsoft SMS [Systems Management Server]," he added. Dimension Data's standard corporate desktop will remain a dual-operating environment with company's desktop fleet running either Windows Vista SP1/Office 2007 SP1 or Windows XP/Office 2003. Officially, the standard build for Dimension Data's corporate desktop is Windows Vista SP1/Office 2007 SP1. "We are leveraging some strong benefits from SP1, in particular its enhancements to security and performance, as well as improvements to the stability of the operating system," Stevens said. "Also, it gives our desktop application infrastructure the agility to operate as a managed environment - we can deploy a patch, or an application or a service pack within days of it being released. And our pilot has really demonstrated this."

Microsoft Australia director of the Windows client business group, Jeff Putt, said Vista increases competitive advantage by enabling workers, whether in offices or working remotely, to find and use information more effectively through easier access to shared data and collaboration tools.

"In addition, IT staff will find Windows Vista enhances their corporate IT security through data protection, improved security features and automated backup, which makes the operating system more efficient and secure while also reducing support costs and downtime," he added. - with Sandra Rossi