Unify Enterprise Edition from Ensim Corporation is a collection of management tools for Windows infrastructure, available as a suite or individual snap-in products. The toolset is based on Active Directory, and includes modules for the management of A/D itself, as well as Exchange, and the configuration of mobile devices. The product is installed on a Windows 2003 r2 Server, and requires no agent deployments.

Main capabilities of the tools include:

- Template-based provisioning and de-provisioning. Templates can be customized, and can be used to setup individual or multiple applications for one or many users. The Unify server itself has its own, self-contained database that is automatically synchronized to A/D as necessary; the vendor notes that as the Unify Enterprise platform works on top of the existing Windows architecture it does not intrude on existing toolsets or applications.

Error recovery/rollback features enable administrators to undo "...a variety of actions."

- Resource allocation for user mailboxes or servers, with alerting. Additionally, the vendor states that the product tracks all management tasks for auditing purposes.

- User self-service tools, via a Web portal access. Tools include password resets (a single password can be used for all Unify managed applications); basic configuration of desktop E-mail clients and user mobile devices; and creation and management of distribution lists, based on directory attributes.

- Delegated administration capabilities, via role assignments and definitions including junior IT members, department administrators, business managers or end-users.

- Integration of 3rd party or custom tools via a Web Services-based API and SDK.

Modules currently in the Unify Enterprise Suite include Active Directory Manager; Password Manager (allows for the establishment of password policies and provides user self-reset capabilities); Mobility Manager (provides hanheld device management features including the ability to lock/wipe, remotely update, and manage user passwords; Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, and iPhone with ActiveSync are supported); Exchange Manager (for Exchange 2003/2007); and Migration Manager, facilitating the migration of Exchange 2003 to 2007.

New to the vendor's product line is the Unify Report Manager, a reporting tool for A/D objects. The vendor states that the tool ships both with pre-configured reports and custom reporting features, and is billed as a compliance (identifying non-compliant A/D objects) and/or planning and maintenance tool. Reports are accessible through a Web interface.

Unify Enterprise Edition is available now. The pricing for the individual modules ranges from $8 to $12 per seat (perpetual), with the Password Manager included free with the purchase of Active Directory Manager. The full suite is priced at $39/seat (also perpetual).

The new Report Manager is a free tool until March 31st of 2009, at which time the vendor states that it will revert to its standard price of $15,000 per administrator.

Contact the vendor for further information.