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Security Alert and Patch Management= Big Fix

The Gateway to IT.Next

The BigFix Platform—consisting of the BigFix Agent, BigFix Server and Console, and BigFix Relays—builds a bridge to IT.Next by instrumenting a lightweight and dynamic content–driven messaging and management nervous system that distributes the intelligence to manage IT infrastructures out to the managed devices themselves following policies set by IT stakeholders.



Every BigFix-managed desktop, mobile and server computer runs the BigFix Agent that executes policy instructions (BigFix Fixlet messages) sent to it from the BigFix Server. A single BigFix Agent executes a wide variety of policies. There’s no need for multiple agents to manage single functions. This reduces tool clutter (and administrative hassle) on managed clients and helps organizations reduce licensing costs. Better yet, management actions and results reporting back to the BigFix Console transact in real-time.



BigFix Fixlet messages communicate policy information and instructions to the BigFix Agent. Fixlet messages contain logical criteria stating what conditions need to exist on a device for an action to occur (for example, devices exhibiting a specific security vulnerability), programmatic instructions (“if vulnerability X exists on this client, update software module Y”) and executable content (the software update packaged for installation).



The BigFix Platform includes an important mechanism to enable efficient communications across distributed environments—the BigFix Relay. When implementing a BigFix solution, administrators can designate virtually any BigFix Agent-managed computer as a BigFix Relay. BigFix Relays reduce network bandwidth demand to support BigFix services by providing multiple concentration, distribution and fault-tolerant communications points for BigFix content and agent communications. BigFix Relays do not require dedicated computers to host them. End-users can work on BigFix Relay-designated computers without noticing performance slowdowns or processor/memory overloads.



The BigFix Server is software running on low-cost off-the-shelf Microsoft Windows-based hardware that provides the command and control center for BigFix solutions. The BigFix Server acts as a central resource for managing data, policies, and content sent to and received from the BigFix Agents and provides an administrator user interface in the form of the BigFix Console. A single, low-cost, $5,000-8,000-class x86 machine running the BigFix Server can manage more than 50,000 BigFix Agent-equipped devices. Furthermore, users have wide leeway to delegate management responsibilities to local and domain-expert administrators as required.


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Jennifer Sasser
478-338-2469