HP helps SMBs Modernize IT Infrastructure to support growing mobile use

HP today announced new products and services that help small and midsized businesses (SMBs) simplify their IT infrastructure to accelerate business gains from mobile access.

The use of mobile devices in the workplace allows for sophisticated business and process management applications to be accessed remotely. However, SMBs traditionally have static and fragmented IT infrastructures, making it difficult to rapidly or efficiently respond to infrastructure demands driven by a mobile workforce and virtualized applications.

To simplify IT management for SMBs, HP has expanded the HP Converged Infrastructure portfolio with new storage and network solutions that improve employee productivity by providing secure access to business applications and data via mobile devices. In addition, HP is offering financing and training programs that address SMBs’ end-to-end mobility challenges by enabling them to acquire the resources needed to boost business responsiveness in the evolving mobile marketplace, quickly and easily.

“Mobility will soon be a normal part of every SMB workplace, as it moves from being used primarily for email to supporting critical business applications such as CRM and sales inventory,” said Robert Anderson, Research VP at Gartner, Inc. “Small and midsize businesses must align and modernize their existing IT capabilities to take advantage of the business benefits and competitive differentiation mobility brings.”

Modernizing storage in a mobile world:

Data growth and application demands are evolving as mobility continues to drive an explosion of data and changes the way applications are used and accessed. SMBs need simple, scalable and economical storage platforms that respond to these new requirements, while also supporting dynamic workloads and rapid growth of both structured and unstructured data.

HP is offering new storage solutions that provide scalability, reliability and availability to handle evolving business demands. The new offerings include:

HP StoreVirtual Storage, based on the HP LeftHand operating system and HP ProLiant Generation 8 (Gen8) technology, is a scale-out storage platform with flexible deployment models to meet the needs of the virtual IT department. The offering includes features that allow SMBs to add physical storage without disruption and the ability to simply move data across virtual or physical storage with just a few clicks, which enables IT to rapidly respond to dynamic demands of mobile users.

HP StoreEasy Storage is a single integrated storage solution that supports file and application workloads with built-in deduplication and encryption. Midsize businesses can no longer afford to add “just another file server” to address the explosion of unstructured data from mobile devices. Native Windows® integration enables SMBs to immediately configure and manage HP StoreEasy Storage without learning a new proprietary storage management system.  HP StoreEasy Storage supports 10,000 users in a three-unit form factor, as well as multiple workloads from a single, consolidated platform that is cost-efficient, highly-secure and reliable. 

HP Financial Services enables qualified SMBs to obtain HP solutions without payments for 90 days on lease transactions or to lease select HP equipment at a less-than-zero implicit lease rate, which provides SMBs with flexible financial solutions to cost effectively update their infrastructure.

Mobilize workers with simplified network management:

SMBs, as well as government agencies, are supporting a growing mobile workforce that requires access to rich-media applications such as videoconferencing. However, with limited financial and human resources, these organizations need solutions that are easy to use, reliable and cost-effective to maintain.

The HP M220 Series Access Point is a new addition to the HP FlexNetwork architecture that simplifies network management and maintenance for growing SMB organizations through increased automation and centralization.

The HP M220 streamlines wireless network management with “clustering” technology that enables SMBs to deploy and manage up to 10 network access points as a single entity, rather than a series of separate wireless devices. In addition, the solution improves network security by detecting and eliminating rogue access points as well as reducing security risks caused by misconfigured access points.

The HP M220 includes a Quick Setup Wizard that leverages an easy-to-use web interface to streamline multiple access point configuration. The Quick Setup Wizard provides five deployment scenarios allowing clients to select the best wireless network environment for their company.

Collaborating with HP, the technology expert:

HP provides SMBs with a broad range of technologies and programs that improve employee productivity through greater collaboration. These offerings include:

The updated HP Client Virtualization SMB Reference Architecture for Citrix VDI-in-a-Box supports 50 percent more users⁽¹⁾ than the previous version. It also reduces the cost and complexity of deploying desktop virtualization, giving employees secure remote access to their desktops, applications and the company’s server anywhere, anytime.

The HP Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs e-Learning (HP LIFE e-Learning) program provides cloud-based online training sessions at no additional cost, to improve key IT and business skills. HP LIFE e-Learning now offers e-mentorship with HP employees, along with webinars and other relevant resources.

HP Proactive Care Services codelivered by HP and local HP ServiceONE partners or by HP authorized resellers provide support for HP servers, storage and networking so organizations can focus on business growth. Geared for converged, virtualized and cloud-based environments, HP Proactive Care Services deliver advice and reporting, rapid expert support, and personalized service options to help organizations streamline management of complex IT environments.

Pricing and availability:

The new HP StoreVirtual Storage 4130 and 4330 models will be available Dec. 4, with a starting price as low as $11,500 suggested U.S. list price.HP LeftHand Operating System 10.0 software is available at no cost for current customers on HP LeftHand P4000 G2 platforms on Dec. 4.

The HP StoreEasy Storage system will be available on Dec. 10, with pricing starting at $5,192 for 8TB capacity.

The HP M220 Series Access Point is expected to be available through HP and its authorized channel partners on Nov. 12 for a starting U.S. list price of $319.⁽²⁾ Shipments will commence in December.

The HP Client Virtualization SMB Reference Architecture for Citrix VDI-in-a-Box with Citrix Personal vDisk technology is available today.

HP Financial Services enables qualified SMBs to obtain HP solutions without payments for 90 days on lease transactions or to lease select HP equipment at a less-than-zero implicit lease rate. These programs, which are currently available, provide SMBs with flexible financial solutions to cost effectively update their infrastructure.