Product Updates - Block 64

Block 64’s API integrates with IT management tools

James Lipinski — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 15:12:20 +0000

We’re constantly asked if the Block 64 Insights & Analytics Platform integrates with popular IT and cloud management tools. And the answer is: “Yes! We have an API for that.”

What is Block 64’s API

The Block 64 API exports IT inventory and usage data to your existing CMDBs or IT management tools, such as ServiceNow. This integration creates a seamless workflow and eliminates the need to manage insights across different platforms.

Block 64’s API addresses common challenges many of our clients face. In particular, it puts an end to the siloing of critical data and the obstacles to taking action on the insights we help you surface with our ITAM reporting platform.

In today’s fast-paced environment, having immediate access to comprehensive data within your existing ecosystem is not just an advantage; it’s a necessity. The Block 64 API helps bridge this gap, offering a direct line of communication between our IT inventory and reporting resources and your day-to-day management tools.

Integrate Block 64 data with your existing applications

The API lets you use Block 64 as your single source of asset data. Our open and well documented API makes it easy to connect to your existing CMDB, or to any other system or business processes that would benefit from quality IT asset data.

For example, with our API, data regarding necessary patches can automatically populate in your patch management tool, streamlining the process and ensuring that your systems are always up to date with the latest security measures. This not only saves valuable time but also enhances your system’s security posture by ensuring that vulnerabilities are addressed promptly.

We invite you to explore the benefits of integrating the Block 64 API into your workflow. For more information and to get started. Request a demo, or visit our API support page. Embrace the future of data management and take the first step towards a more integrated, efficient, and secure system today.

The post Block 64’s API integrates with IT management tools first appeared on Block 64.

WinRM support has arrived to Block 64, elevating IT inventory once again

James Lipinski — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 17:46:22 +0000

Now you can leverage the popular remote management protocol to simplify discovery.

Block 64 is thrilled to announce a significant enhancement to our agentless discovery IT inventory solution: the integration of Windows Remote Management (WinRM) as a discovery method. This update marks a leap forward in our commitment to delivering comprehensive and convenient IT discovery, analytics, and insights.

Introducing WinRM to Block 64 Discovery

WinRM, Microsoft’s implementation of the WS-Management protocol, is a standard Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP)-based, firewall-friendly protocol that facilitates the interoperation between hardware and operating systems from different vendors.

WinRM is widely recommended for remote device management, and many of our customers already utilize or prefer WinRM for their operations. By integrating it into Block 64’s discovery suite, we are complementing our existing agentless discovery protocols and agent-based discovery solutions. As a result, you get more options and flexibility to capture comprehensive IT insights about your customers or your IT environment.

If you are an existing Block 64 partner, WinRM is off by default. To get started, feel free to reach out to support, or follow the instructions on our Knowledge Base, here.

More Insights, More Power

Block 64’s Discovery & Insights platform is designed to empower CIOs, corporate IT owners, and IT service providers with data-driven insights and actionable recommendations for optimizing modern IT. The introduction of WinRM enhances flexibility and reach, particularly in inventorying environments that have been challenging to access using traditional agentless discovery methods.

This update aligns with our core value proposition: to provide rapid, in-depth insights into IT environments, facilitating improved service delivery, expedited engagements, and increased revenues for our partners and end customers.

By leveraging WinRM, Block 64 partners and end customers can now enjoy even more powerful ways to uncover insights from IT environments. This enhancement underscores our dedication to continuous innovation, supporting the ever-evolving needs of IT professionals and organizations worldwide.

The post WinRM support has arrived to Block 64, elevating IT inventory once again first appeared on Block 64.

New Assessment: Copilot for Microsoft 365 Adoption

Phil Carson — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 22:10:42 +0000

Block 64 has released a powerful new assessment to help navigate the path to Copilot for Microsoft 365.

Businesses worldwide are keen to find out more about Microsoft’s most-hyped product on the market – Copilot for Microsoft 365. And now that Microsoft has made significant changes to its Copilot licensing (read more), the door is wide open for organizations of all sizes to explore this exciting new product suite.

But on an individual customer basis, there are plenty of questions that need answering before taking the leap forward. Do you have the right licensing position? How will you keep your data and users secure? Will people actually use it?!

For IT solutions providers, if you can answer these questions, you can win your customer’s trust and ensure Copilot adoption is a success.

Introducing the Block 64 Copilot for Microsoft 365 Readiness Assessment

That’s why we created Block 64’s Copilot for Microsoft 365 Readiness Assessment. It delivers the insights and guidance needed to navigate this transformative journey with confidence.

By combining our effortless IT inventory and usage metrics with insights and automated analysis, the Assessment provides clear answers across three core considerations: security, licensing and standardization.

With those insights, partners are able to elevate conversations with customers, and provide relevant, actionable advice and catered solutions to move the needle.

The 3 Pillars of Copilot for Microsoft 365 Readiness:

Our assessment analyzes Copilot readiness across three key pillars of security, licensing and optimization. Here’s why those are important to Copilot success.

Zero Trust Security Compliance: Microsoft 365 Copilot operates within a Zero Trust security model, emphasizing the need for rigorous security policies and standards. Our assessment delves deep into your IT environment to evaluate your alignment with this model, ensuring that your data, networks, and applications are fully secure and compliant. By identifying potential vulnerabilities and offering specific recommendations, we empower you to establish a fortified foundation essential for a successful Copilot implementation.
Clear Licensing Position and Cost Analysis: Understanding your current licensing position is critical to ensuring that your investment in Microsoft 365 Copilot aligns with your organizational goals. Our assessment provides a detailed analysis of your licensing status, identifying any gaps or opportunities for optimization. This analysis includes a breakdown of Copilot-compatible licenses, enabling you to make informed decisions that maximize your return on investment.
Maximizing Microsoft 365 Adoption: Full adoption of Microsoft 365 is crucial not just for creating a comprehensive dataset for Copilot to utilize but also for ensuring that you are investing in tools that your users actively use. Our assessment evaluates the extent of Microsoft 365 usage within your organization, identifying areas where adoption can be improved. For example, we analyze OneDrive and Teams usage to ensure that if you invest in Copilot licenses, they will be utilized to their fullest potential, thereby avoiding the pitfall of paying for unused services.

The Block 64 Assessment Process: Insights and Value Delivered

Our assessment process is designed to offer actionable insights an organization’s readiness for Copilot for Microsoft 365. Here’s a closer look at the steps and tools involved to make that happen:

Agentless Discovery Application: Our agentless discovery tool serves as the cornerstone of our assessment, providing a real-time inventory of your IT environment. This includes detailed insights into software installations, application-level vulnerabilities, and compliance with security standards.
Debrief Meeting and Recommendations: Following the discovery phase, our analysts conduct a debrief meeting to walk you through our findings. This session is instrumental in understanding the implications of our analysis and the steps needed to enhance your readiness for Copilot.
Customized Deliverables: The assessment culminates in a set of customized deliverables that include visualizations and recommendations tailored to your specific needs. For instance, we provide visualizations focusing on productivity applications’ security, highlighting any legacy installs that might compromise Copilot compatibility. We also offer guidance on active directory security, helping to identify and rectify potentially unsafe accounts in alignment with the Zero Trust framework.
Trial Offer and Engagement Process: To demonstrate our commitment to your success, we offer a free trial of our assessment when delivered with your strategic solutions provider, VAR or MSP. This trial includes a comprehensive engagement with our team, who will conduct the assessment and provide consulting services on your behalf, acting as an extension of your team.

By integrating these insights and leveraging Block 64’s expertise, organizations can navigate the complexities of adopting Microsoft 365 Copilot with confidence. Want to get started or learn more? Please visit our Copilot assessment page to explore.

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